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John 8:1-11 tells about when the Pharisees brought a woman who had sinned to Jesus and reminded Him that under the law of Moses she should be stoned. Jesus' answer reveals how we should react to the sins of others. He said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Clearly, none of us are without sin. We talked about not judging others, being tolerant, and concentrating on our own weaknesses rather than other's. We also mentioned that gossipping about other people's sins is kind of like stoning them in some ways.

We should cultivate tolerance. At the same time there are some very important things to remember. Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve said:

“Although [God] loves the sinner, he ‘cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.’ (D&C 1:31.) As sinners we will better appreciate his love and kindness if similar abhorrence for sin impels us to transform our lives through repentance” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, 59).

We watched a clip of Elder Nelson saying this:

“I have been impressed to speak on the subject of tolerance—a virtue much needed in our turbulent world. But in discussing this topic, we must recognize at the outset that there is a difference between tolerance and tolerate. Your gracious tolerance for an individual does not grant him or her license to do wrong, nor does your tolerance obligate you to tolerate his or her misdeed. That distinction is fundamental to an understanding of this vital virtue” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 90; or Ensign, May 1994, 69).

And then we read this quote that President Hinckley gave in the year 2000:

“Teach them to seek for good friends. They are going to have friends, good or bad. Those friends will make a vast difference in their lives. It is important that they cultivate an attitude of tolerance toward all people, but it is more important that they gather around them those of their own kind who will bring out the best they have within them. Otherwise they may be infected with the ways of their associates.”

Also in John 8, in verse 32 it says, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." We spent the remainder of the class time discussing how sin can trap us spiritually, socially, mentally, and physically. The students came up with some great examples which we wrote on the chalkboard.