Mosiah 3:10 - how does Christ coming to the earth and performing the atonement lead to a “righteous judgment” of the whole earth?

I've studied a lot recently about what the atonement really means, and how through the atonement Christ is able to judge us righteously. What does that even mean??

In a recent discussion with family members, we tried to understand why Christ's suffering was necessary for us to be saved. I realized that any time I am struggling with something, I naturally turn to others who have gone through something similar, and that enables me to overcome that trial. Without suffering every specific pain, sickness, and sin, Christ would have no way of understanding us, and he could not judge our situations appropriately.


In a recent General Conference talk given by James R. Rasband, he said, "To ensure a righteous judgment, the Savior’s atoning sacrifice will clear away the underbrush of ignorance and the painful thorns of hurt caused by others." He explains that Christ's righteous judgment is a fair judgment. Christ promises that our mistakes will not doom others—others we hurt can be healed through Christ when we cannot heal them ourselves. Like Alma the younger who led so many astray—he was promised that not only would he be forgiven, but all those who were led astray would be led back to the truth. There is no way for us to completely fix the harm we have caused to others.

In the Book of Mormon, Alma the Younger went about seeking “to destroy the church" (see Mosiah 27:8-10). In fact, Alma told his son Helaman that he was “tormented with the pains of hell” because he had effectively “murdered many of [God’s] children” by leading “them away unto destruction.” (Alma 36:13-14)

Elder Rasband says that "Alma explained to Helaman that peace finally came to him when his 'mind caught hold' on his father’s teaching 'concerning the coming of … Jesus Christ … to atone for the sins of the world.' (Alma 36:17-18) A penitent Alma pleaded for Christ’s mercy and then felt joy and relief when he realized that Christ had atoned for his sins and paid all that justice required. Again, what would justice have required of Alma? As Alma himself later taught, 'No unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God.' (Alma 40:26) Thus, part of Alma’s relief must have been that unless mercy interceded, justice would have prevented him from returning to live with Heavenly Father."

Mosiah 3:15 says that "the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood." We are given laws to follow, but our salvation is not based on us obeying the law perfectly, our salvation is based off of Christ's mercy that comes through his atonement. Our salvation comes through turning to him, accepting we are imperfect, and allowing him to judge our hearts.

Verse 17 goes on to say, “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.“

I’ve always looked at this verse in the sense that we have to “do” certain things and only those things to be saved. But I’m realizing more now that this means that no matter what we do, Christ is the only one who provides an opportunity for salvation. It’s important for us to learn of him and obey what he asks us to do, but there is also room for grace and allowing us to figure it out, and not think we have to “save ourselves” all on our own!

Verse 18 emphasizes that “he judgeth” and “his judgment is just.” It’s HIS judgment, not ours!


Alma 7:11-13 states:
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

"Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."


Because of all that Christ experienced, He does not judge with a condemning heart but with a tolerant heart. He lets us fail and try again and again. He performed the atonement that he might be able to judge us righteously.