“THERE MUST NEEDS BE AN OPPOSITION IN ALL THINGS”

Understanding this concept will answer the question of why a loving God allows pain, suffering and evil in the world. Please read with that in mind and be alert for ways it may benefit your own life.

What is meant by the statement that “There must needs be an opposition in all things.”? This is actually a profound philosophical concept concerning truth and the existence of good and evil. We may find this quote in the Book of Mormon. It is from from Lehi to his son, Jacob in Second Nephi, Chapter 2: Verse 11:

http://11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

Lehi goes on to explain the concept of an opposition in all things as the means by which we learn and progress in this life by the choices that we make. Nothing is simple or without consequence because of that opposition. It is deep with meaning and deserves to be pondered with prayerful consideration of its meaning. Consider, if you will, the sides of a coin. Heads or tails. Every coin has two sides, but unless you are gambling or trying to decide who gets the ball first in a sporting contest it doesn’t seem that important. But it is actually a simile of the nature of all things in this world of ours. Every object, every concept, every action with which we come into contact is replete with this dual nature. One side corresponds to our desires, the other to our fears. One side may be progress, the other failure. One option is good, the other evil. One is holy, the other unholy. When I say “all” things, that is exactly what I mean. Every thing under the sun, every thing temporal, every thing spritual, every thought, every word, every action, all come under the power of this concept. Lehi goes on for the remainder of Chapter 2 of Second Nephi explaining why this is so. Study Lehi’s discourse to his son, Jacob. Ponder it and pray for the Holy Ghost to reveal its meaning to you. You do not have to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to do this. Your Father in Heaven wants you to know these things and if you ask in faith with real purpose and pure intent He will reveal it to you. Lehi explains that it is for this purpose that men are instructed sufficiently that they may know good and evil. Mankind in this life suffers afflictions and sorrow, but it must be so because one cannot know joy without sorrow, nor good without evil. And unto each of these there is a law and without that law there could be no sin, and without sin there could be no righteousness. And from the juxtaposition of good and evil comes choice. Without good and evil there could be no choice, and without choice there could be no redemption or salvation which is provided by Christ, our Savior. This is the great conundrum with which people struggle when they cannot understand why God allows pain and suffering. It is the stumbling block that was exploited by Satan as he offered to save us from failure by removing that gift of choice, our moral agency which animates our eternal progression.

For the purpose of understanding more fully the nature of this opposition in all things I challenge anyone to find something that does not fit this dual nature of good and evil, positive and negative, joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure. It even applies in the world of science. Consider cosmos and chaos, the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Cosmos is the order of the universe which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but only changed in form. Think of a piston, the contents of which can be heated. This causes expansion which can be measured in movement. So the energy required for heating the contents is changed in form to the distance of the movement. The form of energy changes but its amount remains the same, Energy is maintained but work is performed. Whereas chaos, the second law of thermodynamics, is the disorder in the universe. It states that in nature energy dissipates. This is called entropy and means that left alone energy lessens. The pressure in the piston lessons without the energy of the heating. Thus the movement ceases. We see this in our gardens and in other aspects throughout our lives. Choices regarding the application of energy are required for both cosmos which is the achievement of something and chaos which is the loss of that achievement. So it inevitably ends up with the choices that we make.

Without a sharp blade men could not capture and kill the animals to feed their family, nor could that food have been prepared properly for the table. On the one hand that blade has been used to defend against wild animals and dangerous men. But it was also in the hand of the criminal who sought to kill. The same is said of guns with which we protect ourselves yet they are the source of death from our enemies. The coin of the realm is useful to barter for goods and also the means of great mischief. Jesus said that man will be judged by every word that comes out of his mouth yet we treasure the words of the prophets and seek every word from the mouths of the general authorities. We ponder the scriptures and hear the words of the Savior but the filth of vile opposition to the gospel will destroy tender testimonies. Governments are instituted among men to preserve our unalienable rights from God and to prevent physical harm to life and property. Doctrine and Covenants, Section 134 contains the following in verses one and two:

http://1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society. 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

Yet governments and tyrants throughout history have caused great suffering, death and misery. King Herod sought the life of the baby Jesus and Pontius Pilate ordered his death at the hands of the Roman government.  In the last century alone despotic Socialist and Communist governments were responsible for the deaths of nearly 100 million people. And Satan’s use of armies and lies and misinformation has, in spite of those tragedies, caused great praise to be given to such governments. 

Adam and his children built altars from the rocks of the earth with which to worship Almighty God. But Stephen was stoned to death with such rocks for the heresy of being a follower of Christ. From the flora of the earth comes not only beauty but substances that are of benefit to the health and wellness of men. Yet the same beautiful poppies contain the enslaving power and death of opium. Opium itself is a boon for those suffering intolerable pain, but used improperly it is a destroyer. Cocaine leaves are chewed in the mountains of South America for the relief of altitude sickness but it is the scourge of today’s society. The hand that soothes the baby’s cry can also break the bones of an enemy. The mind of man is capable of wonderful inventions and intricate and beautiful poetry but also contrives the instruments of poison and death.

Our Father in Heaven revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith the eternal truth that, “Man is that he might have joy.” And we do have joy. We have it in this life and expect it in greater measure in the life to come. But would we even know or understand it were it not for the afflictions and suffering of which Lehi spoke? When you encounter the burning question of how or why God can allow the pain, suffering, or evil that is endemic throughout the world, and also within the confines of our own life, remember this post. Read it.  Ponder it. Pray for truth and understanding and it will be given. The burning in my bosom reveals it to me. I think it will do the same for you.