Acts 3

As a young missionary, I used to quote Peter -

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (New Testament | Acts 3:19 - 21)

I understood his prophecy that "the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things". In that before His second coming, all things would need to be restored.

What I didn't understand was the charge to repent and be converted that "their" sins my be blotted out when the "times of refreshing" would come. According to Peter, the "times of refreshing" would take place with the presence of the Lord. This would suggest that this would take place with His second coming. Maybe better considered, during the millenium.

But why would Peter only instruct the individuals that he is speaking to, to repent and be converted suggesting that their sins would only be blotted out at the "times of refreshing"? I realized this morning to whom he was speaking. He had already said -

"...ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you..." (New Testament | Acts 3:14)

Peter was talking to those that had cried "crucify him". These were those that had the blood of the Savior of the world on their hands. To these, Peter even suggested -

"...I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers..." (New Testament | Acts 3:17)

I now believe that those that participated in this murderous request, may only have their sins blotted out through sincere repentance and conversion, and at a future date which would literally be a "times of refreshing". Of this event, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught -

"The time of redemption here [Acts 3:19-20] had reference to the time when Christ should come; then, and not till then, would their sins be blotted out. Why? Because they were murderers, and no murderer hath eternal life. Even David must wait for those times of refreshing, before he can come forth and his sins be blotted out. For Peter, speaking of him says, "David hath not yet ascended into heaven, for his sepulchre is with us to this day." His remains were then in the tomb. Now, we read that many bodies of the Saints arose at Christ's resurrection, probably all the Saints, but it seems that David did not. Why? Because he had been a murderer. If the ministers of religion had a proper understanding of the doctrine of eternal judgment, they would not be found attending the man who forfeited his life to the injured laws of his country, by shedding innocent blood; for such characters cannot be forgiven, until they have paid the last farthing. The prayers of all the ministers in the world can never close the gates of hell against a murderer." (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 4:359