Final Judge of the World: Joseph Smith or God?

Is Joseph Smith Our Final Personal Judge Instead of Jesus?

By Kerry A. Shirts

It has come to my attention that some critics against Mormonism will stop at nothing to distort our teachings. I have been advized that some critics contend that we Mormons place Joseph Smith higher than Jesus the Christ, and that we say Joseph Smith is our judge, as well as the world’s judge instead of Jesus Christ. Now then, I own the Deseret Book CD-ROM, "GospeLink" which has more than 1200 more LDS authors and the books they have written than any of the other CD-ROMS in existence concerning Mormonism. I did a search through this rather exhaustive CD-ROM concerning Mormonism, and found that Mormonism has never placed Joseph Smith above Jesus Christ. The various authors and their ideas which I present below demonstrate that even the Prophet Joseph Smith believed that God or Jesus Christ was the FINAL judge of all mankind. It is time for our critics to repent of such blatant misrepresentation and distortion.

(John Taylor, "The Mediation and Atonement", p. 157 - 159)

a principle of adjudication or judgment in the hands, firstly, of the Great High Priest and King, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God; secondly, in the hands of the Twelve Apostles on the continent of Asia, bestowed by Jesus Himself; thirdly, in the Twelve Disciples on this continent, to their peoples, who it appears are under the presidency of the Twelve Apostles who ministered at Jerusalem; which presidency is also exhibited by Peter, James and John, the acknowledged presidency of the Twelve Apostles; they, holding this Priesthood first on the earth, and then in the heavens, being the legitimate custodians of the keys of the Priesthood, came and bestowed it upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. It is also further stated that the Saints shall judge the world. Thus Christ is at the head, His Apostles and disciples seem to take the next prominent part; then comes the action of the Saints, or other branches of the Priesthood, who it is stated shall judge the world. This combined Priesthood, it would appear, will hold the destiny of the human family in their hands and adjudicate in all matters pertaining to their affairs; and it would seem to be quite reasonable, if the Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem are to be the judges of the Twelve Tribes, and the Twelve Disciples on this continent are to be the judges of the descendants of Nephi, then that the brother of Jared and Jared should be the judges of the Jaredites, their descendants; and, further, that the First Presidency and Twelve who have officiated in our age, should operate in regard to mankind in this dispensation, and also in regard to all matters connected with them, whether they relate to the past, present, or future, as the aforementioned have done in regard to their several peoples; and that the Patriarchs, the Presidents, the Twelve, the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders, the Bishops, Priests, Teachers and Deacons should hold their several places behind the veil, and officiate according to their calling and standing in that Priesthood. In fact, the Priesthood is called an everlasting Priesthood; it ministers in time and in eternity. Moses speaks of the Levitical Priesthood as an everlasting Priesthood. (Ex., xl, 15.) Paul refers to the Melchizedek Priesthood as being "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life." (Heb., vii, 3.) Whilst the Prophet Joseph Smith states that this "Priesthood continueth in the Church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years." (Doc. and Cov., Sec. lxxxiv, 17, p. 290.)

This being the case, it necessarily follows that those holding the Priesthood on the earth continue in the exercise of the Priesthood in the heavens, their operations being changed from this to another state of existence; and when the dead, small and great, shall be judged, while God stands at the head, and Jesus is the great High Priest of our profession, all those who have ever lived who are worthy will stand in their proper positions, according to their callings, Priesthood, ordinations or quorums.

(Alvin R. Dyer, "Who Am I?", p. 515)

In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith at Fayette, New York, in September, 1830, which concerned, among other things, the ushering in of the millennium and the scenes of judgment to follow the coming of the Lord in a pillar of fire to live and reign upon the earth, the Lord made this declaration: "It hath gone forth in a firm decree, by the will of the Father, that mine apostles, the Twelve which were with me in my ministry at Jerusalem, shall stand at my right hand at the day of my coming in a pillar of fire, being clothed with robes of righteousness, (the robes of the holy priesthood), and with crowns upon their heads, (having already received the confirmation of the sealing power to become priests and kings), in glory even as I am, to judge the whole house of Israel, even as many as have loved me and kept my commandments and none else." This same promise and future assignment was given to the Twelve while the Lord ministered with them announcing that they would "sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

The Twelve Nephite Disciples to Judge

Nephi, an ancient prophet of God, who, with his father Lehi and his brothers and the servants of their household, migrated from the Old Jerusalem to the American Continent about 600 years before the birth of Christ upon the earth, beheld in prophetic vision the coming of the resurrected Lord unto his people who had grown into a mighty civilization. His account told of the twelve disciples to be chosen to judge those of his seed which are of the blood of Israel:

And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them.

And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen.

And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto they seed.

And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel.

And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood."

Since every living soul must stand before the judgment bar of God, it would seem that the judgments by the twelve meridian apostles, and the twelve Nephite ministers or disciples shall accomplish, by virtue of their assignment to do so, all needed work so far as judgments are concerned within a special area. Adjustments in families to secure the patriarchal sealings in preparation for those of the twelve tribes of the house of Israel will be accomplished in a preparatory way before they come before the Lord for final judgment and placement in the celestial kingdoms. The fact that only the house of Israel will be so judged in this manner is significant to the purpose.

(Bruce R. McConkie, THE MILLENNIAL MESSIAH , p. 522)

the Lord tells us that he "shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man"; that "his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth"; and that he "shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world." (D&C 1:10, 13, 36.) In like manner, also to Joseph Smith the Lord said: "Mine apostles, the Twelve which were with me in my ministry at Jerusalem, shall stand at my right hand at the day of my coming in a pillar of fire, being clothed with robes of righteousness, with crowns upon their heads, in glory even as I am, to judge the whole house of Israel, even as many as have loved me and kept my commandments, and none else." (D&C 29:12.)

So also we read: "Be patient in tribulation until I come; and, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, and they who have sought me early shall find rest to their souls." (D&C 54:10.) And also: "Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved! . . . For behold, the Lord shall come, and his recompense shall be with him, and he shall reward every man, and the poor shall rejoice." (D&C 56:16, 19.)

(Bruce R. McConkie, THE MILLENNIAL MESSIAH , p. 523)

Need we say that the day of judgment is near, even at our doors? Truly, as the Lord measures time, the coming of the Great Judge is at hand.

(The Gateway We Call Death, pp. 70-71)

The Prophet Joseph Smith offered this remarkable insight regarding judgment: "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 human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; He views them as His offspring. . . . He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of men, but, ‘according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil,' or whether these deeds were done in England, America, Spain, Turkey, or India. . . . We need not doubt the wisdom and intelligence of the Great Jehovah; He will award judgment or mercy to all nations

(A Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol. 1, pp. xliv-xlv)

It should also be observed at this point, that Joseph Smith, then but a youth, was not himself pronouncing judgment upon the status of christendom. It was not he who declared the sects to be all wrong, their creeds an abomination, and the professors thereof corrupt. He of all persons, both on account of his extreme youthfulness and his lack of general information, was among the least qualified to pronounce upon such a question. Indeed, he himself, confesses his unfitness for such an office. His seeking knowledge from God upon this very question—"which of all the sects is right?" is a confession of his own inability to determine the matter. No human wisdom was sufficient to answer that question. No man in all the world was so pre-eminent as to be justified in proclaiming the acceptance of one church in preference to another. Divine knowledge and wisdom alone was sufficient to pass judgment upon such a question; and there is a peculiar force in the circumstance that the announcement which Joseph Smith makes with reference to this subject is not formulated by him nor by any other man, but is given to him of God. God has been the judge of "fallen christendom," Joseph Smith but his mesenger, to herald that judgment to the world, the incoming of a New Dispensation of the gospel, and the re-establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ.

(B. H. Roberts, "Defense of the Faith of the Saints", Vol. 1, 134-135)

We do not pretend to have sat in judgment upon the creeds of men. No man has the right to sit in judgment upon the creed of another. Joseph Smith did not sit in judgment upon the creeds of Christendom. On the contrary, he confessed his inability to do so. His youth, his inexperience, his lack of judgment, all proclaim him unfitted for such an office. The fact that he inquired of God for wisdom to know which of the sects he should regard as the very Church of Christ was self-confessed inability to judge in the matter. Hence, Joseph Smith did not pass judgment upon the sects of Christendom; but God did. He was competent to judge. He formulated the decision which it became Joseph Smith's duty to announce, and which it is now the Church's duty to continue proclaiming. The message, I repeat, is a bold one; but in the very boldness and greatness of such a declaration, we may see something of the Divine Majesty. It became necessary to sweep aside the rubbish of theological dogma, and doctrines which had accumulated through the ages, and make bare the rocks of truth, on which to lay anew the foundations of the work of God.

(Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, p. 440)

Parley P. Pratt says: "He [Joseph Smith] will continue holding those keys through all eternity, and will stand—yes, again in the flesh upon this Earth, as the head of the Latter-day Saints, under Jesus Christ, and under Peter, James and John. He will hold the keys to judge the generation to whom he was sent, and will judge my brethren that preside over me; and will judge me, together with the Apostles ordained by the word of the Lord through him and under his administration. When this is done, those Apostles will judge this generation and the Latter-day Saints; and they will judge them with that judgment which Jesus Christ will give unto them; and they will have the same spirit and the same mind as Jesus Christ, and their judgment will be His judgment, for they will be one * * * Brother Brigham, who now presides over us, will hold the keys under Brother Joseph; and he and his brethren, who hold the keys with him, or under his direction, will judge the people; for they will hold those keys to all eternity, worlds without end. By those keys they will have to judge this generation; and Peter, James, and John will hold the keys to preside over, and judge, and direct Brother Joseph to all eternity; and Jesus Christ will hold the keys over them and over us, under His Father, to whom be all the glory" (Journal of Dis., Vol. V., p. 196).

(Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 46-47)

But 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 views them as his offspring, and without any of those contracted feelings that influence the children of men, causes "his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matt. 5:45.) He holds the reins of judgment in his hands; he is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of men, but, "according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil," or whether these deeds were done in England, America, Spain, Turkey, or India. He will judge them, "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. We need not doubt the wisdom and intelligence of the Great Jehovah; he will award judgment or mercy to all nations according to their several deserts, their means of obtaining intelligence, the laws by which they are governed, the facilities afforded them of obtaining correct information, and his inscrutable designs in relation to the human family; and when the designs of God shall be made manifest, and the curtain of futurity be withdrawn, we shall all of us eventually have to confess that the Judge of all the earth has done right. (HC 4:595-96.)

(Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 90)

and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, unless he becomes as a little child, and is taught by the Spirit of God. . . . (HC 1:283.)

(Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 85)

For know assuredly sir to you I wish to unbosom my feelings, and unravil the secrets of my heart: as before the omniscient Judge of all the earth.

(Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 243)

I dispise a hypocrite or a covenant breaker, I judge them not, God shall Judge them according to there works, I am a lover even of mine enimies for an enimy seeketh to destroy openly, I can pray for those who dispitefully use and persicute me

(Dean C. Jesse, "Personal Writings of Joseph Smith", p.308)

and all things else fails you but God alone,and you continue to weary him with your importunings, as the poor woman the unjust Judge, he will not fail to exicute Judgment upon your enemies and to ave=nge his own elect that cry unto him day and night—Behold he will not fail you he will come with ten thousands of his saints and all his advisaries shall be distroyed by the breath of his lips! all those that keep their inheritances not=withstanding they should be pealed and driven

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 12)

and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, unless he becomes as a little child, and is taught by the Spirit of God.

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 218)

the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; He views them as His offspring, and without any of those contracted feelings that influence the children of men, causes "His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." He holds the reins of judgment in His hands; He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of men, but, "according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil," or whether these deeds were done in England, America, Spain, Turkey, or India. He will judge them,

(Ehat and Cook, "The Words of Joseph Smith", pp. 10-11)

Paul speaks of the Church coming to an innumerable company of Angels, to God the Judge of all, the Spirits of Just men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, &c. Heb XII, 23. I saw Adam in the valley of Ah-dam-ondi-Ahman fn—he called together his children & blessed them with a Patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst, & he (Adam) blessed them all, & foretold what should befall them to the latest generation—See D.C. Sec III 28, 29 par —This is why Abraham blessed his posterity: He wanted to bring them into the presence of God. They looked for a city, &c. —Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the Pristhood, but he could not. In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing—& there were Elias's raised up who tried to restore these very glories but did not obtain them. But (Enoch did for himself & those that were with Him, but not for the world. J.T. ) they prophesied of a day when this Glory would be revealed.—Paul spoke of the Dispensation of the fulness of times, when God would gather together all things in one &c &. Those men to whom these Keys have been given will have to be there. (I.E. when Adam shall again assemble his children of the Priesthood, & Christ be in their midst) the Ancient of Days come &c &c J.T.) And they without us cannot not be made perfect. These men are in heaven, but their children are on Earth. Their bowels yearn over us. God sends down men for this reason, Mat. 13. 41. & the Son of man shall send forth his Angels &c—All these authoritative characters will come down & join hand in hand in bringing about this work—The Kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed. the mustard seed is small but brings forth a large tree, and the fowls lodge in the branches The fowls are the Angels, fn the Book of Mormon perhaps, these Angels come down combined together to gather their children, & gather them. We cannot be made perfect without them, nor they without us when these things are done the Son of man will descend, the ancient of Days sit.—We may come to an innumerable company of Angels have communion with & receive instruction from them.—Paul told about Moses's proceedings. Spoke of the Children of Israel being baptized, fn &c, he knew this & that all the ordinances, & blessings were in the Church. Paul had these things; & we may have the fowls of the heaven lodge in the branches &c. The horn made war with the Saints, & overcame them &c, until the Ancient of Days came, judgment was given to the Saints of the Most High, from the Ancient of Days—the time came that the Saints possessed the kingdom—this not only makes us ministers here but in Eternity. Salvation cannot come without revelation, it is in vain for anyone to minister without it.

(Gospel Doctrine, p. 357)

it is our duty to leave condemnation in the hands of Almighty God. He is the only real, true, righteous, impartial judge, and we leave judgment in his hands. It is not our business to proclaim calamities, judgments, destruction, and the wrath of God upon men, if they will not receive the truth. Let them read the word of God, as recorded in the New and the Old Testaments; and, if they will receive it, let them read the word that has been restored through the gift and power of God to Joseph the prophet, as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants and in the Book of Mormon. Let them read these things, and they will learn here, themselves, the promises that God has made to those who will not hearken when they hear the truth, but will close their ears and their eyes against the light. We need not repeat these things and try to impose upon the feelings and judgments of men by threatening them or by warning them against the dangers and evils that may come upon the ungodly, the disobedient, the unthankful, and those who will not yield to the truth. They will learn it soon enough, if we do not mention it to them at all.—Apr. C. R., 1915, pp. 3-4.

(An Understandable Religion, p. 86)

Our Father, the Father of our spirits, is the judge. He understands the conditions, often beyond mortal comprehension, that lead to evil acts. He is a God of mercy, as well as of justice.