Lesson 24 Teacher Material

Trusting Jesus Christ as Our Judge

In “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” we read, “Each of us will stand to be judged of Him [our Savior] according to our works and the desires of our hearts” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). This lesson will help students articulate why we can have complete confidence in Jesus Christ as our judge. They will also have an opportunity to assess what they can do to prepare for the Final Judgment.

Suggestions for Teaching

Jesus Christ is our judge.

Share the following scenario:

Imagine that you have a friend who has been charged with a serious crime. You also know the victim of the crime. You love both people.

• If you could choose a judge for your friend, what qualities would you most want the judge to possess?

• What concerns would you have if the judge lacked one or more of the qualities we have identified? (For example, what if the judge were compassionate but not just or just but not compassionate?)

Remind students that they were invited to prepare for class by identifying an attribute from the life of the Savior that demonstrates we can trust Him to be a righteous judge. Provide students a few minutes to review the attribute they identified or, if needed, to identify one. Then ask them to form small groups and give them the following handout.

Jesus Christ Is “the Righteous Judge” (2 Timothy 4:8)

Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material—Lesson 24

Read aloud Psalm 9:8 and 96:11–13. Then invite each group member to share an attribute from the life of the Savior that demonstrates that Jesus Christ judges all people with righteousness. As you share attributes, you may want to discuss the following questions:

• How might this attribute affect how Jesus Christ judges us?

• In what way does this attribute increase your trust in the Savior’s suitability to be your judge?

After identifying specific attributes, discuss how Jesus Christ is different from all human judges. (Consider reviewing the statements by President Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Richard G. Scott in section 1 of the preparation material.) You could also discuss why it is important that the Savior embodies all of these attributes as our judge.

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Jesus Christ Is “the Righteous Judge” (2 Timothy 4:8)

Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material—Lesson 24

After allowing sufficient time for discussion, you could invite some students to share how they feel about Jesus Christ being their judge.

Jesus Christ will judge us by our works and the desires of our hearts.

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Clearly state true principles. Elder B. H. Roberts, formerly of the Seventy, taught, “To be known, the truth must be stated and the clearer and more complete the statement is, the better the opportunity will the Holy Spirit have for testifying to the souls of men that the work is true” (in James E. Faust, “What I Want My Son to Know before He Leaves on His Mission,” Ensign, May 1996, 41). Provide students opportunities to identify and articulate true principles found in the scriptures and the words of modern prophets.

Invite students to quietly review Revelation 20:12 and Doctrine and Covenants 137:9 and record a truth about how we will be judged. Ask a couple of students to share the truth they identified. Using students’ insights, you may want to record on the board a truth similar to the following: Each of us will stand before the Lord and be judged according to our works and the desires of our hearts. To deepen students’ understanding, you could ask one or more of the following questions:

• Why do you think our works are important in the Final Judgment? (Point out that works could include keeping commandments, receiving ordinances, honoring covenants, repenting, and serving others.)

• Why do you think we will also be judged by our thoughts and the desires of our hearts? (You may want to share the following statement by President Oaks: “The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming” [“Desire,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 42].)

• Why is it important to regularly evaluate how our desires, words, and actions are influencing what we are becoming? (Consider reviewing the statement by President Oaks in section 2 of the preparation material.)

Remind students that Alma the Younger asked penetrating questions that can help us assess what we are becoming. Invite students to review Alma 5:15–16, 19, 26–27 and reflect on at least one question that is most relevant to their lives. After allowing sufficient time for quiet reflection, encourage one or two students to share how taking time for honest self-reflection has helped or could help them become more like the Savior.

Like Alma suggests, invite students to imagine themselves standing before God to be judged.

• What might you feel at this moment? Why?

• Who would you most want to be with you?

• Why is it important to understand that in addition to being our judge, Jesus Christ is also our Advocate with the Father? (You might review what it means that Jesus Christ is our advocate [see section 2 of the preparation material].)

Read aloud Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5, and invite students to imagine that Jesus Christ is pleading specifically for them.

• How might you feel listening to Jesus Christ pleading your cause before Heavenly Father? (You may want to review Elder Dale G. Renlund’s quote in section 2 of the preparation material to ensure students understand that the Savior is not opposing the Father’s will as our Advocate.)

• How could understanding and accepting the Savior’s role as our Advocate bring hope to someone who feels he or she will never be good enough to return to God’s presence?

• What can you do today to show the Lord that you desire Him to be your Advocate?

You might testify that the Lord will not only advocate for us at the Final Judgment but that He is also willing to be our Advocate today (see Doctrine and Covenants 29:5–6). He will plead our cause as we seek His help. You might also show the video “Jesus Christ Is Our Advocate” (0:48) with Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

For Next Time

To encourage students to read the preparation material before the next class, consider sending a message similar to the following: As you study the preparation material for lesson 25, ask yourself: What influence is my daily discipleship having on my eternal destiny?