The relationship between cause and effect is not always obvious in this life. In fact, one could make a case that most often, it is hidden from us. This is not, as it may seem, an obstacle to our growth, but rather a gift that protects us from bearing the full weight of reality before we have the tools necessary to bear it.
As you wend through life, you encounter pain. Much of our suffering in life comes as the result of our understanding, actions, beliefs, and feelings. The pain you encounter is typically a signal that there is some principle, belief, or action you or someone else lacks. In other words, pain is typically an invitation for improvement.
From time to time, the Lord exposes us to the consequences of our present understanding, actions, beliefs, and feelings in order to reveal to us the limits of our present choices and perspectives. In scripture, this is called being chastened by the Lord.
The Lord’s chastening is anything but the arbitrary punishment some think it is. God is not capricious. He works only through cause and effect, and only for our benefit.
The Lord’s chastening is nothing more nor less than his teaching us more about cause and effect. He improves our perception of reality by giving us greater exposure to cause and effect, and in so doing gives us more tools to improve ourselves and obtain greater happiness and joy. His chastening is a gift, not a punishment:
7 ...all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? (D&C 122)
Not everyone will derive the same amount of improvement from the same stimulus. Some will not notice the improvement opportunity at all. Of the rest, some will derive a little improvement, some a lot, and some few will derive an amazing amount of improvement, all from the same stimulus.
How often and how effectively you learn from the pain from your failings and the failings of others will determine the amount of joy you obtain. How much you learn from an improvement opportunity will be dictated by your desire to improve and your efforts to do so.
Increased exposure to the consequences of our actions is necessary for us to improve and receive greater joy. Left in a state of insulation from consequences, we would never learn:
1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.
2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him. (Helaman 12)
When you feel overcome by anything in life, you can rest assured that God is showing you the path to come to him and learn the lessons required to overcome that thing that is currently overcoming you.
The Lord teaches us what we lack to prepare us with what is required to live a life of greater happiness and joy. While the description of this process is always couched in scriptural jargon, the process of successive revelation of more information to enable us to live in greater joy is clearly laid out all through the scriptures. For example:
12 For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.
13 And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.
14 Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.
15 For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me. (D&C 98)
The Lord’s chastening can help us understand the true value of things. It is only through suffering that we can gain appreciation for what is good. The Lord said to Adam “...they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good.” (Moses 6:55) Wise Solomon wrote: “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3)
The Lord’s chastening can help us to have a clearer and more correct view of cause and effect (see the section titled “The Lord will strengthen you to endure the fire”).
The Lord’s chastening can improve our understanding of what is good and what is bad:
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine <u>own understanding.</u>
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
11 My son, <u>despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be</u> weary of his correction:
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 <u>Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.</u>
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
19 <u>The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.</u>
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds <u>drop down the dew.</u>
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: <u>keep sound wisdom and discretion:</u>
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. (Proverbs 3)
The Lord’s chastening can show us what is lasting and what is fleeting (see the section titled “Identifying the things that are fleeting”).
The Lord’s chastening can show us what has power over us. Paul said: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12) We can learn who and what we rely on when they or it is removed. We can learn what has power over us by noting what prevents us from reconciling ourselves to what we know is right.
The Lord’s chastening gives us tools to overcome all things:
Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you— (D&C 95:1)
4 ...they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.
5 For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified. (D&C 101)
The Lord will only ever expose us to situations he also provides us access to the tool to overcome:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
This promise requires our seeking and obeying any new truth he offers us directly or through others:
19 Behold, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with many who are in the church at Kirtland;
20 For they do not forsake their sins, and their wicked ways, the <u>pride of their hearts, and their covetousness, and all their detestable things, and observe the words of wisdom and eternal life which I have given unto them.</u>
21 Verily I say unto you, that I, the Lord, will chasten them and will do whatsoever I list, if they do not repent and observe all things whatsoever I have said unto them.
22 And again I say unto you, <u>if ye observe to do whatsoever I command you, I, the Lord, will turn away all wrath and indignation from you, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against you. (D&C 98)</u>
4 And that those who call themselves after my name might be chastened for a little season with a sore and grievous chastisement, because they did not hearken altogether unto the <u>precepts and commandments which I gave unto them.</u>
5 But verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour <u>unto the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them.</u>
6 Behold they shall, for I have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour.
7 And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord <u>their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail</u> until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever. 8 <u>But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them. (D&C 103)</u>
Suffering for the sake of learning is the one and only way to improve, because it is the only way we can break through the limitations of our own understanding and perceptions. Suffering is how the Lord himself overcame the world. He learned “obedience by the things which he suffered;” (Hebrews 5:8) We must as well: “And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer.” (D&C 105:6)
It is possible to get to the point where suffering no longer holds anything more to teach you. The Lord reached this point through his mortal life, and we must as well. You overcome the world to the extent that you become like him:
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (1 John 3)
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
While reaching this point does not mean you won’t suffer, it does mean that you will be free from suffering from negative consequences of your choices. This is significant because the remaining suffering—due to the choices of others—can be attenuated through adopting the idea that you can help them through enduring the consequences of their actions.