What would you say to God at Judgement?

what might be your response to God if he asks you why you reject some or all of the teachings of the LDS Church?

I don’t believe He would ask that question, so, even if the question is speculative, I don’t have an answer for it.

When I meet God, if that happens, I would say:

“I tried to live my life according to the dictates of my conscience and in a way that was of benefit to others – to help bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of your children, while also helping them be happy in mortality. I did my best.”

I think God would say:

“Thanks for trying. Let me show you where you were wrong, so you can continue to grow here in this new stage of your life.”

Frankly, I don’t want to worship a God who wouldn’t accept and honor that response.

Also, just so you know, I personally don’t believe in a “Judgment Day” – where each person stands before a judge in a court room and hears a verdict about their life. I believe “The Final Judgment” is nothing more than the natural end of our progression and growth – that point where we no longer learn and grow. I also believe that point is FAR further out into the future than most people assume, and I think FAR more people reach “godhood” or “perfection” (a state of wholeness, completion and full development) than most people assume.

I think God’s grace, mercy and charity (long-suffering patience, especially) are as universal and expansive as is possible, and I think lots of people will be shocked in the end as they look around and finally realize they aren’t as “elect” as they thought they were.

Also, just so you know, I personally don’t believe in a “Judgment Day” – where each person stands before a judge in a court room and hears a verdict about their life. I believe “The Final Judgment” is nothing more than the natural end of our progression and growth – that point where we no longer learn and grow. I also believe that point is FAR further out into the future than most people assume, and I think FAR more people reach “godhood” or “perfection” (a state of wholeness, completion and full development) than most people assume.

I think God’s grace, mercy and charity (long-suffering patience, especially) are as universal and expansive as is possible, and I think lots of people will be shocked in the end as they look around and finally realize they aren’t as “elect” as they thought they were.

I am starting to believe this….a bit like Rob Bells’ “Love Wins”….

That’s an example of why I love Roy so much.

I saw this question when it was first posted and had no responses yet. Thinker that I am I had to ponder on it for awhile. I am answering without having read any other answers so as to not taint my view, so my apologies if I am trampling on someone – I will read the other responses after I post mine.

I immediately thought of this old skit I saw many years ago where this small procession of people come into some sort of post life interview where they are asked about their lives and why they qualify for heaven. They each have little problems like WoW, and each offers reasons why they don’t see their sins as a bid deal and fully expect to be forgiven. At the conclusion of each interview the interviewer simply thanks them and directs them toward a door. The final interviewee enters, falls to his knees and proclaims “Oh, Lord, my God.”

Disclaimer: I don’t think that the above is at all how it will actually work, I think that we will be fully aware that we are being judged that we will be fully aware who the judge is (or judges are), and I don’t think we’ll be asked specifically about our sins.

So why did I bring it up? Because it was my first thought and because while each person in the skit could have asked a question, none did and only one recognized what was really happening. The skit/parable was making a point and all parables have their breakdown point – this one has several.

What would I ask? I would ask why a loving Heavenly Father (and I don’t think that’s who I would be talking to) would go to such great lengths to hide himself from his children while at the same time expecting them to have faith in him. He doesn’t need to perform great miracles on a regular basis, but one a generation would do. I would also like to know why God did seem to intervene and direct the ancient Hebrews but hasn’t done any such thing since then. Why didn’t he save the Jews in the Holocaust? If asked why I didn’t follow all LDS teachings, I would simply answer that it was not completely clear to me that these were actually commandments and that I was following my own conscience – everything I did I did so believing that what I was doing what was right. I do believe the church has added to the “gospel” and added “doctrine” that aren’t necessarily actually parts of the gospel and aren’t doctrine as inactual teachings of God. I would use blacks and the priesthood as an example – there apparently was no revelation saying they shouldn’t hold the priesthood, it appears to me the policy was instituted because BY was a racist, and while I don’t doubt SWK and the rest of the Q15 were quite sincere in their desires to rectify the situation, I don’t believe there needed to be a revelation to make that happen (and I’m not sure there was one). I might also point out that members of the LDS church appear to be held to a different standard than others – and I wonder why because I also believe we are all equal in God’s eyes and no latter-day saint should be held in any greater or lesser esteem than the likes of Gandhi.

I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to a very hypothetical and big “what if” type question. I asked this question because I found it helpful in articulating my concerns while trying to maintain a respectful tone. If I were to have such a conversation with God it would probably go something like this:

“I understand that in many respects the Church is a continuously changing group of people who are, for the most part, striving to do the best that they can. I also think that the current church leadership generally does a good job of teaching the core tenets of the Gospel (love, forgiveness, etc). However, the Church is also meant to be an entity that acts and speaks on Your behalf on the earth. Viewing the Church as a single entity acting in this capacity from 1830 to the current time, I am persuaded to believe that the Church has in many instances failed You. For example, knowing you as I do, I can’t accept that You were the author the priesthood ban and that You would leave the membership of the church hanging when they asked for a reason behind the ban. I can’t accept that You led the early church into polygamy and polyandry. I can’t see how You would command a prophet to marry a woman who is already married to a good man and pregnant with a child. I can’t see You threatening a prophet with is life and station should a woman choose to not marry him as a plural wife. I know that you are likely tired of hearing these same grievances but these are significant issues and they aren’t the only issues. If the Church represented you so poorly in the areas of marriage and priesthood, I can’t help but ask what else isn’t Your work? Did you really appear to Joseph Smith, inspire ancient American prophets to write the Book of Mormon, lead Joseph to find an Egyptian scroll containing Abraham’s writings, and restore the Priesthood that enables family to be together forever? I want to believe it and I was happy when I did, but when I came understand more pieces of the whole story, my heart and mind could not accept it without feeling that my integrity had been compromised. Please understand that I am trying to do the best I can with brain I have, and I am not trying to find petty reasons to justify a sinful life.”

I believe that there are major differences based on how we perceive God and our relationship to him.

Do we have a contractual relationship or a familial relationship? Are we there as a homecoming or to enforce the terms of the contract?

When we are judged are we judged on our own merits or do we have the atonement credited in our behalf? One position is that the atonement (only or primarily) resurrects us, brings us into the presence of God for Judgement, and enables us to the point that a correct decision is possible in every circumstance. Under this theory I believe that we would all be equally condemned. I have also heard that “intention” can be credited as “performance” as long as one is operating in good faith and this at least makes contractual performance possible.

I personally prefer the vision of a Father God that descended from heaven to save all of his children. That He will remain with his arms outstretched eternally, ready to start the process of helping us to be our ultimate selves.

While the “doctrine” on this topic is somewhat mirky, that doesn’t stop people from thinking that their vision of the judgment is the correct one. (I was once stongly corrected in EQ for suggesting that the “final” judgment might come individually and not until the individual is ready for it.)

If the vision of the kingdoms of heaven corresponds to the many mansions/rooms of the Father’s house – why on earth would I complain based on my assignment. So what if I get to sleep in the pink room with the creepy unblinking ceramic dolls? Where I sleep is not a value judgement on me and my relationship to my parents. I understand that this is NOT the mindset that is emphasised at church – there seems to be much stress and heartache around how to qualify for the “Gold” room. I just don’t see this life as a contest. Remember the idea (not doctrine) that men in the Celestial kingdom would have at least 3 wives? How is that so different than the 50 virgins that muslim martyrs get? It just doesn’t interest me.

Again, all of this hinges drastically on how we perceive God and our relationship to him. I also believe that there is support for multiple perspectives on this in the church. If I were to be forced into a vision where God was a petty dictater running a multi- level pyramid scheme – then I would save the excuses (remember the parable of the unprofitable servant) take my punishment and get as far away as possible.