As I was reading this morning, I came across this verse from Samuel the Lamanite’s preaching to the Nephites:

And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see that they fear to sin—for behold they will suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them, and this because of their faith in Christ. (Book of Mormon, Helaman, Chapter 15:9)

The phrase that really stood out was that they fear to sin. As a matter of self-reflection, how often do I fear to sin? Sometimes my own attitude is, “Oops, well I didn’t mean to.” What can be done to develop a fear to sin?

Importance
There might be some who say that to fear to sin is a little overkill. Do your best and if you slip up, oh well–you tried. I don’t know if they have a full understanding of the gravity of sin.

The Lord has said,

For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; (Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 1:31)

Besides being perfect and glorified, our Savior is personally invested in our righteousness:

Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; (Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 19:15-16)

But sometimes our attitude resembles what Jacob, the brother of Nephi described as an unrighteous assumption:

And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. . . . and their works shall be in the dark. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, Chapter 28:8-9)

I can’t imagine anyone who has at least a small understanding of what the Savior went through on our behalf would be willing to cause additional suffering for the Savior.

Learning to Fear to Sin
In considering how one can develop this Christian trait, a few scriptural examples come to mind.

Pondering and Meditation
When the angel comes to help Alma the Younger consider his ways, the angel demonstrates the power of God and then invites him to remember the captivity of His fathers.

Moroni, at the close of the Book of Mormon invites us to ponder on how good God had been since the fall of Adam until the present time (see Moroni 10:3).

There’s value in taking time and pondering on both in the scriptures and in our own life, how The Lord has continually poured out blessings and mercy upon us. When we internalize that grace and how merciful He is, we understand how indebted we are and seek to reflect our gratitude in righteous living.

Seeing Sin for What it is
As the people of King Benjamin felt the import of his teaching, they fell to the earth because they viewed themselves in their carnal state. They cried out for Christ to apply His redeeming blood on their behalf.

We can pray to understand better the gravity of sin. Like for King Benjamin’s people, that will come readily as we learn the word of God and seek to live it.

Avoid Making Excuses
After teaching his wayward son, Corianton about the atonement, justice and mercy, he leaves his son with this counsel:

Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility. (Book of Mormon, Alma, Chapter 42:30)

Excuses weaken our sense of agency and accountability because we tell ourlselves and others that our actions to some other power or circumstance other than our own will.

As Alma describes, this leads us to deny the justice of God. By holding the justice of God at bay, we lose the fear to sin.

With a greater sense of personal responsibility that is devoid of excuses, we can let the justice of God have sway in our heart. Small sins that were written off before begin to matter, and with a heightened sense of conscience, we can more fully put off the natural man, and become a saint (see Mosiah 3:19)