God's Laws: Blessings and Punishments

God, who is our loving Father in Heaven, is a just God. He has given all mankind laws which He has commanded us to obey. Read this article to learn about God's commandments and the blessings and punishments that are part of God's laws.

God's Laws and Blessings

In the Doctrine and Covenants we learn the following truth about the laws of God:

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

"And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."¹

God has created laws for mankind. Predicated (or founded) upon each law is a blessing as well as an equal punishment.

God's Laws are Balanced

The blessings and punishments that God has attached to His laws are perfectly balanced. In the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ the prophet Lehi teaches of the balance between the blessings (happiness) and punishments (unhappiness) that are affixed with each of God's laws:

"The ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement—

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things."²

It makes sense that God's laws would be equally balanced with consequences and blessings, if not, God would not be just, and as you will read below, God is just.

We Are Free to Choose

In the Church's seminary program students study and memorize 25 Scripture Mastery Scriptures from the current book of scripture being studied in a given year. One of the Book of Mormon Scripture Mastery Scriptures is 2 Nephi 2:27, which teaches the basic doctrine of agency- that each one of us is free to choose between God and Satan:

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."³

Having choices and being able to freely choose between them is necessary for God's laws and commandments to be properly in effect and justly balanced. If we were not free to choose but were forced to choose one over the other, God's laws would not be just.

Obedience vs Disobedience

Obedience to God's laws brings blessings (either in this life or the next) while disobedience to God's laws leads to sins and transgressions which brings punishments and unhappiness- for "wickedness never was happiness."⁴

In the Bible we read that, "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about."⁵

People often believe that being obedient to God's commandments is restrictive and takes away their freedom, but just the opposite is true. Obedience equals freedom because sin equals captivity. (See Obedience = Freedom to learn more.)

We Are Responsible for Our Choices

The prophet Lehi also taught that the law doesn't justify disobedience:

"And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off...."⁶

President Thomas S. Monson, prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the following about our responsibility regarding our choices:

"Each of us has the responsibility to choose. You may ask, 'Are decisions really that important?' I say to you, decisions determine destiny. You can't make eternal decisions without eternal consequences."⁷

If God did not hold us responsible for our choices (both good and bad) God would not be just, but yet again, God is just and does hold us accountable for our obedience or disobedience to His laws. (Also see this FAQ: What is the Difference Between Sin and Transgression?)

God is Just

Our Father in Heaven is a just God. Not only does God keep His part when we obey His laws and commandments, but He is "bound" when we are obedient. In His own words, God declares this truth:

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."⁸

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all mankind will be brought before God, the Eternal Father, to be judged according to our obedience to God's commandments. If we have faith in Christ and repent of our sins, we will be made clean through the blood of Jesus so that when the day of judgment comes we will be found spotless before God.

I know that God does exist and that His laws are real. Jesus Christ is our Savior and it is only through His grace and mercy that we may be made clean if we repent of our sins and choose to obey His commandments.

Notes:
1. D&C 130:20-21.
2. 2 Nephi 2:10-11.
3. 2 Nephi 2:27.
4. Alma 41:10.
5. Psalms 32:10.
6. 2 Nephi 2:5.
7. "Pathways to Perfection," Ensign, May 2002, 100; Quoted in Book of Mormon Student Manual, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, p25.
8. D&C 82:10.