2 Nephi 2

There are many people that believe that if God is a loving God, if we sin, he will just slap our hand and tell us not to do it again, and all with be saved in the kingdom of God. Lehi teaches his son Jacob that God is a just God saying -

"..by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:5)

"Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:10)

For every sin or transgression of a law there is a punishment affixed. There is only one way the sinner can avoid such punishment. Lehi taught -

"Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:6 - 7)

Of those that do not repent with a broken heart and contrite spirit, the punishment is still affixed. From his study of the scriptures, Lehi teaches Jacob -

"...according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God.
18 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:17 - 18)

Nothing Satan would enjoy more would be to know God's children suffer with the punishment of Justice. Of such pain and suffering, the Savior said -

"Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 19:15)

"...I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 19:20)

His command to repent is a loving, pleading command for our eternal welfare. It is clear that these punishments will happen if we do not repent -

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:27)

Lehi's final words to Jacob apply to us all -

"...I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:28 - 29)