24 And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true—
25 For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.
What does it mean to judge someone “only according to that which is true?” It means that you trust them only so far as they have proven themselves. Your confidence in them is limited to what they have demonstrated that they are capable of. Your perception of them is limited to their current circumstances.
Alma thinks of these people more highly than that. “I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.” In other words, “I will not limit my belief in you to what I currently see and hear. I will give you the benefit of the doubt.” “I believe that you are capable of much that I cannot see.”
This is righteous judgment. We have been taught that God will judge all people not only according to their works but “according to the desire of their hearts” (D&C 137:9). If our Heavenly Father is so generous in judging His children, then we also ought to be generous in our assessments of other people.
Today, I will see the people around me in a positive light. I will seek to give them the benefit of the doubt, to assume positive motivations for their behavior, and to trust that they can do much more than their current circumstances may allow.
Alma thinks of these people more highly than that. “I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.” In other words, “I will not limit my belief in you to what I currently see and hear. I will give you the benefit of the doubt.” “I believe that you are capable of much that I cannot see.”
This is righteous judgment. We have been taught that God will judge all people not only according to their works but “according to the desire of their hearts” (D&C 137:9). If our Heavenly Father is so generous in judging His children, then we also ought to be generous in our assessments of other people.
Today, I will see the people around me in a positive light. I will seek to give them the benefit of the doubt, to assume positive motivations for their behavior, and to trust that they can do much more than their current circumstances may allow.
Book of Mormon Study Notes 