Godly Sorrow or Worldly Sorrow?

The Apostle Paul taught that “godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation … but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10; emphasis added).

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained the difference in October 2013 general conference:

“Godly sorrow leads to conversion and a change of heart. It causes us to hate sin and love goodness. It encourages us to stand up and walk in the light of Christ’s love. … Yes, heartfelt regret and true remorse for disobedience are often painful and very important steps in the sacred process of repentance. But when guilt leads to self-loathing or prevents us from rising up again, it is impeding rather than promoting our repentance.”¹