Why Do We Justify Sin?

This is short and I simply want to pose a thought and a few questions.

Yesterday, we visited someone who had previously been sealed in the Temple. She hasn't been "active" in the church for years and she's since removed her garments. According to her she still believes it's true, but she feels like people are judging her because she likes to drink wine. She's passed judgement on the organization and the imperfect members and has therefore withdrawn herself from the blessings associated with it. What we listened to were her "justifications" for being where she currently is and why she's happy with that. This is the same conversation I've had with countless people across the world. I was truly saddened as we listened. The adversary uses this same tactic over and over and he's become quite successful.

A truth rang true in my mind as we sat there and this goes along with my previous post. D&C 130 mentions that the same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there. We judge ourselves! When someone has justified an action or behavior, they will see what they want to see and find what they want to find. If they want to find that small group who "judges them", they'll find it. I grant there are some close-minded and rude people within the church, but that is the exception - just like any organization. More often than not, if someone comes back after a period of absence, they are welcomed with open arms by a host of different people. At least that has been my observation.  But, someone tends to judge themselves when they're in that environment and obviously doesn't want to be there because they feel uncomfortable. How will that person feel when they're not sitting in front of a group of people, but the Lord himself who reveals all truth? We invited, loved, and tried to convey a humble testimony that the Savior loves and extends mercy and compassion, regardless of who the person is - we'll see if it makes a difference. But now, I want to turn this to ourselves.

How have we allowed the adversary to become so successful in our lives?

In Helaman, chapter 8, I read this in verses 24 and 25, "And now, seeing ye know these things and cannot deny them except ye shall lie, therefore in this ye have sinned, for ye have rejected all these things, notwithstanding so many evidences which ye have received; yea, even ye have received ball things, both things in heaven, and all things which are in the earth, as a witness that they are true. But behold, ye have rejected the truth, and rebelled against your holy God; and even at this time, instead of laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where nothing doth corrupt, and where nothing can come which is unclean, ye are heaping up for yourselves wrath against the day of judgment."


- Is there any thing in our life which we currently justify?
- Are we lying to ourselves about any particular area of our life?
- What are we specifically doing to lay up treasures in heaven?