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Welcome to Seek This Jesus, a daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truths found in the Book of Mormon.
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Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps.
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We often think of judgment as something to fear.
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The very word can bring thoughts of punishment, regret, or uncertainty.
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Yet the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches something very different.
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Because of the Savior's infinite atonement, judgment is not simply about accounting for our lives, it is also about receiving the promises He has offered to those who come unto Him.
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The same Savior who will judge us is the Savior who gave his life for us.
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That truth changes the way we view our eternal future.
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Jacob's ministry had been filled with invitations to repent, keep covenants, and remain faithful to Jesus Christ.
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He warned against pride, worldliness, and rejecting the Lord's mercy.
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As he concludes his record, his final words reveal remarkable confidence.
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After pleading with his people throughout his life, Jacob ends by looking forward to standing before God.
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His closing testimony teaches that the final judgment is not intended to terrify the righteous, but to welcome them home.
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Jacob concludes his record with these words in chapter six thirteen.
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Finally, I bid you farewell until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear.
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Amen.
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As we study this verse today, along with teachings from Elder M.
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Russell Ballard, we will consider what it means to prepare with confidence for the day we stand before God through the grace of Jesus Christ.
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One word in Jacob's final testimony stands out immediately pleasing.
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It is not the word many of us would naturally choose to describe the judgment of God.
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We might expect words like solemn, holy, or even fearful, yet Jacob intentionally calls it the pleasing bar of God.
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That single word teaches an important doctrine.
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The judgment itself is not something to dread for those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ.
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Jacob had spent his life inviting people to repent because he knew repentance changes the way we approach God.
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The Savior does not ask us to come to judgment alone or on our own merits.
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He invites us to come clothed in His mercy, transformed by His grace, and faithful to the covenants we have made.
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Notice that Jacob also says the bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear.
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The difference is not found in God.
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God remains perfectly just and perfectly merciful.
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The difference is found in whether we have accepted or rejected the Savior's invitation to come unto him.
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The same judgment that brings fear to those who reject Christ becomes pleasing to those who have sought him throughout their lives.
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Jacob himself looked forward to that day.
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His farewell is not filled with uncertainty, it is filled with hope.
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Elder M.
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Russell Ballard shared this deeply personal reflection.
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That thought brings me comfort, the assurance that I will be with Barbara again.
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Although she physically suffered toward the end of her life, her spirit was strong, noble and pure.
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She had prepared herself in all things so that when the day comes she can stand before the pleasing bar of God full of confidence and peaceful assurance.
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But here I am in two days, ninety-one years old, and I'm still wondering Am I ready?
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Am I doing everything I need to do to be able to hold her hand again?
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There is both confidence and humility in Elder Ballard's words.
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He expresses complete confidence in Barbara's preparation, yet he continues to examine his own life.
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That balances healthy discipleship.
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Confidence in Christ never eliminates the desire to keep growing.
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Preparation for judgment is not accomplished in one dramatic moment.
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It happens one day at a time.
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It happens as we repent, forgive, pray, study the scriptures, keep our covenants, serve others, and continually seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
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These ordinary acts of discipleship slowly shape who we are becoming.
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The Lord is not merely measuring isolated actions, he is helping us become the kind of people who will feel at home in His presence.
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That is why the gospel emphasizes transformation rather than perfection and mortality.
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Every sincere act of repentance brings us closer to Christ and every covenant faithfully honored increases our confidence in His promises.
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The pleasing bar of God is pleasing because the Savior has made a way for us to return.
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Without Him, the judgment would be overwhelming.
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With Him, it becomes the joyful completion of a lifetime of coming unto Christ.
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In today's world it is easy to avoid thinking about eternity.
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Our attention is pooled toward schedules, careers, finances, entertainment, social media, and countless daily responsibilities.
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We naturally focus on what is urgent instead of what is eternal.
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Jacob invites us to occasionally ask a different question.
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Rather than wondering only how today is going, we might also ask how today's choices are preparing us to stand before the Lord.
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That question is not intended to create anxiety.
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Instead, it helps us evaluate what matters most.
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If there are habits that distance us from Christ, today is a wonderful day to begin changing them.
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If there are relationships needing forgiveness, today is a good day to seek peace.
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If our prayers or scripture study have become inconsistent, today offers another opportunity to reconnect with the Savior.
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We do not prepare for judgment by becoming flawless overnight.
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We prepare by continually turning toward Jesus Christ.
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The beautiful message of Jacob's final testimony is that our future meeting with God does not have to be filled with fear.
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Because of Jesus Christ it can be anticipated with hope.
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We can look forward to seeing the Savior we have sought, the Father we have prayed to, and the loved ones who remained faithful.
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As we continue walking the covenant path, our confidence grows.
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Not because we trust ourselves completely, but because we trust completely in the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.
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So here is today's challenge.
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Spend a few quiet minutes today considering what would help us feel greater peace about standing before the Lord.
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Choose one simple step that draws us closer to Jesus Christ.
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Whether it is a sincere repentance, more meaningful prayer, time in the scriptures, or an act of forgiveness.
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Let that one choice become part of our preparation for the pleasing bar of God.
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Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus.
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I hope this message helps you draw a little closer to the Savior Jesus Christ.
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Please, don't let this podcast be your only scripture time today.
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As we open the scriptures for ourselves, the Spirit will teach us things no podcast ever could.
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If you are exploring the truths of the Book of Mormon for the first time, you can receive a free copy using the link in the description found in every episode of Seek This Jesus.
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I invite you to come back tomorrow for another verse and message to help you stay focused on Jesus Christ.
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Until next time, keep seeking this Jesus.