The term “Judgment Day” generally conjures up an uncomfortable image of the end of the world or something similar. There have been several movies with this title and the idea is the same — the end is coming, prepare for the end, etc. If the term is applied to a courtroom, it is still uncomfortable, as it indicates the day you find out if you’re judged innocent or guilty, with your future existence riding on the outcome.

In Mosiah 3, King Benjamin describes Judgment Day as the time when all “shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil” (Mosiah 3:24). It’s basically everything described in the paragraph above except it’s your future eternal existence riding on the outcome of this judgment.

The rest of the chapter describes what happens to people whose works are judged as evil — a state of misery and endless torment, a lake of fire and brimstone, etc. Clearly, none of us wants the judgment of God to go against us on Judgment Day.

So how can we make sure that our good works will outweigh our not-so-good works on Judgment Day? Maybe if we’re really, really, really good, then God will be impressed and give us a favorable judgment? Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. Consider these verses:

All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)

There is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10)

There is none that doeth good, no, not one (Romans 3:12)

All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

This is really bad news! Are we all doomed to an unfavorable judgment?

No! Happily, there is good news — Jesus has provided a way for all of our unrighteous (even evil) works to not count against us on Judgment Day:

Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel. (3 Nephi 27:20-21)

Imagine being on trial for a crime and all of the evidence against you is thrown out and can’t be considered by the judge or jury. When the judgment day arrives, you will have no fear of the verdict since there is no evidence against you. Only the good points (however meager) will be considered, and you will receive a favorable verdict.

Such is the case for followers of Jesus Christ on Judgment Day. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross so they would no longer count against us. When we were baptized, our sins were removed, and if we continue to repent and endure to the end, then we will find ourselves spotless (no unfavorable evidence against us) when we stand before the Lord on Judgment Day. Therefore, we have no need to fear the judgment — only our good works will be considered and those good works (however meager) will easily outweigh the evil works because there will be none of those to be considered.

The verdict on Judgment Day has been made obvious, thanks to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

As Jesus said in the scripture above, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel” or, in other words, this is truly good news!

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.