JUDAS ISCARIOT
Every man who, in this life, has a
calling in the priesthood was foreordained to that calling (see Alma 13:1-4;
see also Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 365). Judas, therefore, was
foreordained to be an apostle and to become exalted. At the time he was called
by Jesus as an apostle, he was worthy to receive this foreordained blessing. At
some point after he accepted the call to be an apostle, he allowed Satan to
exert a tremendous influence on this thinking.
Judas was a free agent just as we
are. It was God’s desire that he remain loyal to Jesus. He betrayed the Lord as
a result of the influence o Lucifer (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of
Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 61). It would be contrary to all revealed truth to
even suggest that Judas was in the last degree deprived of his agency in the
course of events that led to his downfall. He had the same opportunity to lie
in the light of the Lord’s immediate presence as the other apostles. He was
entitled to revelation in his calling as much as the other apostles. He was not
a victim of his personal circumstances. His susceptibility to the influence of
Satan was a direct result of his personal volition. He alone was responsible for
his ultimate decision to betray Jesus. As a result of previous unrepented sins,
he had already sold himself to Lucifer. “He had,” according to James E.
Talmage, “becomes Satan’s serf” (Jesus the Christ, p. 592). Being thus
in bondage to the devil, Judas sought out the Jewish leaders and bargained to
betray our Lord for money (see Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).
Even after Judas had agreed to
betray Jesus, he could have repented of his intended deed. It is interesting to
note that, although the Savior specifically identified him as unworthy (see
John 13:18-30)., Judas did not take steps to repent.
From the brief accounts recorded
in the scriptures, it is impossible to determine the specific scheme Satan
employed to persuade Judas to betray Christ. We can safely assume, however,
that Judas had been deceiving to the point that, in his mind, he was able to
justify his decision to betray Jesus. The possibility even exists that Judas
thought his act would work to Jesus’ advantage in combatting the apostate
Jewish leaders. In any event, there is no justification or excuse for his decision
to betray Jesus. (Grant Von Harrison, Understanding Your Divine Nature [rev
ed.; Sandy, Utah: Sounds of Zion, 2000], 45-46)
