Compounding Effects

A friend and I have recently been discussing some deep concepts regarding time, relativity, and the enormity of space. Of utmost importance to me during these conversations is the realization that despite how infinitely large the universe is, and how small and insignificant we may feel or seem in comparison, God is highly aware of, interested in, and invested in us individually.

We are blessed with miracles, mercies, and opportunities everyday that we often miss because we aren't looking for them or don't have faith in their reality. I testify that God lives and loves us and that he consistently seeks to bless us if only we are looking for those blessings.

This has been most obvious to me as I consider how the Lord blesses me, and how those blessings are usually exponential or compounding. As I was reading an ensign article about temple and family history work this morning I noticed that the Lord does not just give us a commandment and a blessing and leave it at that. Usually these blessings are cyclical and compounding. The example that Elder Anderson gave had to do with our knowledge and faith in Christ. He said, "as you contribute to this sacred work (temple and family history work) your knowledge and faith in the Savior will increase and you will receive a more certain witness that life continues beyond the veil." What he did not say, that I have come to understand is that as our "knowledge and faith in the Savior" increases, so will our desire to "contribute to this sacred work" which will again increase our "knowledge and faith." The gospel is ripe with these compounding effects where obedience results in faith, power, and blessings which instills greater obedience and results in exponential growth in faith, power, and blessings. It is such an amazing system or process. IF we truly turn our life over to God and become immersed in that process: 1. It will become EASIER and 2. It will happen FASTER. The compounding effect will occur more readily and we will be more receptive to and aware of it.

I believe God wants us to be happy and that the best way to do that is to become like him. The goal is not always to give up our will (though sometimes we need to do that) but to learn his will, because when we learn his will and see how it will bless us, we will desire to change our will such that it aligns with or is the same as his. Obedience isn't coercive, it is agentic. We obey, are blessed exponentially and see that we can be happier with and through him than we could otherwise and have a greater desire to obey. While I am not perfect at following this principle now, I can testify that it is true and our lives will be blessed exponentially as we follow God's will.