“Every Knee Shall Bow and Every Tongue Confess”

Bryan Richards

Anyone who has had a long conversation with a non-believer is comforted by this verse. It can be very frustrating to present spiritual evidence to the atheist only to be turned away and ridiculed. Yet the atheist and the anti-Mormon must finally humble themselves. At the final judgment day, the Lord will force them to eat their piece of humble pie. Although they may have been the most convincing and reticent, their legs cannot withstand the power of God, nor can their lying tongue continue to berate his goodness, for ’every knee shall bow and every tongue confess…that he is God…and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye.’ Elder Maxwell emphasizes the difference between their pain and the joy of the righteous at that day.

Neal A. Maxwell

"In that context, at the judgment bar of God we will ’praise and adore at the mercy seat.‘ We will not ’stand all amazed’-instead we will kneel all amazed! Knowing the grandness and scope of God’s work, we shall participate in that moment when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ (Philippians 2:10; D&C 76:110). Among those kneeling will be vilest of sinners, for whose sins Jesus also suffered (Mosiah 28:4). Among all the knees bending and the tongues confessing will be those of the leaders of all earthly religious movements, however diverse, good, or commendable those movements have been.
"What we will feel on that occasion will be God‘s and Jesus’ perfect love for us-not a scolding sternness but a profound kindness and immense tenderness. As these virtues flow from them toward us, many will feel the scalding shame of not having returned that love. As we feel their perfect love, we will confess that the justice and mercy of God are likewise perfect.
“To stand approved of God at that great and last day-such is the challenge, such is the crucial nature of spiritual submissiveness while living in a tutoring world, ’for in this world [our] joy is not full’ (D&C 101:36). Body and spirit are not yet inseparably connected, death will come to us, yet we have been given profound promises.” (Not My Will, But Thine Be Done, p. 141)

Neal A. Maxwell

“On Judgment Day, not only will every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ but also, as elaborating Book of Mormon prophets tell us, everyone, including those who have lived without God in the world, will also openly acknowledge that God is God and will confess before God that His judgments are just and merciful (see Mosiah 16:1; 27:31; Alma 12:15). Part of the basis for demonstrating the perfection of God’s justice and mercy will thus be the cumulative record which we ourselves will have made (see Alma 41:7). Out of this we can be justly judged, a judgment that will include our compliance with outward gospel ordinances with all their respective covenants.” (Lord, Increase Our Faith, p. 75)

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