The following summary of what God’s word really teaches on this subject demonstrates that the true doctrine is that God expects, even commands us, to make judgments. What HE does forbid is the making of unrighteous judgments, which is a far different thing from not judging at all.
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged. Matt 7:1-5. One of the most misunderstood passages of scriptures is this snippet of a teaching Jesus gave on the Sermon on the Mount which is often misquoted without any consideration of context, or contemplation of the entire teaching. It is important to recognize that after making that statement Jesus proceeded to teach that the judgment we pass upon others will be returned to us, which is an indication of the true meaning... that we should not judge unrighteous judgments. That truth is supported by the next verses which teach that BEFORE we judge, we must cast the beam out of our own eyes so we can see clearly in assisting others. In other words, we must make sure that we are pure, in tune, ready to receive the Spirit, so that we may “See clearly” in helping those in need. In context with the other scriptures, seeing clearly is synonymous with seeing by revelation, and the Spirit is the only way it is possible for mortals to make righteous judgments. If Jesus were truly teaching that we are never to judge then the rest of His sermon would be filled with contradictions.
For example:
--It would be impossible to avoid giving holy things to dogs or casting our pearls before swine, without being able to judge who the dogs or swine are. Matt 7:6
--It would also be impossible for us to judge who the false prophets and ravening wolves are, that we are to beware of. Matt 7:15
--Jesus' detailed instructions on how we are to judge “by their fruits” would be rendered meaningless. If we cannot judge, then we cannot determine the good fruits from the bad ones. Matt. 7: 15-20
In context of the whole sermon it is clear that what Jesus was truly teaching on the mount was for us to make righteous judgments, which is verified by the Joseph Smith translation which modifies the verses to read “Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged; but judge righteous judgment.” Emphasis added
2. Not being allowed to make righteous judgments would also render us incapable of fulfilling numerous other commands found throughout Scripture. Just a few of hundreds of examples:
--The Scribes and Pharisees would not have been able to do the weightier matter of the law, “judgement” as commanded by Jesus. Matt 23:23
--Jesus’ command to the Pharisees to not judge according to appearance but to “Judge Righteous Judgments” would be impossible to fulfill. John 7:14
--We could not love our enemies, without first being able to judge who they are.
Matt 5:44
--We could not avoid being yoked with unbelievers or avoid touching the unclean thing without being able to judge who the unbelievers are and what the unclean thing is.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17.
--It would be impossible for us to “turn away” from; “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” who Paul taught would be abundant in our perilous times, without first being able to judge who they are. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
3. Thankfully the true doctrine about judging is taught perfectly by the prophet Moroni, who first warns us:
“Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is
evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.”
Moroni then teaches how it is that we may make righteous judgments:
“For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know
good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a
perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the
Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil”
Finally, he teaches us again the truth of what Jesus taught on the mount and gives us a powerful charge with regard to making judgments:
…”And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may
judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully
for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged…
Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently
in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil…”
In summary, not only is it permissible for us to make judgments as part of life, but it is in fact essential to our salvation to be able to judge good from evil, right from wrong, false prophets from the true ones, ravenous wolves from sheep, etc. In fact, the false doctrine that we are not to judge is simply a form of spiritual, political correctness, whose purpose it to facilitate the justification of sin.
Finally, it must be remembered, that since righteous judgment can only be done by the Spirit of Christ, it necessarily follows that such judgments will also always be accompanied by the Love of Christ.