Who are the Righteous

Sometimes as members of the church we (if not consciously then subconsciously) think that we are more righteous than people of other faiths because of our beliefs, because we are part of God's church.

In reality however there's nothing to say that God's people or church are more righteous just for having his full truth. The people of Israel often strayed and were greatly punished by God. In the book of Mormon  Jacob 3:5 is a great example of this.

"Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them."

Here the Lord is saying that this people who don't believe in God are more righteous than the Nephite because of what they do with their lives. They follow God's Commandments without knowing they are following God but likely they do it because they believe it is the right thing to do. And because of the Nephites sins they are more righteous.

Is it possible that a Muslim, or an evangelical Christian or a Buddhist or even an atheist might be more righteous than us personally? If they are following God by loving and serving others then I think it is entirely possible!

Now we don't have God's knowledge to reliably make any fair judgment so there is no point in trying to determine who is more righteous, but the point is that we need to be less prideful of our own "righteousness" and recognize the righteousness God sees in all his children regardless of their belief and we need to celebrate and appreciate their goodness.