Life's Not Fair

Elder Dale G. Renlund's talk, “That I Might Draw All Men unto Me” touched on many topics, but the topic that repeatedly stood out to me was the unfairness of life. Life is not fair, but we often think it should be. We feel that we don't deserve the trials and affliction we get, and that we instead deserve more blessings than we think we get. My theory is that that may be the case - by divine design. I think that God sometimes gives us more challenges than we deserve to face, and sometimes withholds blessings that we deserve to receive.

Of course, we would all like to have more blessings and fewer challenges, but that may not be what's best for us. We came to earth to gain experience and grow moral fiber, but that takes longer when life is easy. If we are sufficiently righteous, we may deserve certain blessings, but it might be better for our spiritual development if we don't get them - yet.

The good news is that "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ" (Preach My Gospel, 52). Though life often isn't fair, the afterlife will be more than fair. Ultimately, we will be given every blessing we have ever earned, including those we receive in compensation for undeserved suffering, and then some. The unfairness of life often works against us, but in the eternities, the unfairness will be for our blessing. As Elder Renlund reminded us, "If life were truly fair, . . . you and I would never be able to stand clean before God. In this respect, I am grateful that life is not fair."