We have to judge.
It’s common to hear: “Don’t judge others”.
And I agree with that 100%.
We have absolutely no business judging others.
But we still need to judge.
I can see someone making a choice with what they are doing on the Sabbath day.
And I can think, “Hmmmm. I don’t think that represents the sign that I want to give to my Heavenly Father on the Sabbath.
“That’s not something I will choose to do on Sundays.”
And it has nothing to do with my feelings about that other person.
I may not know the whole story of why they made that choice; that choice may have actually been right for them in their circumstance; they might be struggling with their testimony… It’s not my business to know it all.
I can still feel so much love for them.
And make the judgement call about MY behavior.
I can repeat this over and over with different examples, like choosing when to wear garments, choosing different political candidates, choosing how to fulfill callings, etc.
It’s so easy to go too far in the wrong direction.
To see someone making a choice and then judging them, harboring bad feelings, and thinking that we know better.
Alma counseled his son to “judge righteously”. (Alma 41:14)
And modern leaders have echoed with similar messages:
“We are to judge righteously, never self-righteously, never unrighteously.” – Jeffrey R. Holland
Judging righteously is focused completely on ourselves and our own relationship with God.
It’s taking in information from the examples around us, observing the fruits of others’ labors, dealing with the results of other people’s choices.
And then using that information to refine our own actions, desires, and motivations.
We have to judge.
But we do not judge others.
We just get to love.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
