Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2021
Lesson No. Twenty-Four
The Lord Uses Both the Carrot and the Stick to Motivate Obedience
Nephi wrote of our day where many don’t see the importance of obedience: “And there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God – he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines…” (2 Nephi 28:8-9).
We live in a day where the doctrine of easy salvation is popular – There are well meaning people who want to rethink fundamental doctrines of the gospel. For example, they believe that sin really is not as sinful as we once thought. Like Corianton they believe is not just for a sinner to be punished and “consigned to a state of misery” (Alma 42:1). Furthermore, the teaching of the scriptures about sin makes them uncomfortable. Because God loves us He would not cause anxiety or stress. Nehor taught the comfortable doctrine of easy salvation: “And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life” (Alma 1:4).
The Lord uses the stick and the carrot to motivate us to be obedient because it is so important – “Obedience is the first law of heaven, the cornerstone upon which all righteousness and progression rest” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Obedience, p. 539) – Obedience is so important that the Lord uses both the carrot and the stick to motivate us to be obedient. “The phrase ‘carrot and stick’ is a metaphor for the use of a combination of reward and punishment to induce a desired behavior” (Wikipedia, Carrot and Stick). There are many scriptural examples where the Lord and His prophet use both the carrot and stick to motivate obedience. These include the following:
D&C 63 – The disobedient should fear and tremble but the obedient will inherit everlasting life: “Hearken, O ye people, and open your hearts and give ear from afar; and listen, you that call yourselves the people of the Lord, and hear the word of the Lord and his will concerning you. Yea, verily, I say hear the word of him whose anger is kindled against the wicked and rebellious….Wherefore, verily I say, let the wicked take heed, and let the rebellious fear and tremble; and let the unbelieving hold their lips, for the day of wrath shall come upon them as a whirlwind, and all flesh shall know that I am God….But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life” (D&C 63:1-2, 23).
1 Nephi 17 – The Lord blesses the obedient and curses the disobedient: “Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God…. And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked. And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes” (1 Nephi 17:35, 37-38).
2 Nephi 2 – We can choose liberty and eternal life or captivity and death: “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27).
Understanding the consequences of sin is very important in learning to be obedient – We often encounter the belief that people, especially the youth, are so mentally fragile or so easily offended that we must not “speaketh of things as they really are” (Jacob 4:13). I believe that we do others a great disservice by only focusing on God’s mercy and essentially ignoring God’s justice and “the consequences of sin” (2 Nephi 9:48). The Lord’s prophets warn against…every kind of sin and tell us “the awful consequences of them” (Jacob 3:12). Furthermore, we see in many scriptures that the Lord does not hold back in using the stick when necessary to motivate His people to be obedient.
The Lord is the Master Teacher and Psychologist – I have experienced both the stick and the carrot, and have learned that the carrot is more desirable and pleasant. However, I know that the stick can be very effective in bring about repentance. The Lord is the Master Teacher and Psychologist, and it is clear that He uses a combination of the carrot and the stick to motivate obedience. Fortunately, as we grow in obedience and our righteous desires increase, it is the carrot that really motivates us and blesses our life.