My father
introduced me to the eternal law or principle of compensation during my senior year at
BYU. Prior to Thanksgiving I broke up
with someone I had been dating very seriously and so while home during the
holiday, I requested a father's blessing for guidance and direction.
Part way
through the blessing, however, I began to wonder why and questioned the wisdom
of my even asking for a blessing when father said very slowly and in a halting
manner something to the effect that "marriage can be difficult,
discouraging, and depressing." This
was not very encouraging and certainly not the blessing or inspiration I was
hoping to receive.
Then after a
long pause, father continued, "but it will not be one-hundredth the joy in
eternity for those who are faithful to their eternal covenants." While I do not remember much else about the
blessing, the ratio of hundred to one really stuck.
A couple
years later and after I was married, I reminded father of this blessing and while
I agreed that marriage could bring more happiness than disappointment, I
questioned him whether he might have exaggerated or resorted to hyperbole when
he foretold the ratio of joy hereafter to sorrow in this life could be 100 to 1. Father, however, did not back down or minimize
in anyway what he had said in the blessing.
In fact, he seemed even more resolute or sure of the principle and the
proportion.
Later I
would find this same ratio (and even "more") in the Doctrine and
Covenants, “And he who receiveth all
things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth
shall be added unto him, even an hundred
fold, yea, more.” (D&C 78:19.)
Thirty-six
years after my father's blessing, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin explained in the
2008 October General Conference that, "If we approach adversities wisely,
our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead
toward times of greatest happiness."
He then shared principles to help us get through times of testing and
trial, including - "The
third thing we can do is understand the principle of compensation. The Lord
compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those
who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come
at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears
of rejoicing and gratitude."
The Savior
Himself confirmed this over abundant return in the eternities when he told his
disciples, “And every one that hath
forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or
children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall
receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matt. 19:29).
A knowledge
of and appreciation for this principle of compensation is invaluable,
particularly when overwhelmed with pain, suffering, and despondency. It saved me from a severe bout of depression
- the kind where you are not able to sleep at night and are constantly flooded
with crushing feelings of despair and foreboding with no end of the suffering
in sight. After three miserable days and
nights, and while feeling great emotional pain, I thought upon this principle
and then heard the spirit speak to me, "Oh, He (the Lord) wants to bless to you"
I knew
immediately that this message was referring to the agony I was experiencing and
that by the law of compensation at some point my joy could be 100 times greater
than my anguish if I would but trust and obey the Lord. Almost instantaneously with this realization I
felt myself being surrounded by a protective bubble of faith and my misery and despondency
were supplanted by hope, strength, and light. This remarkably rapid transformation caused
me to marvel because I had worried and realized that I could not pull myself out of
the overwhelming depression. Just
knowing that the God we worship is magnanimous and desires to bless us, can
provide the inspiration and strength we need when tested to or beyond our
limits.
As Neal A. Maxwell observed, "How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art!. Then, let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!'"[1]
As Neal A. Maxwell observed, "How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art!. Then, let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!'"[1]
I am grateful for the law of compensation and appreciate it most when
hurting or suffering with pain. I know
that some day it will be more than worth it all, and "through God’s compassion, kindness, and love, we will all receive more
than we deserve, more than we can ever earn, and more than we can ever hope for"[2] - even an hundred fold, yea, more!
