What Is the Difference Between Sin and Transgression?

Last Updated on February 4, 2018 10:52 am by Steven

Over the past few months I’ve had multiple conversations on the differences between a Sin and a Transgression.

After some studying, the following is what I’ve found.

Elder Oaks Explains

Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained the difference between sin and transgression: “[The] contrast between a sin and a transgression reminds us of the careful wording in the second article of faith: ‘We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression’ (italics added). It also echoes a familiar distinction in the law. Some acts, like murder, are crimes because they are inherently wrong. Other acts, like operating without a license, are crimes only because they are legally prohibited. Under these distinctions, the act that produced the Fall was not a sin—inherently wrong—but a transgression—wrong because it was formally prohibited. These words are not always used to denote something different, but this distinction seems meaningful in the circumstances of the Fall” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 98; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 73).

Source:  LDS.org

Second Article of Faith