Religious Judging versus Encouragement

Friend #1

I have a friend that is a good person. She goes to church on Sunday; partakes of the sacrament; wears her temple garments. She seems like your good average LDS member...on Sunday. However, during the week she breaks the word of wisdom, has a colorful tongue, etc., but is still a good person and is nice to people.

Friend #2

I have another friend that is a good person. He helps a lot of people in need; volunteers a lot; just a good person you can count on to help when you are in a pickle...but he very rarely goes to church (like maybe once a year) and if he does it is to sacrament meeting only. He has a testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored church but he basically feels like you can just be a good person and that is good enough.

Which is worse?

I ran into both of the individuals this week and so this morning I was thinking about them. I was thinking to myself "which of these friends are doing worse in the Lord's eyes?" I might have been doing a little unrighteous judging, but I'd like to think I was just trying to think of these individuals with love and how I might help them. I know that living the gospel can bring peace and happiness. I was also just trying to think about the situations in theory. 

I'd be willing to bet (oh shoot! that isn't allowed😊) that if you were to pose the question of which friend is worse to the average LDS member they would conclude that Friend #1 is slightly worse because they are being deceptive, while the other is not. However, after pondering this for a long time this morning I came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter in the sense that there is absolutely no reason to try to figure out which one is worse. We are all sinners and we can all do better. 

I feel like words are failing me. This was an "aha!" moment for me, but now that I type it, it sounds more like a "duh!" moment to me.

I guess my point is as someone with a testimony of Jesus Christ, with an understand of the plan salvation, and a love for their fellowman, we should be doing all we can to help encourage one another (with the Spirit and in a helpful manner) to do a little better than we are doing now. Everyone has their agency, but I think if we really love these people we would do what we could to help. I would hope that throughout my life there are people around me that love me enough to give me some gentle nudges in course correction and that I am humble enough to receive this correction.

For both friends I want to seek to understand first, and then to be understood. They obviously feel like they are okay doing the things they are, and I obviously feel like they could do better, and again, I'd like to think that I want them to change because I love them and I know it will improve their life and their life to come.

In summary, have a pure heart, love others, do the best you can, and help others do the best they can.