Sunday Sentiments - The Pleasing Final Judgement

Lately I’ve wanted to jot down some of my thoughts and feelings as I do my personal gospel study. A few weeks ago, after our phone call with Nicky, I was able to look up a few things I’ve written in my journal and on my blog on spiritual topics and forward them to him, and it was really cool to have those things recorded. It made me so grateful for my ability to write. I often think of myself as a “documenter.” It’s something that has always come natural to me and that I enjoy doing. I’ve always been a journaler and record keeper. I’ve noticed that Nicky is the same way, but I don’t know if he’s ever paid close enough attention to realize where he gets it from. 

I don’t know how consistent I’ll be, but I’m going to try and post something each week pertaining to what I’ve studied recently. Sundays make sense - hence the title “Sunday Sentiments.” Oh, but it’s not Sunday, it’s Thursday! And that’s because I didn’t have this post finished on Sunday. When it comes to blog rules, I get to make and break them as I choose. Maybe I’ll have a Sunday Sentiment ready to go on the next actual Sunday! (No promises - just good intentions). 

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In a few different talks, Elder David A. Bednar, an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has spoken about how the Final Judgement can be looked forward to as a glorious day if we are spiritually prepared. In his most recent conference address he said, “I am intrigued by Moroni’s use of the word pleasing to describe the Final Judgement.” 

Last week I studied this talk in depth and thought a lot about what might be “pleasing” about the Final Judgement. I have lots of ideas. For one, I think it will be such a sacred and beautiful experience to have the Savior advocate for us as individuals. I think we will feel understood, loved, and supported in a way we never could have imagined. I also think we may find our Judgement to be less about punishment and more about progression. 

A recurring theme I come across almost any time I study the gospel is IDENTITY. It finds its way into every talk, every lesson, and every scripture account. It’s always there… Who are you? (Who am I?)

“There’s one common identity we all share now and forever… That is that you are and always have been a son or daughter of God… Understanding this truth - really understanding it and embracing it - is life-changing.”

-M Russell Ballard 

From the Young Women theme: a daughter of Heavenly parents.

From the Proclamation:  a spirit daughter of Heavenly parents with a divine nature and eternal destiny. 

From the Relief Society Declaration: a spirit daughter of God with a life that has meaning, purpose, and direction. 

And in each of these statements, there is an additional word I didn’t include:

BELOVED.

The same word that Heavenly Father has used to introduce and describe His perfect Son also describes how He feels about imperfect YOU and imperfect ME.

I think an additional thing we might find pleasing about the Judgement Day is that we won’t just be told we are BELOVED. I think we will actually feel BELOVED. 

"When you know and understand how completely you are loved as a child of God, it changes everything. It changes the way you feel about yourself when you make mistakes. It changes how you feel when difficult things happen. It changes your view of God's commandments. It changes your view of others and of your capacity to make a difference."

-Susan H. Porter

I think, of everything challenged by the adversary, nothing is more attacked than our identity. And rightly so! I mean, if I were the devil, I would employ that tactic - confuse people about who they are and whether they have value. Make them feel worthless and unworthy. 

In the scriptures (and in life in general), there’s a pattern that whenever someone is called to do a great work, they are prone to become burdened and afraid of their own weaknesses. In last week’s Come Follow Me study, we saw it with Enoch. The Lord called him to do a work, and right away, Enoch homed in on all of his flaws. “People don’t like me. I’m not a good speaker. I’m only 65, I don't know anything!” When better way to render Enoch immobile than to make him question himself?

I think at the Final Judgement we might become more secure in our identity and our divine nature. President Dallin H. Oaks said, "...the Final Judgement is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts-what we have done. It is an acknowledgement of the final effect of our acts and thoughts-what we have become." 

Become.

In other words, who we are.

In essence, our IDENTITY. 

BELOVED children of Heavenly parents. 

Indeed, that is pleasing.