There’s this scripture I’ve wondered about that I want to get your take on.<\/p>\n
20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-
\n 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. ( D&C 130:20-21<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThis scripture is commonly used to suggest that every blessing has its own law. For example, I’ve heard it used many times in connection with Mal 3:8-11<\/a> and the blessings of tithing or D&C 89:18-21<\/a> and the blessings of keeping the Word of Wisdom.<\/p>\nHowever, this interpretation has the problem that it ignores what the verses actually say. Notice, they do not say that each blessing is associated with its own law. They say that there is “a<\/em> law” upon which “all<\/em> blessings” are predicated. In other words, every blessing is predicated upon one single law, which was decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world. When we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that [one] law upon which it (and every blessing for that matter) is predicated.<\/p>\n
So, my question to you is: what is the one law?<\/p>\n
Before opening it up for suggestions, let me address one answer preemptively. Given the common saying that “obedience is the first law of heaven,” someone will surely argue that the one law is obedience. This answer has a couple of problems. First, verse 21 reads in a strange way if you plug it in: “And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to [the law of obedience] upon which it is predicated.” Obedience to the law of obedience? That poses a bit of a problem. Second, there seems to be nothing inherently virtuous about obedience. Over at BCC, Ronan recently commented<\/a> that “Obedience is the first law of heaven (and Auschwitz).” That makes the point rather well. Obedience is only good if we are obeying the right thing, and in this case, that right thing appears to be the one law upon which all blessings are predicated. So, if you want to say obedience, be sure to tell me where I’m going wrong here.<\/p>\n
[Associated radio.blog song: The Clash – I fought the law<\/em>]