Experience is a rich learning tool, which is why the Lord gives us trials.

Some people believe that mistakes are a good learning tool, perhaps because they have learned so much from them. I don't deny that you can learn from sin, but I do believe that there is a better way. Certainly if you saw someone try and pet the aligator and get eaten, you wouldn't want to try it yourself "just to see for yourself".

Learning from others is more efficient and leaves you less scars. Some argue that the learning isn't as deep, and tehy are correct I am sure. But there is something else that they may not understand and that is the Spirit. If there were no God, if we really were left to our natural states, then one would never be enlightened by being "sheltered" into always choosing teh right. But God does exist, and the Holy Ghost is sent to enlighten our minds beyond our natural reasoning, but only if we're choosing the right. I have personally felt this light, and it's envigorating. I still don't understand teh benefits of being sober contrasted with the woes of being drunk, but I am convinced that I understand more from the Spirit in other things because I have chosen the right in choosing the right by not drinking.

A God needs to understand what a drunk person goes through, so that he can help the drunk. God doesn't sin to understand the sinner, he pays an atonement. I believe in that he experiences, in proxy, but in excruciating detail, what it is that the sinner experiences. More so, God somehow aquires the ability to erase the scars on the sinner, so that they can remember the sin, but not carry the scar. God aquires teh ability, but only uses it if teh sinner really chooses to be cleaned. How many people really want to part with their sins?

Back to trails. Trials are difficult experiences that are not a result of sins (although can be complicated by sins). They are the experietial learning that we can learn in this life. There are scars here too, but they also can be erased through the atonement. Forgiveness is the key. I've often wondered how the Saints could live such happy lives despite the terrible persecution they went through. I now think this is the answer.