It takes one higher than you or me to be a judge. We, being mortals, sometimes allow passion and prejudice to pronounce the opinions and judgments of our consciences. Therefore is the commandment given, "Thou shalt not judge." When it matters most, there will be but one Judge Who will preside in that court of righteous and holy decisions at the Last Day. The verdict of that tribunal will be final. Its findings of fact cannot be appealed. It will, nevertheless, judge justly, and its decisions will be according to mercy and truth.
Moroni cautions us not to judge imprudently, or as he says, "rashly," meaning thereby, not to be over-hasty, or false to ourselves in making our decisions. Therefore, if our decisions are not according to justice, we can expect that measure to be given us in return. "For according to his works shall his wages be." (v. 19) Moroni, in great regard for that eternal truth, reminds us, "He that smiteth shall be smitten again, of the Lord." Those who rashly judged the Prophet Joseph Smith to be a pious fraud and one worthy of death, were themselves smitten of the Lord.
We are reminded of a comment we made when studying IV Nephi, 34th verse; it concerns the Nephites in the days of Amos. The wicked, it appears, reviled at the righteous because of their righteousness, and the wrong-doer, they held in repute. The Sacred Record says, "And they did smite upon the people of Jesus." But, however, the righteous did not revile at the reviler, nor did they smite the smiter. They bore all these things with courage and fortitude, remembering the pains of their Redeemer.