The Judgment-Seat of Christ

Mormon explained one of the major reasons he was writing the text that became the Book of Mormon in these words: “And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all. And 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” (Mormon 3:20). The Book of Mormon was written so that we would know that at one specific, future day, we will personally stand before the judgment-seat of Christ to be judged of our works. There is no escaping it, and we find this message from Mormon multiple times in the text, reminding us that this future day cannot be avoided. For example, Mormon wrote this as he discussed the mission of the three Nephites: “They can show themselves unto whatsoever man it seemeth them good. Therefore, great and marvelous works shall be wrought by them, before the great and coming day when all people must surely stand before the judgment-seat of Christ” (3 Nephi 28:30-31). None of us can escape that coming day, and we will not be able to hide anything. Mormon, viewing the destruction of his people, clearly declared in writing to them, “And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works” (Mormon 6:21). Mormon also wrote in his final chapter: “And [Christ] hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby 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). Through Christ we can be found guiltless at our judgment day if we so choose. To do so, we must accept and heed His words, as Mormon implored: "Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ” (Moroni 8:21).

Other writers in the Book of Mormon also highlighted the importance of the judgment-seat of Christ where we will one day be judged. Nephi wrote, “I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat…. Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness” (2 Nephi 33:7, 11). We will know in that day for a surety that the words of Nephi are true as we stand before the bar of God, and the Lord will want to know what we have done with them. Nephi’s brother Jacob also taught: “And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God” (2 Nephi 9:15). We cannot avoid that future day—there is no way around it. Moroni, like Nephi, wrote that he would meet us there at our day of judgment: “And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus” (Ether 12:38-39). The very last verse of the Book of Mormon similarly alludes to this day when we will be at the bar of God: “I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead” (Moroni 10:34). The whole purpose of the Book of Mormon is to help us be prepared for that day which will indeed be “pleasing” if we have come unto Christ and become perfect through Him. The testimony of Jesus found in the Book of Mormon, as Moroni highlighted in the Title Page, will help us to prepare for that day so that we “may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”