Be Thou Humble, Part II

In Elder Steven E. Snow's talk on Humility given in April 2016 General Conference, he recounts a challenge where his 15 year-old son had a serious head injury, spent a week in a coma, and had some serious side effects, including short term memory loss.  This blindsided the family.

"Honestly, we wondered how such a thing could happen.  We had always strived to do the right things.  Living the gospel had been a high priority for our family.  We couldn't understand how something so painful could happen to us."

I like this honest admission of befuddlement, of bafflement, of not understanding why God would let something like this happen.  There appear in these words an almost confession in the mistaken notion that in striving to keep the commandments and live righteously, we avoid pain, suffering, and hardship.

In the talk, Elder Snow sees at least one purpose for this experience, which seems to be that he and his wife, as well as his son, became more humble.

Mosiah 2:41 we read that "those that keep the commandments of God" are in a "blessed and happy state," and that "They are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual."

Perhaps sometimes we misread this scripture as if it reads, "They are blessed in all things, according to all of their desires, and avoid any hardship, trials, or difficulties, both temporal and spiritual."

What is the difference between the two readings?  While King Benjamin is clear people are blessed temporally and spiritually, it is unclear exactly what type of blessings, temporal and spiritual, are offered.

In my expanded second reading, the blessed received according to all of their desires, which blessings preclude difficulty, hardship, or trials.  King Benjamin teaches no such principle.  He frankly admits to the physical frailties of old age, for instance.

Perhaps sometimes we miss the blessings that we do receive temporally and spiritually because of our fidelity and obedience to God and His Church.  This could be further complicated by seeing other blessings (physical objects, mental states of mind, circumstances, etc.) that we may want but which are as yet unrealized, and perhaps may never be realized in the way that we would like.  But Mosiah 2:41 does not say that God gives every blessing to every righteous person.  The scripture merely states that the obedient are blessed in all things.  It does not say anything about the type and manner of blessings the blessed receive.

Similarly, the Book of Mormon includes the promise, even the covenant, that those who keep the commandments prosper in the land.  But this is often contrasted with those who do not obey God, and are cast out of His presence (see, for instance, 1 Nephi 2:20-21).  Much more could and perhaps should be said on this, but for now, suffice it to say that prospering in the Book of Mormon is not just an increase in material wealth, nor an avoidance of pain, suffering and trial.  It does appear to be about God being with us, to strengthen and bless us in God's way, and not ours.