I want to study judging today. Because you know what? I (quite literally) have a huge problem with judging.
Case in point: I value fitness. I think it's better to be trim than to have excess fat on you. And medically, doctrinally, and culturally, I am right. But I take this to an extreme degree. I look at small children and the thought crosses my mind, "wow, they're chubby." SMALL CHILDREN. JAROM, DO YOU REALLY WANT THIS?
But that's the point of repentance, right? How can I look with charity upon people, even when they're doing something I don't approve of?
FROM THE TALK: "Judge Not" and Judging, by Dallin H. Oaks
There are two sorts of judgments:
1) Final judgments which we are forbidden to make. Do not make assumptions about somebody's final assignation to heaven or hell.
This isn't the sort of judging that I struggle with, though. I struggle with making assumptions about somebody. They're fat--hey must not be a very good person? They must have a weak will? They must somehow be inferior to a similarly-disposed person who is fit and healthy?
Here's an answer that just occurred to me:
Think about all the reasons why you CAN value that person. For example:
"This person is a child of God. The Savior saw fit to perish for them on the cross. They have unlimited potential. They probably have many good qualities about which I am not aware."
As Abraham Lincoln said, "I don't like that man very much. I shall have to get to know him better."
2) Intermediate judgments, which must be made upon correct principles.
We are taught that we must judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24)
Here are some amazing steps from Elder Oaks to help us make righteous intermediate judgments.
1) It will be an intermediate judgment and not a final judgment.
"This person's actions are against the commandments."
"I don't think what she's doing is right."
"That's an incorrect assumption."
2) We must judge with the spirit of the Lord.. Mean-spirited or angry judgments are against the rules.
3) Do not judge unless you have a correct grasp of the facts.
Some things to remember:
The Lord does not look on the appearance:
"Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
~~1 Samuel 16:7
But yet also, sometimes a beautiful face CAN have a beautiful soul!
"And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he."
~~1st Samuel 16:12
A beautiful quote from Joseph Smith:
“While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; … He holds the reins of judgment in His hands; He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, … ‘not according to what they have not, but according to what they have,’ those who have lived without law, will be judged without law, and those who have a law, will be judged by that law”
~~Joseph Smith
And remember that wonderful principle in John 3:17!!
" For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."
~~John 3:17
In short, GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT!!!
Choose to believe good about people, and not bad!
Yes!
Case in point: I value fitness. I think it's better to be trim than to have excess fat on you. And medically, doctrinally, and culturally, I am right. But I take this to an extreme degree. I look at small children and the thought crosses my mind, "wow, they're chubby." SMALL CHILDREN. JAROM, DO YOU REALLY WANT THIS?
But that's the point of repentance, right? How can I look with charity upon people, even when they're doing something I don't approve of?
FROM THE TALK: "Judge Not" and Judging, by Dallin H. Oaks
There are two sorts of judgments:
1) Final judgments which we are forbidden to make. Do not make assumptions about somebody's final assignation to heaven or hell.
This isn't the sort of judging that I struggle with, though. I struggle with making assumptions about somebody. They're fat--hey must not be a very good person? They must have a weak will? They must somehow be inferior to a similarly-disposed person who is fit and healthy?
Here's an answer that just occurred to me:
Think about all the reasons why you CAN value that person. For example:
"This person is a child of God. The Savior saw fit to perish for them on the cross. They have unlimited potential. They probably have many good qualities about which I am not aware."
As Abraham Lincoln said, "I don't like that man very much. I shall have to get to know him better."
2) Intermediate judgments, which must be made upon correct principles.
We are taught that we must judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24)
Here are some amazing steps from Elder Oaks to help us make righteous intermediate judgments.
1) It will be an intermediate judgment and not a final judgment.
"This person's actions are against the commandments."
"I don't think what she's doing is right."
"That's an incorrect assumption."
2) We must judge with the spirit of the Lord.. Mean-spirited or angry judgments are against the rules.
3) Do not judge unless you have a correct grasp of the facts.
Some things to remember:
The Lord does not look on the appearance:
"Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
~~1 Samuel 16:7
But yet also, sometimes a beautiful face CAN have a beautiful soul!
"And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he."
~~1st Samuel 16:12
A beautiful quote from Joseph Smith:
“While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; … He holds the reins of judgment in His hands; He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, … ‘not according to what they have not, but according to what they have,’ those who have lived without law, will be judged without law, and those who have a law, will be judged by that law”
~~Joseph Smith
And remember that wonderful principle in John 3:17!!
" For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."
~~John 3:17
In short, GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT!!!
Choose to believe good about people, and not bad!
Yes!
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