In all the eternities, there are only a handful of moments that especially stand out that redefine who we are. In order to understand our eternal destiny, we must understand the crux of time, where our true nature comes to light, i.e. the Final Judgment.
The word judgment in Hebrew is mishpat, which is to render a verdict. As I mentioned briefly in a previous article, we don't stand to be judged because we're awesome, we must stand to be judged because of our transgressions. Intentional or not, if we have trespassed a law we must answer for it. “For behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God” in order to be judged, where we are all the guilty party.
So how does The Lord judge us? As stated He “is no respecter of persons”. If it were not so, it would be impossible to have faith in such a fickle god. Thus “with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.” So obviously his standard is universal, applying to all of his children, regardless of circumstance, both to the rich and to the poor, to the educated and to the ignorant, to the bond and to the free, to male and to female, all will be judged the same way without exception.
So what is that standard you ask? Why the Laws of the Kingdoms of course. It is impossible to judge someone without a law to judge them against. As stated in the D&C “And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same ...
And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.”
We see here that preservation, perfection, and sanctification, all cometh of the law. Without these laws in place, the Kingdoms of Glory could not be maintained, and it is for this reason that He judges, not to condemn or to create artificial social positions, but rather to protect, save, and uplift us as much as possible.
I have covered the laws themselves in further detail here, here and here, but to quickly recap let me just say that the laws separating the Kingdoms of Glory simply divide us by who we are, or rather by our natures: viz. the filthy man, the natural man, the just man, and the holy man.
This brings us to ask, by what means does God judge us, to determine our natures. The fact is he already knows at heart who and what we are, but just because he knows that we are sinners in our heart, doesn't mean that he dispenses justice upon us until we provoke it. Otherwise it would be no different than murdering Hitler as a baby. Without proof of his wickedness, his murder would be unjustified.
So how do we prove our inner natures, not only to The Lord, but to ourselves? The Lord has expressed himself on many occasions saying “They shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.” So does this mean that we simply need to look at the accomplishments and results that one has in life to judge a man?
Imagine if you will, a man who in the sincerity of his heart desires to save children from a burning orphanage. Unfortunately this man happens to be the clumsiest person alive, and as a result, instead of saving the children, he breaks handle to the exit, and causes the children to be burned alive.
Next imagine if you will his lustful, perverted brother who happens to be a virgin. He remains so simply because he lacks the ability to seduce women, living in agony at his inability to get a single one. He continually labors to sate his carnal desire, but unfortunately dies without being able to do so.
Now if you look at the results, there is one man who causes the death of every child in an orphanage, while on the other hand there is a man who lives his life while remaining entirely chaste. If described that way, we would be inclined to judge the first harshly, while letting the second off scot free.
I would ask of you, would God so judge and condemn the first man simply because of a twist of fate? Would He consign him to burning hells, just because of his incompetence? Of course not. On the other hand, would he judge the second man innocent and pure, being rewarded with a glorious rest, despite his obvious wickedness? The very idea is ridiculous. As mentioned before, God judges everyone regardless of any of their circumstances.
Very few people will argue that in the above situation, judging by one's results is a foolish thing, and yet we as professed Christians do the exact same thing and assume that He does likewise. We as foolish mortals, only see the outward results of an inward choice. And while we may not admit it on the outside, inwardly as we prosper in our pride we like to believe that “every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength” as Korihor the Anti-Christ said.
Unfortunately, as a consequence of this far ranging belief, there is far too much of an emphasis on results. We judge men according to the outcome of their actions and demand that they jump through hoops, saying that they cannot be saved unless they show direct results. If we were take and apply that frame of mind to His judgment, it would be full of loop holes and pot holes. And in any event, as we are all “unprofitable servants” His judgment would be harsh indeed.
So what does this mean, that he judges us according to our works? Both the Greek and Hebrew terms that have been translated to “works” is related to employment. In Hebrew works is “melakah” which is also labor, service, and deputyship and is is explicit in that the work is never forced, i.e. it is by choice and not slavery.
The Greek term is “ergon” and is also not only employment, but is related to the toil and effort. Just like in english, where when we say “we go to work”, we go to our place of employment, so it is that that is the meaning of works, in how we are Judged. When He judges us, it is not by the results of what we have accomplished which is very circumstantial and not equitable, but rather on who we follow, serve, and desire to work for. In other words, the most important question is who's your master.
Do we work to set up ourselves as a god, in like manner as Satan, refusing to acknowledge our faults? Do we serve our natural man and the lusts of the flesh, seeking the glory of the world and for riches and all manner of lasciviousness? Do we think to serve society and its needs, working to help our fellow man, and being concerned with what they think? Or finally do we serve the greatest and only real good, who is The Lord.
Whatever master we have chosen to serve is what sets us apart. Remember that “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
As I will expound in greater detail later, it is our very purpose of this life to find what it is we are willing to serve, to prove to ourselves what it is that we wish. If that is the case, then does it not make sense to judge by this very same standard? If we are here to find our heart's desire, then shouldn't be we judged by that thing which we ultimately choose to serve?
Ultimately our judgment rests upon our own choices, or the desires of our hearts as the following scripture more directly mentions “And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—
The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.”
If we replace “works” with “enterprises” we can plainly discern from the scripture above, that we will “inherit” our master's heritage, the heritage that we have desired. If we serve The Lord, we will inherit from Him, and if we serve the devil then that is who we will inherit from, for all “receive their wages of whom they list to obey.”
We should also note that the last verse doesn't even mention works anymore, only our desires. In other words there must be a likeness between desires and works for this scripture to make sense. Our choices and the resulting works and endeavors are born from our will and desires.
Even more directly, Alma states “I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.”
But of course, how can a man choose what he will, if he has no knowledge of whom he is serving? This is why it is said by Samuel the Lamanite: “And this to the intent that whosoever will believe might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon them; and also if they are condemned they bring upon themselves their own condemnation.
And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.”
When at last we shall stand before him, we shall all have the knowledge necessary to make our own choices. “Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.” When we stand at his Judgment bar there will be no excuses, none to say “I didn't know”. We will all know that we have chosen our fate according to our desires.
Finally, to gain a greater appreciation for the greatness and perfection of his judgment, let us look at a specific example of what happens when he does judge us, namely those that inherit a Telestial Kingdom. We know that they reject Christ's atonement and suffer for their own sins. This they do knowing full well the eternal implications, having a full knowledge of the glory of the Terrestrial that they are going to miss out on, as well as the horror of spiritual death that awaits them should they refuse to repent.
There is no mistake in their choice, it is not some sort of slip up. They choose their pride rather than life through Christ, even at God's Eternal judgment bar, for that is what they desire from core of their being. Those of a Telestial nature have proven by choice that death is preferable to bowing to Christ, and by so doing they reject the higher law of the Terrestrial kingdom.
Now I ask, would any complain after being judged by Him, seeing as they seal their own fate? Would any raise up their heads and cry unto god that the judgment is unfair or they have changed their minds?
If avoiding spiritual death is not a sufficient motive for these people, then what in the entire Telestial kingdom, a kingdom without pain, suffering, sickness, or death, would have the power to motivate them to throw away their pride? Why would they accept Him afterward, when they reject Him when they need him the most? They don't seek for a higher kingdom, not because they are forced into a jail called the Telestial kingdom, but rather because they don't want it. That is their choice.
Did not C.S. Lewis say that the door of hell is locked from the inside? The same thing can be said of any destination we arrive at. The doors are locked because we have chosen our fate.
This is not to say that if Satan had his way he'd stay in outer darkness. Looking at his actions now, we can see that given the chance he'll go on corrupting the souls of men forever. However God cannot allow that to continue, and thus will have him cast out. Satan will stay in outer darkness, beyond the veil of eternity, for he forever refuses to clear the conditions necessary to escape. Eternal torture is preferable to him.
Clearly God has the utmost respect for our desires and our agency, even for the Devil and his angels to a certain degree. He does not coerce us, as is evident when even one of his most gifted children, Lucifer, rebelled against him. God gave him the agency to choose for himself what he wanted. He didn't interfere but rather allowed us, His children to work it out. If God had intervened there would not have been a war in heaven; it would simply be Satan immediately being cast out.
Would a god who were to coerce his children truly be a charitable, loving god, a god who respects our agency? No he would not. Only a selfish and self-centered person would constrict the choices available to their children, so that they couldn't leave their own house. A truly loving parent will allow their children to leave their home, and choose their own path.
Even when we are separated from God, He isn't wracked with anxiety, for He knows us better than we know ourselves. As such He has prepared a mansion for all of us to dwell in, even if we don't choose the same path as Him. He desires our return but never forces it, and in the event we choose not to, He already knows where we are and what we are doing, for we his children will dwell in an everlasting kingdom of glory. There is no need for worry or doubt, for He knows His children have what they want.
As stated in D&C 88 “And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.”
From this we see that God grants to all “that which they are willing to receive”. He specifically typifies the Kingdoms of God as gifts, not punishments. The Kingdoms of God are physical extensions of how much of His will we are able to accept. The Sons of Perdition suffer for eternity because they are not willing, nor are grateful to receive the gift of life. The Telestial and Terrestrial do not increase for similar reasons.
Is God so incompetent that he makes mistakes in what he grants his children? Is he not able to save any child so lost by simple ignorance or mistake? Of course not. “we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance.”
He has the power to save. His laws and judgments are not superficial. People don't change their minds after he judges them, and grants unto them as much light as they can accept. He finds out exactly what they want before he grants it unto them. His law and judgment pierces us to the core of our souls. There is no doubt as to what we want after all we experience.
God's plan is perfect. He does not make mistakes, whether in justice or judgment. God's plan allows each person's potential to flower and bloom, bearing glorious fruit. He lifts us up, and grants us the power to fulfill the conditions that need to be passed to enter into His glory. He enables us to overcome every test that we have the desire to. Therefore if we “fail” to pass a test it is because we don't wish to, not because we haven't studied enough.
Therefore the temptations of Satan ultimately mean nothing, as every corrupt doctrine, every deception, every lie will be unmasked and the truth will prevail over all. Christ has already overcome all, and as such his grace is already present to alleviate the symptoms of Satan's betrayal. Any loss we may experience in the eternities is simply because we do not truly desire after what is lost.
Every child of God ends up where they will, of their own free will and choice. As the above scripture clearly indicates, the kingdoms of glory are not a punishment, but rather they are a glorious gift and a respite for all of God's children, and until one understands that, they know nothing of God or his plan of Salvation.
In the long run, He truly respects us as who we are, and isn't willing to compromise those principles of Eternal love to force us to change if we do not wish it. That is why his Judgment is so perfect. He gives us all of the tools to make our own choices and even frees us from the bondage of sin. We are free and are permitted to choose our own fate. None can complain for “The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.”
From our first coming into His presence as His spirit sons and daughters, to our final destiny in His kingdoms of glory, nothing stands out like the Final Judgment. It is the pivotal moment where Eternity hangs in the balance.
It is a moment of glory for all of His children for “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”
I testify that His judgment bar is only as painful as we make it, and that we can truly place all our trust in Him and His judgments. By knowing these things, we can gain the confidence and faith required to fulfill our purposes that we must accomplish in this life, to the salvation of our brethren. And if we labor and toil with our might for The Lord, then we will at last see him in His kingdom regardless of our circumstance. Amen.
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