No Excuses

In his recent Conference Talk, Elder Claudio D. Zivic of the Seventy gave voice to a truth with implications far broader than the situation to which he applied it:

I have heard many justifications from those who have stopped participating actively in the Church and have lost the correct vision of the purpose of our journey on this earth. I exhort them to reflect and to return, because I believe that no one will be able to make excuses before our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I especially wanted to highlight that last part: "I believe that no one will be able to make excuses before our Lord, Jesus Christ."

There will be no cheating through the Final Judgment. We won't be able to have past sins or bad behavior excused just because we ask nicely or have a good excuse for it. We will be held to a high standard, including complete moral honesty. If we have fallen short, and we all have, we will be compelled to admit that. We won't be able to argue that our actions were justified if we know in our hearts that they weren't.

So, instead of finding excuses to justify our behavior, let's try to make sure our behavior doesn't require justification. And when we fall short, let's seek justification through the only means by which we can get it: Repentance, which includes an honest and humble admission of fault.

We won't be able to make excuses at the Final Judgment. Let's stop trying to make excuses now.