Doctrinal Mastery: Revelation 20:12

“And the Dead Were Judged … According to Their Works”

In a previous lesson, “Revelation 20:11–15,” you learned about the Final Judgment and the Savior’s role as our Judge. This lesson can help you memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for Revelation 20:12, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Memorize and explain

The following activity can help you memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase “and the dead were judged … according to their works” (Revelation 20:12):

• Say the scripture reference and key scripture phrase aloud five times.

• Then write the scripture reference and key scripture phrase on a piece of paper three times from memory. After each attempt, check your accuracy and make any necessary adjustments on the next attempt.

1. Complete the following activity in your study journal:

Recall that in a previous lesson, you studied the truth that God will judge us out of the books that have been written according to our works. To help you evaluate how well you understand this truth, imagine that a younger sibling asks you the following questions during family scripture study. Answer as many of the questions as you can.

• Who will be judged?

• Who will be our judge and why?

• What will we be judged on?

• What are the books we will be judged out of? (See Revelation 20:12.)

• How can we be ready for judgment?

Now that it’s been a few minutes since you worked on memorizing the key scripture phrase for Revelation 20:12, see if you can still recite it from memory. Check your accuracy if needed.

Practice application

Applying principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help us in real-life situations. Briefly summarize the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in your own words. Then review paragraphs 5–12 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022), looking for any additional truths you could include in your summary.

Read the following scenarios, and choose one you would like to focus on for the following activity. Think about why a person in that situation might feel the way they do. Can you relate to how either of these young women feel? Ponder what they might not yet understand about the Final Judgment that could help them.

1. Stephanie has some friends who live a worldly lifestyle. She admits that although they are breaking the commandments, what they are doing looks fun at times. She has not noticed major negative consequences for their choices and is considering joining them.

2. Kayla is a righteous young woman who humbly repents when she makes mistakes, but she still feels scared when people talk about the Final Judgment. She tries not to think about it.

2. Complete the following writing activity in your study journal:

Write a letter to either Stephanie or Kayla that you believe could help her avoid future regret or unnecessary fear. As an alternative, you might choose to write to someone you know whose life could be blessed by better understanding the Final Judgment. Include in your letter how each of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge applies to their situation. You may want to consider the following as you decide what to write.

• How might you help Stephanie or Kayla see things from an eternal perspective? How could this help her?

• What have you learned about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the plan of salvation that may help Stephanie or Kayla? How did you learn these truths?

• What divinely appointed sources would you suggest she turn to in order to learn the truth about the Final Judgment? How could the truths taught in Revelation 20:12 help her?

• How might you encourage her to act in faith now and in the future?