"Can you really go to Hell for one mortal sin before death?"
The short answer: Yes!
The long answer: Yes, committing even one mortal sin before death can send you to Hell.
Here's why...
Scripture tells us very clearly that each of us will be judged according to our deeds and if we willingly reject Christ and [doing] the Father's will, will earn for themselves damnation.
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell gave up their dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works." - Revelation 20:12-13 (D-R)
"Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be transformed as the ministers of justice, whose end shall be according to their works." - 2 Corinthians 11:15 (D-R)
"Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that does the will of my Father who is in the heavens." - Matthew 7:21 (D-R)
"See then the goodness and the severity of God: towards them indeed that are fallen, the severity; but towards thee, the goodness of God, if thou abide in goodness, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." - Romans 11:22 (D-R)
"For if we sin wilfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins, but a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries." - Hebrews 10:26-27 (D-R)
The Church also teaches us this as we read in our Catechism:
"Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ's kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God." - CCC, par. 1861
So what should we do? Remain and holiness and err on the side of caution: do no commit mortal sin and attend Confession regularly.
God calls us to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 20:26) and Christ has show for us how we are to live (John 14:6). Be discerning in [i]all[/i] your thoughts, words, and actions. This, your stead with God, is not the kind of thing you'd really want to put to the test.
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