“They Are Their Own Judges”

Bryan Richards
“Because in that day of judgment the works of man will be evident, because there will be nothing hidden, and because we will have a perfect knowledge of our uncleanness as well as of our happiness, it will not be necessary for a designated person to consider our case and adjudicate our life. We will be what we have become. Our natures will have been prepared for that kingdom of glory which is most appropriate to the decisions we have made in mortality.” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 306)

Joseph Smith

“The great misery of departed spirits in the world of spirits, where they go after death, is to know that they come short of the glory that others enjoy and that they might have enjoyed themselves, and they are their own accusers.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 311)

Spencer W. Kimball

"Many people have a difficult time in assuming the blame for their misfortunes. There must always be a scapegoat. If they fall, they look about to see who pushed them. If they fail, they assess the failure to others who prevented them or did not help them. Thus if what they call ‘bad luck’ attends them, they are prone to blame fortune rather than themselves. And in the ultimate, the Lord gets blamed for many of our woes and seldom gets thanked for our achievements.
"Two Book of Mormon prophets help to set the record straight on this. Alma told his son, Corianton: ’… And thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.’ (Al. 4:7.) And from Mormon we learn that ’it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished.’ (Morm. 4:5.)
“But however he tries, a man cannot escape the consequences of sin. They follow as the night follows the day. Sometimes the penalties are delayed in coming, but they are as sure as life itself. Remorse and agony come. Even ignorance of the law does not prevent, though it may mitigate, the punishment. Remorse may be pushed aside with bravado and brainwashing, but it will return to prick and pinch. It may be drowned in alcohol or temporarily shocked into numbness in the increasing sins which follow, but the conscience will eventually awaken, and remorse and sorrow will be followed by pain and suffering and finally torture and distress in the exquisite degree…And the longer repentance is pushed into the background the more exquisite will be the punishment when it finally comes to the fore.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.141-142)

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