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We know the three greatest sins are, in this order:

1. Deny the Holy Ghost – Unpardonable
2. Murder – Unforgivable
3. Sex-related – Hard to be forgiven of

These are related. They are most serious because they all mess with the power of life, which is the power of God; it is the power that God has.

1. Deny the Holy Ghost – Permanent destruction of spiritual life
2. Murder – Unauthorized taking of life
3. Sex-related – Unauthorized giving of life

There is no recompense for the unpardonable sin, that is to receive a perfect knowledge of the nature of God and to outright deny and betray it (citation needed — I know). The unforgivable sin is not covered by the Atonement of Christ. That remission must come from our own suffering and repentance, and it cannot be achieved in this life.

Murder is not made remiss by the Atonement — but did Jesus suffer that anyway?

“Do not allow darkness and gloom to enter into your hearts. I want to give you a rule by which you may know that the spirit which you have is the right spirit. The Spirit of God produces cheerfulness, joy, light and good feelings. Whenever you feel gloomy and despondent and are downcast, unless it be for your sins, you may know it is not the Spirit of God which you have. Fight against it and drive it out of your heart. The Spirit of God is a spirit of hope; it is not a spirit of gloom.”

“There is nothing on earth, nothing that man can taste or experience that is so sweet, so happifying, so full of delight, as the presence of the Spirit of God. It fills the soul with joy that is inexpressible.”

– George Q. Cannon, Deseret Weekly, January 14, 1987, 48:351; also “Gospel Truth,” page 144

And,

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”

– 2 Nephi 2:25

One realization came to me as I research my talk for this Sunday about prayer. Prayer opened, and also closed, the proceeding of the Atonement on Earth:

“[Jesus] kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, by thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

- Luke 22:41-44

And it ends with a  prayer, just before Christ died:

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

- Matthew 27:46