Recently, someone made a comment to me about the “Law of Compensation.” While I understood the principle right off the bat, I didn’t recognize it as a binding “law”—something that can never be broken. Life, with all of its challenges, seemed to contradict that idea from time to time. Of course, I acted like I knew what they were talking about, and then quickly googled it on my phone:

The Law of Compensation states that a person will always be compensated for their efforts and contributions, no matter the effort and energy they put into it. The Law of Compensation stems from the famous saying ‘you reap what you sow.’[1]

We know that God compensates for His children—that is the very essence of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But are we to understand that we will always be compensated for every effort and contribution in this life? How many times have you done something and it’s not worked out, or you have not reaped the reward of your efforts? If God will indeed compensate, how and when will that be done?

Answers to these questions are important, if we are to not be disappointed with the exercise of God’s will in our lives. It’s easy for us to fall into the trap of making promises that God is not necessarily ready to deliver, or not framing them up in the way He intended. We don’t intentionally do it. We just do it because–most likely—we want to build the case for someone that God loves them and is prepared to reward their faith with a much needed blessing: “pay your tithing and you will get that job you want.” It’s not that this couldn’t happen, but the quid pro quo (something for something or this for that) implied may not be exactly what God has in mind.

In fact, Elder Christofferson recently shared in General Conference, “Some misunderstand the promises of God to mean that obedience to Him yields specific outcomes on a fixed schedule… If life doesn’t fall out precisely… according to an expected timetable, they may feel betrayed by God. But things are not so mechanical in the divine economy. We ought not to think of God’s plan as a cosmic vending machine where we (i) select a desired blessing, (ii) insert the required sum of good works, and (iii) the order is promptly. God will indeed honor His covenants and promises to each of us… but not every blessing predicated on obedience to law is shaped, designed and timed according to our expectations. We do our best but must leave to Him the management of blessings, both temporal and spiritual. President Brigham Young explained that his faith was not built on certain outcomes or blessings but on his witness of and relationship with Jesus Christ. He said: ‘My faith is not placed upon …whether we are blessed or not blessed, but my faith is placed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and my knowledge I have received from him.’”[2]

When we make a promise that God is not ready or willing to deliver, we put faith in jeopardy as hopes become unfulfilled. The promises of God are numerous and powerful. When correctly understood, they create powerful expectations that can sustain faith through trying adversities and challenging times. When misunderstood, they can lead to confusion and a feeling that God has somehow let us down.

Take for example, some of the promises made by church leaders about how and when God compensates His children:

  • Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: “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. Because Heavenly Father is merciful, a principle of compensation prevails.“[3] 
  • Sister Linda K. Burton: “Without an understanding of Heavenly Father’s perfect plan of happiness and the Savior’s Atonement as the central feature of that plan… challenges could seem unfair. We all share in the trials of life together. But in faithful hearts is written, ‘All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.’”[4]
  • Elder Neil L. Anderson: “Here is my major theme this morning: As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight.”[5]

There are many more specific compensatory promises God makes to His children. It is empowering to understand what these are, as they provide great hope and comfort.

Important to note, it becomes difficult for God to compensate us when we are not willing to do our best to live the principles He teaches. Elder David G. Renlund describes a time in his own life where he felt a need for blessings—a particularly vulnerable story from a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles about a lesson he learned that can empower all of us: “In the course of my lifetime and because of my chosen profession [a cardiologist specializing in heart transplants], I missed many sacrament meetings. I recognized that this was dangerous. So when I knew I was likely to miss a sacrament meeting, I tried to compensate for it. I prayed and studied more. But these things did not adequately compensate for missing the sacrament.

“Now, if you know you are going to not be able to sleep for a while, wouldn’t it be nice to practice defensive sleeping, storing that sleep for later? It does not work; I have tried it. Similarly, you cannot adequately compensate for missing the sacrament. When circumstances preclude it, so be it; do the best you can. But to willfully choose to not partake of the sacrament when you could is a spiritual death trap. This seemingly small action jeopardizes things of an eternal nature.”[6]

We all probably know of someone, if not ourselves, that has wondered why certain blessings of have not come into our lives as we have worked to comply with our understanding of God’s requirements. Sometimes discouragement sets in, thinking that “God has His favorites and I’m not one of them,” or “His promises are not literal.” In reality, it is most likely that we may have misunderstood what His promise actually is, or it may be that, in His infinite knowledge, wisdom and love for each of us, He intends the blessings to come in a different way or a better time.[7]

When we understand the promises of God, and His desire to bless each of us, we gain a stronger foundation for our faith and a better understanding of how God may actually deliver on His promises to us (something He will always do). Thus, strengthening our faith in Him and our gratitude for all that He has done, and will continue do to, for each of us.

Roger Connors is the author of Divine Patterns, to be published by Deseret Book in September of 2022.

[1] https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/3936230/what-the-law-of-compensation/. It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote in his essay, Compensation, “Each person is compensated in like manner for that which he or she has contributed.” In essence, the Law of Compensation is a close cousin to the Law of Sowing and Reaping which simply states: You will always be given back in return what you have contributed, whatever that is, and however much or little that is.” https://wbassociatesllc.medium.com/the-key-to-riches-and-wealth-b5e88448ca74

[2] https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/generalconference/2022/04/41christofferson?lang=eng

[3] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng

[4] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2012/10/is-faith-in-the-atonement-of-jesus-christ-written-in-our-hearts?lang=eng

[5] https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/neil-l-andersen/a-compensatory-spiritual-power-for-the-righteous/

[6] https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dale-g-renlund/lifelong-conversion/

[7] D&C 88:68