Testing the words of LDS leaders with Biblical Truth:
January 2010
Young Women Manual 2, Lesson 1: Drawing Closer to Jesus Christ
* Through Her Efforts, a Young Woman Can Draw Closer to the Savior (pages 3-4):
Explain that Doctrine and Covenants 88:63 gives us some general guidelines about how we can each develop a closer friendship with the Savior. Have one of the young women read this scripture aloud. What three words from this verse tell us how to draw near to the Savior? (Ask, seek, knock.) …Point out that becoming like the Savior is not an overnight process. It takes time, effort, and genuine desire. One of the reasons we have the Church is to help us grow closer to Jesus. Tell the young women that the lessons this year will help them draw nearer to Jesus by helping them develop characteristics that he has, such as patience, love, forgiveness, and charity.
Test these LDS Words with Biblical Truth:
Have you ever read the story about the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ dirty feet with her tears and her hair?
“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”
What I love about this story is that she had the courage to enter the Pharisees house–because she heard that her Savior was there. She had to have known that the Pharisee would be very judgmental of her; but she didn’t care—she did it anyway. You know why? Jesus explained why to the Pharisee:
“Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.” (Luke 7)
This sinful woman knew that through her Savior she had been forgiven. I can really relate to her. I spent most of my life trying to “earn” forgiveness through the LDS process of repentance. I failed miserably, over and over again. When I was thirty-six years old I heard the truth about gaining forgiveness. You can’t obtain it through works. It can only be granted through faith in the shed blood of a perfect sacrifice. Jesus was that sacrifice. When I turned to Him in faith, I received the forgiveness of all my sins.
It was at that moment that I understood what Jesus meant. There is no one that I love more than my Lord. Because He gave me my hearts desire, He is the love of my life! Through His shed blood I have been washed clean. Because I have been forgiven much, I love Him much. That knowledge is what draws a person closer to their Savior!
Jesus is your Substitute. As your substitute He perfectly obeyed every single command that you could not obey. As your substitute, He took the punishment that you deserved because of your sins. Out of His great love for you, He shed His life’s-blood and won your forgiveness of sins. Through the knowledge that all your sins have been completely forgiven comes the ability to forgive others:
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:13-17
The Apostle John revealed why we love God:
“We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Co 5:14-15
Jesus taught us how we can show mercy to others, it’s because we know how much mercy we have been given: “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Lk 6:36
When you love God, truly love Him because of what He has done for you, you will desire to serve Him with every breath you take. The love you have for God becomes unquenchable! If you would like to read about an LDS Young Woman who fell in love with God,
go to this blog Page: “Are You One Hundred Percent?” written December 6, 2008: or Click here:
Here you will see a short video clip of a Young Woman who was once LDS. Listen to her express the joy she feels of being set free to obey God out of love. Listen as she tells of her close relationship with Jesus Christ and compare that with what this lesson teaches. Or, as the Post references, Elaine Dalton’s challenge to be 100%.
Link to LDS Lesson: https://www.lds.org/manual/young-women-manual-2/living-as-a-daughter-of-god/lesson-1-drawing-closer-to-jesus-christ?lang=eng
Latter-day Saint Woman 