All people will stand before God at the end of their mortal life to be judged for their actions. This judgment will come only after they have a complete understanding of God’s plan and have had an opportunity to repent of their sins, which is possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
God gives all His children the gift of agency—the ability to choose. Each one of us is given the opportunity to make our own choices and determine our own course through life. God makes sure that all His children will have a fair understanding of His commandments and the consequences of our actions, whether we learn those things in this life or as spirits after death.
With the knowledge of God’s commandments and His plan for us, we are able to choose whether or not to follow Him. God’s commandments will bring us lasting happiness, but He will never force us to follow Him. Because we are human, we will all make mistakes. That is part of life. God knows this and allowed His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins so that if we sincerely repent, we can be forgiven. This is a continual, lifelong process, and God encourages us to do our best.
After a lifetime of making choices, each person will stand before God to be judged. Those who have tried their best to repent and obey God’s commandments will be able to live with Him forever, which is the greatest of all God’s blessings.
Scriptures About the Final Judgment
- Romans 2:6–9; Revelation 20:12–13 (the Judgment)
- Alma 11:41, 45; Mormon 7:6; 9:13–14 (we are judged in a resurrected state)
- 2 Nephi 29:11; 3 Nephi 27:23–26 (books used in the Judgment)
- Alma 41:2–7 (our judgment is determined by our works, the desires of our hearts, repentance, enduring to the end)
- Mormon 3:22 (repent and prepare to stand before the judgment seat)
- Luke 12:47–48; D&C 82:3 (of whom much is given, much is required)
- D&C 88:16–33 (we each receive that for which we are worthy)
Quotes About the Judgment
“God does not judge men as we do, nor look upon them in the same light that we do. He knows our imperfections—all the causes, the ‘whys and wherefores’ are made manifest unto Him. He judges us by our acts and the intents of our hearts. His judgments will be true, just and righteous; ours are obscured by the imperfections of man” (Joseph F. Smith, in Journal of Discourses, 24:78).
“We may deceive one another, and, in some circumstances, as counterfeit coin passes for that which is considered true and valuable among men. But God searches the hearts and tries the reins of the children of men. He knows our thoughts and comprehends our desires and feelings; he knows our acts and the motives which prompt us to perform them. He is acquainted with all the doings and operations of the human family, and all the secret thoughts and acts of the children of men are open and naked before him, and for them he will bring them to judgment” (John Taylor, in Journal of Discourses, 16:301–2).
“Because Jesus is the Son of Man of Holiness he has been given the power to execute judgment, to sit in judgment at the great and last day, to call all men forth in immortality to stand before his bar” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:190, 192, 195).
Trackbacks/Pingbacks