Bishops are the Judges of Your Worthiness
Young Women Manual 2, Appreciating the Bishop, p. 41; “The bishop presides over every person in the ward and directs their local church activities. … All of your adolescent life you will be under the direction of the bishop. He will appoint teachers and supervisors to do his work, but he will be very much interested in your progress. Your life here will be constantly weighed by him, for he is the judge of your worthiness … to receive higher ordinances, and to be worthy to go to the Temple.”
Ephesians 1:6-7; “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
The comforting words from the apostle Paul should be shared with the Mormon people before they go in for their temple worthiness interviews. It’d be a great idea to share this passage with the bishops as well!
I can’t even begin to imagine a lifetime of that feeling of never really “measuring up” to the Mormon’s expectations. It must be so depressing never to know if you are ‘okay’. Especially as referenced above for young women. They never can achieve that alone by the Mormon’s teachings, etc. How discouraging!
Wonderful post of God’s unconditional love that wipes that all out.
Oh, you have no idea… When I was 14 and going for a temple recommend from the Bishop, he asked questions about my thoughts and actions.
He asked me if I had ever thought of or done things that I had never even heard of before… which got me interested in finding out what I was missing…
There was also the impending doom associated with going to a non-LDS church or reading something of a “spiritual nature” that wasn’t written by the church…
Praise be to Jesus for setting me free from the bondage!!! I love the song “Forgiven” by Sanctus Real…
“When I don’t measure up to much in this life
Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9FW1dz3Lrg