In his first epistle to Corinth, Paul called the people to repentance, which caused them sorrow. Paul acknowledge this in his second epistle to the Corintians:
"For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentence to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Corinthians 7:8-10).
There are two things to take from this scripture: first, the Corinthian saints felt godly sorrow and repented of their sins; second, godly sorrow for sin leads to repentance, while worldly sorrow leads to spiritual death. It is not enough to be sorry for our sins, we have to find this godly sorrow. It is also not enough to just stop doing that which we need to repent from doing. Worldly sorrow, ironically, leads us to spiritual death because it keeps us from true repentance.
Repentance is always possible, but it is not easy, and it would be better to avoid, if possible, making the mistakes that would then require our penitence. Because we are human, mistakes are inevitable, yet some mistakes can be avoided.
General Charles Krulak, the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps in the late 1990s, defined a mistake as an error made when, in the attempt to do something right, someone makes a wrong choice. God has given us council, in the scriptures and through church leaders, on dangers such as drugs, alcohol and pornography. If we heed this council, and give it our best effort, we can avoid these pitfalls.
What would not be a mistake is to deliberately make a wrong choice in the belief that one can repent later. In this case the individual is choosing to do something they know that they should not do. Rather than a mistake, this would be a willful act. Repentance is still possible, but in this case it would be more difficult than if an individual, doing their best, fell short because of human weakness.
“It is not uncommon," said President Ezra Taft Benson, "to find men and women in the world who feel remorse for the things they do wrong. Sometimes this is because their actions cause them or loved ones great sorrow and misery. Sometimes their sorrow is caused because they are caught and punished for their actions. Such worldly feelings do not constitute ‘godly sorrow.'"
President Benson went on to say, “Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit’ (Doctrine & Covenants 20:37). Such a spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said that "Godly sorrow inspires change and hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Worldly sorrow pulls us down, extinguishes hope, and persuades us to give in to further temptation. 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. True repentance is about transformation, not torture or torment. 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."
President Uchtdorf said further, "When we make mistakes, when we sin and fall, let us think of what it means to truly repent. It means turning our heart and will to God and giving up sin. True heartfelt repentance brings with it the heavenly assurance that 'we can do it now.'”
Sources:
Benson, E. T. (1988). Teachings of President Ezra Taft Benson. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft.
Uchtdorf, D. F. "You Can Do It Now." Accessed at LDS.org. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/you-can-do-it-now?lang=eng&query=godly+sorrow
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