Repentance and the Day of Judgment

Much of the writing that Mormon left us about his own times, Mormon 1-7, describes the awful scene of war and bloodshed that preceded the total destruction of the Nephites. Those chapters can feel perhaps not very applicable to us and a bit depressing to read, but there are also significant messages with universal themes within these chapters that we should be careful not to miss. For example, Mormon gave us a powerful invitation to “lay hold upon the gospel of Christ” and offered us this promise: “If it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment” (Mormon 7:8, 10). Despite the fact that he was burdened down by the sin and destruction of his own people, he still sought to reach out to all of us through his words, knowing that someday we would have them. His witness, as he understood so well from his own experiences, was that only the gospel of Jesus Christ will save us.

                An important theme that Mormon wrote about in these chapters about the destruction of his people was judgment. He declared, “For this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil.” He expressed his yearning for all of us: “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” (Mormon 3:20, 22). His witness was that each of us, no matter where or when we have lived, will one day stand accountable to God for our works. Mormon mourned for his own people who were slain and were unprepared for that day, testifying: “Ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed with your fathers who have gone before you. O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you” (Mormon 6:21-22). In his final chapter he witnessed to us that “man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat” and promised this glorious outcome for those who were prepared for that day: “He that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end” (Mormon 7:7). Despite the terrible wickedness around him, he still had great hope in the eternal future for the righteous.

                Mormon repeatedly encouraged his people and us to repent to prepare for that day of judgment. He recorded these words of the Lord, “Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared” (Mormon 3:2). He also wrote these words of warning from the Lord given for his people but certainly applicable to us: “Because this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they shall be cut off from the face of the earth” (Mormon 3:15). To us directly Mormon wrote, “And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways? Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll? Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you” (Mormon 5:22-24). The story of his people should serve to encourage us today to repent of our sins before it is too late. He summarized simply: “Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved…. Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities…. Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ” (Mormon 7:3,5,8). Mormon’s account of the destruction of the Nephites contains a powerful warning for all of us that we must repent and come unto the Savior lest a similar fate befall us.