Yes, I believe repentance includes forsaking and abandoning sin. Jesus did command us to be “perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect” (Matt: 5:48)
I also believe that God judges us us according to our desires as well as our works:
“For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.” (Doctrine and Covenants 137:9)
“And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good (Book of Mormon, Alma 41:3)
Our disposition regarding other people also seems to play an important part in how God will judge us:
“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7)
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15)
Since no one is going to be faultless in this life, I believe the mercies of Christ will be sufficient for those who are honestly striving to overcome sin and follow Christ’s example and teachings.
Best regards,
Normandy
Now you are at a catch 22 norm, you've already admitted that your works are spoiled because of sin and your doctrine clearly states the results of that sin - D & C 1:31-32: “For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.
Alma 41:3
Works done in sin - pure and acceptable? If good intentions / desires of the heart are all that is necessary, then the many pieces of your scripture are invalid. You have two separate standards of being judged norm. You have the high standard of a perfect, sinless life - or you just have good intentions and God gives you a pass.
Since no one is going to be faultless in this life, I believe the mercies of Christ will be sufficient for those who are honestly striving to overcome sin and follow Christ’s example and teachings.
Alma makes it clear that you CANNOT be saved in your sins, D&C and Alma makes it clear that the "Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” and Rom 6:23 tell us that the wages (results) of sin is (spiritual) death.
You are basing a lot of hope on how God will view your works and good intentions. Isaiah wrote: 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
If you were to break out a lexicon, the english "filthy rags" more accurately refers to menstrual cloths. That does not bode well for your hopes that God will favorably judge your works CONTRARY to your sinful condition.
Again norm, even seeking God's mercy to judge your works and good intentions as some counter balance to the unforgiven sin in your life doesn't give me any reason to seek out mormonism - in fact it makes matters worse and raises other questions - just how 'good' do my works have to be in order to counter the unforgiven sin. If just doing works and having good intentions is all that is needed, why worry about perfection if God will give a pass?
Do you have a Temple Recommend®?