Jesus Shows Mercy to an Adulteress and Encourages Her to Repent
John 8:1–11
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
President Thomas S. Monson said:
“One of the most touching examples of mercy and forgiveness is the well-remembered experience in the life of Jesus, when He ‘went unto the mount of Olives.
“‘And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
“‘And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
“‘They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
“‘Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
“‘This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
“‘So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
“‘And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
“‘And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
“‘When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are . . . thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
“‘She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more’ [John 8:1–11].
“The sands of time quickly erased what the Savior had written, but forever will be remembered the mercy He showed. . . .
“My sincere and humble prayer . . . is that each of us may be the provider and the recipient of mercy—the divine gift. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
(“Mercy—The Divine Gift,” Ensign, May 1995, 60.)
