GPC46: Comments and Resources

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Gospel Principles
Unit 10: Life after Death
Chapter 46: The Last Judgment
Comments and Resources

"Every man that dies shall live again, and shall stand before the bar of God, to be judged according to his works, whether they be good or evil.  It is then that all will have to give an account for their stewardship in this mortal life."  (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 69)

During the study of this topic, we will learn more about how the Lord will judge us and what the rewards will be.


Resources
Gospel Principles, chapter 46.
The Articles of Faith, chapter 22.
Topical Guide: Judgment, the Last; Degrees of Glory; Outer Darkness.
Bible Dictionary:  <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/contents> Degrees of Glory.
 

Concept 1: Judgments of God

'We are often told in the Scriptures  that the day will come when we will stand before God and be judged.  We need to understand how judgment takes place so we can be better prepared for this important event.

The Scriptures  teach that all of us will be judged according to our works: "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Revelation 20:12, also 
D&C 76:111 "For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared;";
1 Nephi 15:32 "And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation."; 
Abraham 3:25-28 "25. And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; 26. And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. 27. And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. 28. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him.").

In this scripture, John the Revelator is referring to the Final Judgment.  This judgment is the last in a long series of judgments.  In the premortal life all spirits who were judged worthy were allowed to receive a body and come to earth.  Here on earth we are often judged as to our worthiness to receive opportunities within the kingdom of God.  When we are baptized we are judged worthy to receive this ordinance.  When we are called to serve in the Church or interviewed for a priesthood advancement or a temple recommend, we are judged.

Alma taught that when we die our spirits are assigned to a state of happiness or of misery (Alma 40:11-15 "11. Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection--Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. 
12. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. 
13. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil--for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house--and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil. 
14. Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. 
15. Now, there are some that have understood that this state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection, the raising of the spirit or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken.").  This is a partial judgment.

Discussion

Name some of the judgments we have received and will receive.'


Concept 2: Our Words, Works, and Thoughts Are Used to Judge Us

'The prophet Alma testified, "Our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; . . . and our thoughts will also condemn us" (Alma 12:14).

The Lord said: "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

Only through faith in Jesus Christ can we be prepared for the Final Judgment.  Through faithful discipleship to him and repentance of all our sins, we can be forgiven for our sins and become pure and holy so that we can dwell in the presence of God.  As we repent of our sins, giving up every impure thought and act, the Holy Ghost will change our hearts so we no longer have even the desire to sin.  Then when we are judged, we will be found ready to enter into God's presence.

Discussion

Imagine hearing all your thoughts, words, and actions revealed at the Judgment.  Think about what you can do to improve your thoughts, words, and actions.'


Concept 3: We Will Be Judged by Records

'The Prophet Joseph Smith said that the dead will be judged out of records kept on earth.  We will also be judged out of the "book of life," which is kept in heaven (D&C 128:6-8 "6. And further, I want you to remember that John the Revelator was contemplating this very subject in relation to the dead, when he declared, as you will find recorded in Revelation 20:12--And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 
7. You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the records which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the book of life is the record which is kept in heaven; the principle agreeing precisely with the doctrine which is commanded you in the revelation contained in the letter which I wrote to you previous to my leaving my place--that in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven. 
8. Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ordinances in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world, according to the records which they have kept concerning their dead.").

"We are going to be judged out of the things written in books, out of the revelations of God, out of the temple records, out of those things which the Lord has commanded us to keep. . . . There will be the record in heaven which is a perfect record" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:200).

There is another record that will be used to judge us. The Apostle Paul taught that we ourselves are the most complete record of our life (Romans 2:15; "Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;"    
2 Corinthians 3:1-3 "1. DO we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some [others], epistles of commendation to you, or [letters] of commendation from you?  
2. Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 
3. [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."). 
Stored in our body and mind is a complete history of everything we have done.  President John Taylor taught this truth: "[The individual] tells the story himself, and bears witness against himself. . . .  That record that is written by the man himself in the tablets of his own mind--that record that cannot lie--will in that day be unfolded before God and angels, and those who sit as judges" (Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Latter-day Prophets Speak, pp. 56-57).

Discussion

What are three records from which we will be judged? How do our daily thoughts and actions influence these records?'


Concept 4: Those Who Will Judge

'The Apostle John taught that "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).  The Son, in turn, will call upon others to assist in the Judgment.  The Twelve who were with him in his ministry will judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28 "28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."; Luke 22:30 "That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.").  
The Nephite Twelve will judge the Nephite and Lamanite people (1 Nephi 12:9-10 "9. And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel. 
10. And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood."; 
Mormon 3:18-19 "18. Yea, behold, I write unto all the ends of the earth; yea, unto you, twelve tribes of Israel, who shall be judged according to your works by the twelve whom Jesus chose to be his disciples in the land of Jerusalem. 
19. And I write also unto the remnant of this people, who shall also be judged by the twelve whom Jesus chose in this land; and they shall be judged by the other twelve whom Jesus chose in the land of Jerusalem.").  President John Taylor said the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles in our own dispensation will also judge us (see The Mediation and Atonement, p. 157).

Discussion

John 5:22. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" 
Who is at the head of the Judgment of all people?  Who will help judge the people living in our day?'


Concept 5: Assignment to Glories

'At the Final Judgment we will be assigned to the kingdom for which we are prepared.  We will be sent to one of four places: the celestial kingdom (the highest degree of glory), the terrestrial kingdom (the second degree), the telestial kingdom (the lowest degree), or outer darkness (the kingdom of the devil--not a degree of glory).

In Doctrine and Covenants 76, the Lord described the ways we can choose to live our mortal lives.  He explained that our choices will determine which of the four kingdoms we are prepared for.  We learn from this revelation that even members of the Church will inherit different kingdoms because they will not be equally faithful and valiant in their obedience to Christ.

The following are the kinds of lives we can choose to live and the kingdoms our choices will obtain for us.

Celestial

"They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized, . . . that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit." These are they who overcome the world by their faith. They are just and true so that the Holy Ghost can seal their blessings upon them. (D&C 76:51-53. "51. They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given-- 
52. That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; 
53. And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.")  Those who inherit the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, who become gods, must also have been married for eternity in the temple (D&C 131:1-4 "1. IN the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; 
2. And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; 
3. And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. 
4. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase."). All who inherit the celestial kingdom will live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever (D&C 76:62 "These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.").

Terrestrial

These are they who rejected the gospel on earth but afterward received it in the spirit world. These are the honorable people on the earth who were blinded to the gospel of Jesus Christ by the craftiness of men. These are also they who received the gospel and a testimony of Jesus but then were not valiant. They will be visited by Jesus Christ but not by our Heavenly Father. (D&C 76:73-79. "73. And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; 
74. Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it. 
75. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76. These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness. 
77. These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father. 
78. Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun. 
79. These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.") They will not be part of eternal families; they will live separately and singly forever (see D&C 131:1-4).

Telestial

These people did not receive the gospel or the testimony of Jesus either on earth or in the spirit world.  They will suffer for their own sins in hell until after the Millennium, when they will be resurrected.  "These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie."    These people are as numerous as the stars in heaven and the sand on the seashore.  They will be visited by the Holy Ghost but not by the Father or the Son. (D&C 76:81-86 "81. And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament. 
82. These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus. 
83. These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit. 
84. These are they who are thrust down to hell. 
85. These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work. 
86. These are they who receive not of his fulness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial;", 
76:103-106."103. These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. 
104. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth. 
105. These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. 
106. These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work;")

Outer Darkness

These are they who had testimonies of Jesus through the Holy Ghost and knew the power of the Lord but allowed Satan to overcome them.  They denied the truth and defied the power of the Lord.  There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it.  They will not have a kingdom of glory.  They will live in eternal darkness, torment, and misery with Satan and his angels forever. (D&C 76:28-35 "28. And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ-- 
29. Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about. 
30. And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us: 
31. Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power-- 
32. They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born; 
33. For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity; 
34. Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come-- 
35. Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame.", 
76:44-48 "44. Wherefore, he saves all except them--they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment-- 
45. And the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; 
46. Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof; 
47. Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again; 
48. Wherefore, the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this condemnation.".)

Discussion

What are the three degrees of glory and outer darkness and who will go to each? (see D&C 76:50-88).'


Concept 6: We Should Prepare Now for Judgment

'In reality, every day is a day of judgment.  We speak, think, and act according to celestial, terrestrial, or telestial law.  Our faith in Jesus Christ, as shown by our daily actions, determines which kingdom we will inherit.

We have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness.  The gospel is the law of the celestial kingdom.  All the priesthood ordinances necessary for our progression have been revealed.  We have entered the waters of baptism and have made a covenant to live Christlike lives.  If we are faithful and keep the covenants we have made, the Lord has told us what our judgment will be.  He will say unto us: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).

Discussion

What must we do to be ready for the Final Judgment?  Think how you would feel about hearing the words recorded in Matthew 25:34 spoken to you.

Additional Scriptures 

D&C 88:98-102 (sounding of the trumps of judgment)
http://Scriptures.lds.org/dc/88/98-102#98

Alma 11:41; 11:45; Mormon 7:6; 9:13-14 (we are judged in a resurrected state)
http://Scriptures.lds.org/query?words=Alma+11%3A41%3B+11%3A45%3B+Mormon+7%3A6%3B+9%3A13-14

2 Nephi 29:11; 3 Nephi 27:23-26 (books used in the Judgment)
http://Scriptures.lds.org/query?words=2+Nephi+29%3A11%3B+3+Nephi+27%3A23-26

Alma 41:2-7 (our judgment is determined by our works, the desires of our hearts, repentance, enduring to the end)
http://Scriptures.lds.org/query?words=Alma+41%3A2-7

Mormon 3:22 (repent and prepare to stand before the judgment seat)
22. And I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.

Luke 12:47-48; D&C 82:3 (of whom much is given, much is required)
http://Scriptures.lds.org/query?words=Luke+12%3A47-48%3B+D%26C+82%3A3

D&C 88:16-33 (we each receive that for which we are worthy)'
http://Scriptures.lds.org/query?words=D%26C+88%3A16-33


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Moroni 10:4-5
"4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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