Study Guide for "Compensating Blessings"

In his talk "Compensating Blessings," Bishop Gérald Caussé addresses the challenges and limitations faced by many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Despite these difficulties, he emphasizes the Lord's love and the promise of compensating blessings for those who strive to live the gospel. Through personal experiences and teachings from the scriptures, Bishop Caussé reassures us that God will not hold us accountable for things beyond our control and that His blessings are accessible to all who earnestly seek them.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

What are compensating blessings and how do they relate to our life's challenges?
How does Bishop Caussé describe God’s love and mercy in the face of adversity?
What principles does Bishop Caussé highlight that assure us of receiving God's blessings?
How can we offer our whole souls as an offering to the Lord?
What role does service to others play in receiving compensating blessings?

Topics

Embrace God's Perfect Love

Bishop Caussé emphasizes that God's perfect love ensures that everyone will have a just opportunity to receive the blessings of salvation and exaltation. He reassures that the Lord knows each of us personally and loves us unconditionally.

God loves each of us perfectly. "He inviteth [us] all to come unto him and partake of his goodness."

The Lord loves you personally. He knows your circumstances, and the door to His blessings remains wide open to you no matter the challenges you face.

How does God’s perfect love manifest in our lives?
What assurances do we have that God’s love is unconditional?
In what ways have you felt God’s love in your life?
How can you better embrace and share God’s love with others?

Trust in God's Justice and Mercy

Bishop Caussé teaches that God, being just and merciful, will not hold us accountable for things beyond our control. Our desires and efforts are considered by God, who understands the challenges imposed by our varied circumstances.

Because God is both just and merciful and His plan is perfect, He will not hold us accountable for things beyond our control.

God … takes into merciful account not only our desires and our performance, but also the degrees of difficulty which our varied circumstances impose upon us.

What does it mean that God is both just and merciful?
How does God account for our individual circumstances in His judgments?
Reflect on a time when you felt understood by God despite your challenges.
How can you develop greater trust in God’s justice and mercy?

Rely on Christ's Atonement

The talk emphasizes that through Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we can endure and overcome life's challenges. Christ's grace sustains us through our pains, sicknesses, and infirmities.

Through Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we can find the strength to endure and ultimately overcome all of life’s challenges.

The Savior took upon Himself not only the sins of the repentant but also "the pains and the sicknesses of his people" and "their infirmities."

How does the Atonement of Jesus Christ help us in our daily struggles?
What aspects of Christ’s Atonement are most comforting to you?
In what ways can you more fully rely on the Atonement of Christ in your life?
Identify a challenge you are facing and consider how Christ’s Atonement can help you overcome it.

Offer Your Whole Soul

Bishop Caussé discusses the importance of offering our whole souls to the Lord. He explains that the Lord accepts our earnest efforts and desires, even when circumstances prevent us from achieving our goals.

The Lord asks us to do "all we can" and to "offer [our] whole souls as an offering unto him."

The Lord still accepts the desires of our hearts as a worthy offering.

What does it mean to offer your whole soul to the Lord?
Why are our desires important to the Lord?
How can you demonstrate your willingness to offer your whole soul to God?
Reflect on your desires and how they align with the Lord’s will.

Serve Others to Receive Compensating Blessings

Service to others is highlighted as a way to receive compensating blessings. The talk recounts experiences where service brought blessings to both the giver and the receiver, illustrating the interconnectedness of God's children.

The Lord’s compensating blessings often come through the kindness and service of others who help us accomplish what we cannot do on our own.

When facing limitations and challenges, may we recognize our own blessings—our gifts, resources, and time—and use them to serve those in need.

How does service to others bring compensating blessings into our lives?
What role does community play in receiving God’s blessings?
Identify ways you can serve others with the gifts and resources you have.
Reflect on a time when you received blessings through the service of others.