In the midst of Mormon’s lamentable tale, he taught the doctrine of judgment. There seems to be a hierarchy of judges at the great and final judgment. Besides the great Judge himself, the Son of God, under the direction of the Father, there is a series of other judges by whom we must pass in order to enter the presence of God. The twelve apostles Jesus chose in the Holy Land will judge all the twelve tribes of Israel, and the twelve apostles Jesus chose in ancient America will judge this remnant of Israel under the direction of that Old World quorum. In our day another dimension in the hierarchy of judgment is added: No one will be saved in glory but under the direction and judgment of the head of this last dispensation, the great Prophet Joseph Smith. Brigham Young said, “No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith.”3
Many passages of scripture unequivocally confirm that every soul who has ever lived on earth will be judged. The criteria for judgment are these:
1. Degree of knowledge and opportunities available during mortal probation (2 Nephi 2:10; 9:25–26; Moroni 8:22).
2. Works, desires, and intents of the heart (1 Nephi 15:33; Alma 41:13–14; D&C 33:1).
3. Information on records kept both on earth and in heaven (Revelation 20:12; 2 Nephi 29:11; D&C 128:7).
4. A personal knowledge that an individual’s reward is just (2 Nephi 9:46; Mosiah 27:31) and that the judgment constitutes a proper decision (Mosiah 16:1; 29:12).