Cast The First Stone

Brock Turner

A name I had never heard until about a week ago when it showed trending on my Facebook feed.

I read the story, was upset, and decided to click into the victim's letter to the judge.

Thoughts crossed my mind, "How could 6 months be enough jail time for what this cruel monster did to this poor girl?"

" The means don't justify the end."

Just because he was drunk does not excuse his behavior. It doesn't help that his father tried to defend his boy and take no responsibility for what his son did in a letter released. It poured gasoline on a raging forest fire.

My initial reaction to this kid's story was that since the US justice department did not deal justly in his sentence (in my -and it seems the whole world's- opinion) that it was now our job to make sure justice is served by destroying this young man on social media and publicizing his sins. So I took up my stone thinking "Isn't this what I would want if this had been my daughter in this situation? Social media rolling behind us, destroying the filth that harmed my family?"

And then I felt guilt.

I realized that my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not where it should be.

Just a few days before this I had wrote a comment on facebook about my views on the atonement

"It is not true that someone can use the atonement more than another. It doesn't work like that. It isn't a well I sinned 5% today, and that person over there sinned 80%, which means I am a better person because I needed to use less of the atonement. No. It doesn't work that way. Once we sin in the least degree, whether it is 90%, 50%, or 0.001% , we all disqualify ourselves for heaven, which makes us all sinners with equal need for the atonement. The Lord has said that He “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (D&C 1:31). He doesn't say "small sins" or Large and egregious sins." he just says SIN.  All of us need the atonement 100% of the time, and if we think we don't, then we obviously don't understand it. "

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?... He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone..."

I think God was trying to test my words to see if it matched my behavior. If this is truly how I felt, my reaction to the Brock Turner case would be Mercy and pain for a fellow sibling who made a mistake that caused another harm. And I would be OK with him receiving that mercy, because I know on the other side of the problem, the rape victim would receive the same comfort, care, love, and peace from the Savoir as well. And knowing that quenches my thirst for justice in her behalf.


I guess what I am trying to say is that if I truly believed my above statement-my reaction should not be to be the master of justice, Because, at this point, the act has been done.  I don't think casting stones at this poor boy at this point is going to lead him to repentance, only the God of Israel can do that. And I would rather not be one of the Pharisees or scribes seen holding a stone at the last day when God asks me, "What did you try to do to help bring your fellow brother to salvation when he made a mistake?"

I do feel that a major mistake has been made on the part of the Justice system in his sentencing. And I feel that it needs to be addressed and adjustments made to prevent this kind of mistake in the future. But that is where why energy will go. Not to declare damnation to the boy who committed this crime. I am pretty sure if he was the one to make the choice between being crucified on social media and going to prison for 5 years, He would choose the latter. The Judge's ruling of 6 months in jail unfortunately created a lifelong sentence for the 19 year old Brock Turner. The world will forever remember him for his one big mistake in life. 

Does this mean I think Mr. Tuner is not guilty? Not at all. He is 100% guilty. Do I still fight back feelings of anger because of what he did to another daughter of God? Yes.  But the beauty of the atonement is that we can be 100% guilty, and still be 100% forgiven if we decide to repent and forsake our sins. And those hurt by another's agency can be healed and find peace as a result of that same Atonement of Jesus Christ

I may view him as one of those 95% sinners and myself only 20%, but I need the atonement just as much as he does, no matter what degree our sins are. And for his sake I hope he uses it to find peace from a world that would try to convince him his sin is unforgivable. I will put my stones down and direct my desire that God will grant all of us Grace and Mercy for the unforgivable things we all do.