Re Judging others – Posted on a blog recently
Here is a quote
from the old Mormon Prophet Brigham Young
How often it is
said "Such a person has done wrong, and he cannot be a Saint, or he would
not do so." We hear some swear and lie; they trample upon the rights of
their neighbor, break the Sabbath by staying away from meeting, riding about
the city, hunting horses and cattle, or working in the canyons. I say to you Do
not judge such persons, for you do not know the design of the Lord concerning
them; therefore, do not say they are not Saints. What shall we do with them?
Bear with them … Judge no man. A person who would say another is not a Latter
day Saint, for some trifling affair in human life only proves that he does not
possess the Spirit of God. The conscientious might be upset by
Sabbath-breaking. But the creative become upset with the conscientious “because
they don’t care about people.” Everyone is judging everyone else and Satan
laughs. Brigham has wise counsel for anyone who looks on others judgmentally or
condescendingly. Think of this, brethren and sisters; write it down, that you
may refresh your memories with it; carry it with you and look at it often. If I
judge my brethren and sisters, unless I judge them by the revelations of Jesus
Christ, I have not the Spirit of Christ; if I had, I should judge no man. If I
have the Spirit, I would judge no man! God says that judgment and vengeance are
His alone (Mormon 8:20). (Discourses of Brigham Young, p.277 p.278, emphasis
added)
We all have to make
judgements of assessments of others in order to decide how to deal wih them. Is
this person trustworthy or will they cheat me? Is it safe for me to trust this
person? Although the Bible says "Judge not that ye be not judged"
probably the best we can do is not to rush into forming judgements of others.
Joseph Smith
(another Mormon Prophet) said "Satan flatters us that we are being very
righteous when we are feeding on the faults of others. There is no salvation
for us in dwelling on and drawing attention to the faults of others.The nearer
a man gets to god, the more inclined he will be to have compassion on others
and cast their faults behind his back. "
Hugh Nibley (yes,
ANOTHER Mormon ) said "Will you or I dare to ask God which people we are
to love and which we are to hate? Which to deal fairly with and which to cheat?
Which to speak the truth to and which to lie to? Which to be kind to and which
to be cruel to? We cannot make a bad person good by pulling a trigger - If men
are to overcome evil in this world, they must be alive to do it - shooting them
solves nothing. (Hugh Nibley)