What a pleasant article...I really enjoyed it and isn't it wonderful you recognized the good in all of these people aside from the appearance. That says a great deal about your character. Your learning not to judge by what you see is refreshing and I appreciate you sharing that. Have a terrific day.

I wish more LDS could learn this lesson. Too many judge based on appearance. In fact, last week in the "Gospel Doctrine" class (what a misnomer) the instructor led a discussion of how we can tell that someone is a sinner by the look of their "countenance". Based on their (false) judgments of "countenance" (appearance) they have judged my daughter to be "worldly" and ostracized her to the point that she won't set foot in an LDS Church. They have ostracized my husband to the point where he attends only when he has to. All because they believe they can tell when someone is a sinner...

I wonder what they would have thought of Mr. Guerrero?

Sally T. is right about one thing--all of us need to learn this lesson. The lesson that alarmed me, though, was Sally's Gospel Doctrine lesson of last week. All wards should be teaching the same lessons at the same time. As I look back at recent Gospel Doctrine lessons, I cannot imagine what prompted Sally's teacher to lead a discussion on how church members can discern the sinfulness of others.

The concept of discerning the sinfulness of others (judging) is NOT Gospel Doctrine. Sally T. needs to discuss this matter with her bishop at once.

It is possible she misunderstood. It is also possible that her teacher was off-based. I can testify with all certainty, however, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not condone judging others.

Can appearance give one a clue to the inner character of another? Yes, but Jerry Johnston's article amply illustrates how those clues can be wrong.

Believe me when I tell you, I did NOT misunderstand! Stories were flying fast and furious about how so-and-so had sinned and "you could see it in their countenance" even before it became Ward knowledge!

I have tried to talk to the bishop about it. His wife was one of the largest contributors to the stories and the "testimonies"!

This may just be an unusual Ward, but that doesn't help me and my family much does it!

To Sally T
For the sake of your daughter and husband you and they need to attend a different Ward from time to time to show that there are Wards that don't act like some of the "proud" church members of the Book of Mormon times. If there are no other Wards around then the Stake President needs to know what is being taught in that SS class. No wonder Elder Oaks is saying that Church teachers must stick strictly to the lesson manuals. It is important to be meek and not let others drive your life but family is also important. Not the first time something like this has happened and it will be corrected with time but a little damage control is necessary at the present time.

"even before it became Ward knowledge"??

That is another problem altogether. Mormons are the biggest gossip-mongers on the face of the planet!

Run, Sally, Run!