The Final Judgement

In this episode of Gospel First, join Joe Cirillo as he delves into the concept of the final judgment, exploring who will judge us and the criteria for our judgment. Drawing on scriptures from the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. The episode emphasizes the significance of following God's plan of salvation to achieve a Christ-like character and eternal happiness.

Transcription:

If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death and we stood before Him to be judged on how we spent our time in life, who would do the judging and what would we be judged on?  In this lesson we’ll discover the answers to these questions and more.

Some individuals imagine the Final Judgment as God using scales labeled "good" on one side and "bad" on the other. They believe that if the good outweighs the bad, they'll enter the celestial kingdom. However, this isn't an accurate portrayal of what will actually happen.

It's important to understand that the Final Judgment could be more described as the "Final Placement" or "Eternal Judgment." This means it determines where we will be placed in our eternal kingdoms, whether it's celestial, terrestrial, or telestial.

The Final Judgment happens after the resurrection.  According to Alma 12:15, it's the recognition that God's judgments are always fair and that He is both just and merciful to all. However, it's essential to understand that the Final Judgment is the last of many judgments. Throughout our lives and as we advance through the plan of salvation, God judges us at various points.

As discussed in our earlier lesson, we were judged in the premortal existence and because we remained faithful to God’s plan, we were deemed worthy to come to earth.  Alma 40:12-14  teaches that we are judged when we die and enter the spirit world and are assigned to either spirit paradise or spirit prison.  We are judged at the Second Coming of Christ, whether according to Helaman 4:24 teaches, we are faithful to His commandments, worthy of His Spirit, and D&C 130:21-22 qualified to receive His blessings.

Who Will Do the judging?  There are various perspectives on the Final Judgment, but ultimately, it is Jesus Christ who serves as the final judge.  As stated in John 5:22, Jesus himself  said  “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.”

In 2 Nephi 9:15, the Nephite prophet Jacob explained, “When all men have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment.” This judgment is made possible through Jesus' Atonement, as articulated in 2 Nephi 9:41, where it is stated that “He alone is the keeper of the gate” and judges who may enter the celestial kingdom of God.  Furthermore, D&C 45:3 emphasizes that only He possesses the authority to recommend and present those who, by virtue of their covenants and faithfulness to Him, qualify for eternal life with God.

Furthermore, according to 1 Nephi 12:9, Nephi received a vision indicating that Jesus' Twelve Apostles would be responsible for judgment.   He said, “Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb?  Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel.  Additionally, individuals like Joseph Smith, who have held keys of the priesthood in other dispensations, will also have a role in the judgment process.

It's worth noting that we will also have a role in judging ourselves. Alma conveyed in Alma 41:7 that individuals "are their own judges”.  Some may wonder if they can simply judge themselves worthy of entering the celestial kingdom. However, there are two crucial points to consider. First, there's no way to sneak in, as indicated by the verse referring to Jesus as the "keeper of the gate." Second, even if it were possible to sneak in, we wouldn't want to.

Moroni, the prophet, explained in Mormon 9:3-4  this way:  “Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?  Behold, I say unto you  that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell.”

To put it simply, even if wicked individuals could somehow enter heaven, they wouldn't want to because they would feel incredibly uncomfortable. It's akin to attending a formal event wearing casual clothes— they'd feel completely out of place.

Brad Wilcox a Latter-day Saint author and speaker related this story that helps illustrate this point.  He said:  “I know a young man who just got out of prison—again. … When he was a teenager dealing with every bad habit a teenage boy could have, I said to his father, “We need to get him to EFY (Especially For Youth)”...  His dad said, “I can’t afford that.” I said, “I can’t afford it either, but you put some in, and I’ll put some in …”
We finally got the kid to EFY, but how long do you think he lasted?  Not even a day.  By the end of the first day, he called his mother and said, “Get me out of here!” 

Heaven will not be heaven for those who have not chosen to be heavenly. …

… The older I get, and the more I understand this wonderful plan of redemption, the more I realize that in the final judgment, it will not be the unrepentant sinner begging Jesus, “let me stay.”  No, he will probably be saying, “Get me out of here!”

If we are unworthy to be in God's presence, we will naturally not desire to dwell there. Nevertheless, according to D&C 88:40, it is worth noting that  “truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; and light cleaveth unto light.”  This means that those who have faithfully followed Christ and have become like Him, as described in Alma 5:14, having "received his image in their countenances," will feel completely at home in God's kingdom.

What Will We Be Judged On?  Alma 12:14 tells us that at the Final Judgment, we know that we will—in some way—account for our actions, words, and thoughts.  Regarding our works, the Apostle John in Revelations 20:12 said, “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened . . . and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works”.

In Matthew 12:36, the Savior emphasized that  “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”.  This serves as a powerful incentive for all of us to be mindful of the words we use and the manner in which we speak.

And Alma in Alma 12:14 added that not only will we account for our words and deeds, but “our thoughts will also condemn us” which is one more reason why we should strive to have clean thoughts.

Finally, our judgment will not only consider our actions but also our intentions.   D&C 137:9 states that—for good and for bad—”the Lord will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts”.

What Have We Become?  But the Final Judgment is more than just what we’ve done or said or thought; it is about what we’ve become.   Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught:  “The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done.  It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions.  The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.”

In God's eyes, our character and who we've become will hold greater significance than our accomplishments. Moroni 7:48 explains that during the Judgment, God will look at our hearts.  He will look to see if our character is Christlike, if our hearts are pure, and if we have charity and love.

God will want to see if the person standing before Him has fulfilled the entire purpose of the plan of salvation, which is “to become like Him”.

Looking Forward to Judgment Day.  The Final Judgment is an event that will encompass everyone. As reiterated in Alma 12:15, each of us will ultimately “must come forth and stand before God in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion.” stand before God in his glory, power, might, majesty, and dominion." At this decisive moment, we can trust in God's unwavering sense of justice. Alma 42:22 underscores  that God will not disregard His laws and the need for faithfulness. He is a God of order and law, and it would not be fair or just for Him to deviate from these principles.  If he did, he would cease to be God.

We will not be able to hide from God or deceive him, or escape our deserved fate.  If our works have been evil and we haven’t repented, we will receive a just punishment.

But we also know from Alma 26:35 that Jesus “is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.”

Due to the goodness, kindness, and love bestowed upon us by God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, we can confidently expect to receive mercy despite our imperfections. This concept is emphasized by the prophet Lehi in 1 Nephi 1:14, where he teaches that Christ's power, goodness, and mercy extend to all the inhabitants of the earth. Because of Christ's mercy, those who approach Him will not perish!

In fact, according to Alma 42:15, the plan of salvation is frequently referred to as "the plan of mercy." For those who have embraced Christ and have become perfected in Him, the judgment will not bring strict justice, but rather they will encounter and be enveloped by mercy and salvation.

President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said, “I feel that God will give that punishment which is the very least that our transgression will justify. . . I believe that when it comes to making the rewards for our good conduct, he will give us the maximum that is possible to give.”

Sometimes, the idea of Judgment Day is seen with apprehension as if it's a day to dread. However, D&C 121:45 conveys that for those who have been disciples of Christ,  entered into covenants with Him, and experienced spiritual rebirth through His Atonement, “then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God”.
 
The Final Judgment can be seen as a joyous homecoming and a celebration of graduation, rather than a daunting test or trial. For those who have diligently prepared themselves through the Atonement of Christ, the Judgment will be a magnificent day—a day of receiving the rewards and recompense for a life of faithful perseverance. It's a day when, as mentioned in Matthew 25:34, the Lord will say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

What Questions Will I Be Asked at the Final Judgment?  President David O. Mckay said that someday you will have a personal interview with the Savior, himself.  I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.

First:  He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your spouse.  Have you actively been engaged in making them happy and ensuring that their needs have been met as an individual?

Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually.  He will not attempt to have this for simple family stewardship, but he will request information about your relationship to each and every child.

Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents that you were given in the pre-existence.

Fourth, He will want a summary of your activity in your church assignments.  He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had, for in his eyes, he will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellow men in your church assignments.

Fifth, he will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings.  And

Sixth, He will ask for accountability on what you have done to contribute  in a positive manner to your community, state, country and the world.

What Should I do If I’m scared for the day of judgment?  REPENT! If the prospect of the day of judgment makes you anxious, find solace in the reassuring message of 1 Nephi 22:22: "The righteous need not fear." If you are living righteously, there's no need to fret about the Judgment; it will be a remarkable and splendid day. However, if there are specific actions you are currently engaged in that would fill you with shame on the day of Judgment, then cease those actions today and commence the journey of repentance and transformation.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks asked:  “If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today?  What confessions would we make? What practice would we discontinue?  What accounts would we settle?  What forgiveness would we extend?  What testimony would we bear? If we would do those then, why not now?  We invite you to consider the things in your life which you want to make right before being judged by God, and we encourage you to act today on what comes to your mind.”

In these lessons of the three act play we have covered most of the major areas of God’s plan of salvation, from being foreordained in the premortal existence, to the creation of the world, to being born again, and many more.  Some people might not see how learning about God’s plan from the very beginning to the very end (things that have happened in the past, or that will happen in the future) applies to their everyday life right now. 

As we follow the pattern of making life decisions based on the plan of salvation, it will literally change our life and bless us forever.   Elder M. Russell Ballard promised, “Making life’s decisions based on our Heavenly Father’s plan is so important.  If we truly believe that we are his children and are here on earth to learn to live, by faith, the teachings and the commandments of God and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to live in their presence.”

In conclusion, I want to share my testimony of God's "great plan of happiness." I firmly believe that each of us on earth, as God's literal children, has a divine purpose. When we view our lives from an eternal perspective, we realize that our time here is short, just like a fleeting vapor, as stated in James 4:14. However, how we spend our time on earth has everlasting consequences.

I encourage everyone to faithfully learn about and follow God's grand plan. Most importantly, let's look to Jesus Christ as our example within this plan. We can draw near to Him by making and keeping sacred promises and by following His teachings.

I bear witness that Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life," and the only path to fulfilling the purpose of this divine plan. Just as we followed Him in our premortal existence, let's follow Him once more in this earthly life, for He has the power to save us.

Because we love our Heavenly Father, the best way to worship Him is by following His plan, realizing our divine potential, and ultimately becoming more like Him. I testify that this is possible.  As God's children, through His divine plan of salvation, we can truly "become like Him and receive a fullness of joy."  And I bear this testimony in the sacred name of Jesus Christ Amen.

This ends our lessons on the three ACT play on the Plan of Salvation.  I hope that these lessons have given you a more clear picture for your life.  It really is a simple plan, a plan of happiness for your life.  God loves you and He wants you to come back to Him.  So, please take the time to check out the many resources available on this site that will help you to further enhance your understanding of the scriptures.

As usual, if you have any questions about the gospel, please feel free to leave us a message in the comments section below, and don’t forget to subscribe and share so that we can spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ together.  God Bless!