To Sow and to Reap

Karma is not a Christian concept in any way. We do not reap what we sow. What goes around does not come around. Life is instead an all-or-nothing game with Eternal consequences. We don't have to suffer for our sins because Christ did. We forgive everyone and hope they don't have to suffer either. We can return to God in spite of our shortcomings and weakness because He has the power. We are given grace, or undeserved blessings, through Him who is mighty to save. We reap where others sow, and we sow and don't reap.

Even God does not get everything He wants, as illustrated in the Allegory of the Olive Trees.

"And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?

And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring forth no good fruit; and these I had hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof against the season, unto mine own self. But, behold, they have become like unto the wild olive-tree, and they are of no worth but to be hewn down and cast into the fire; and it grieveth me that I should lose them.

But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long," (Jacob 5:41,46,47)

I am impressed that the Lord nurtures the trees of His vineyard, but they don't always bear fruit. He works hard, sacrifices, fertilizes and gives them everything they need, but they bring forth wild fruit which is no good. He longs for good fruit, and He grieves over the loss in spite of all his hard work.

All of life is like that. We sow, but don't always reap. Farmers since the beginning of time have prayed for rain, good weather, and favorable conditions that they may reap what they sow, but, alas, all too often it didn't help. They would work hard, but have no harvest in the end. We give, but don't always get. We work, but don't always get paid. Our efforts are given, like God Himself, out of love, unselfishly, but love may not return to us. Ever! The fruit we produce may be bad, wild, and not very tasty.

The freedom to choose

Enoch also had this experience with God. He saw God crying and asked, "How can you weep when you have everything?"

"The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;" (Moses 7:32-33)

This is the effect of the most important principle of existence -- agency. Agency is the freedom to choose. Each entity of life is given agency by God when they are created, or else there is no existence. Each has the ability to choose what they will be. Some choose not to follow the ways of happiness, growth, and love and have a poor outcome. They are lost, and the Heavens weep. God works hard to make sure all have an equal opportunity to find joy and happiness, they can, if they desire. But he never controls their choice, the outcome is purely in their hands.

In order to assure this He gave a plan to allow both agency and the opportunity of each to choose good or evil. Every child of God would be able to return to live with Him in His Kingdom and gain Eternal Life through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is as easy as looking at the brass serpent on the pole. However, the Devil gave an alternate plan that was preferred by many: "Here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor." (Moses 4:1) Satan wanted to control the outcome, taking away agency, and losing individuality. 

These philosophies still exist today, though Satan's plan was rejected. Many want to take away individuality, controlling the outcome, and making everyone equal by eliminating the freedom to choose. People don't like the insecurity of unpaid work, unrewarded effort, or unrequited love. Karma seems more fair.

Reaping an Eternal reward

However, as our efforts are put towards doing the will of the Lord, and we don't give up, we will find that they are not in vain. Even if our immediate expectations don't pan out, we will find blessings in the long run. The fruit that does ripen sweetly is infinite. We cannot control the outcome of each, only the opportunity, so many will choose not to follow the path of righteousness. However, those who do bring forth abundantly, and eternally!

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" (D&C 18:15)

Many years ago an elder who served a mission in the British Isles said at the end of his labors, "I think my mission has been a failure. I have labored all my days as a missionary here and I have only baptized one dirty little Irish kid. That is all I baptized."

Years later, after his return to his home in Montana, he had a visitor come to his home who asked, "Are you the elder who served a mission in the British Isles in 1873?"

"Yes."

Then the man went on, "And do you remember having said that you thought your mission was a failure because you had only baptized one dirty little Irish kid?"

He said, "Yes."

The visitor put out his hand and said, "I would like to shake hands with you. My name is Charles A. Callis, of the Council of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am that dirty little Irish kid that you baptized on your mission." (See The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams (1996), 602-3)

That little Irish boy came to a knowledge of his potential as a son of God. Elder Callis left a lasting legacy for his large family. Serving as a mission president for 25 years and in his apostolic ministry for 13 years, he blessed the lives of literally thousands.  (2001 April General Conference, "Them That Honour Me I Will Honour")

That one "dirty little Irish kid" turned into infinite joy for what the missionary thought was a failure. Elder Callis may have personally helped bring thousands to God, but the effects of his labors go on forever as each of those converted has children, grandchildren, and so forth. Each of those may labor in the vineyard, bringing more souls unto God, who then will continue the chain.

Most of what we do is wasted effort. We spend most of our time on temporal affairs that are all lost in Eternity. We build homes, businesses, and empires, that crumble to the dust or evaporate when we leave the Earth. Even in the service of God most of our efforts seem to be in vain. However, though we are not guaranteed success for every effort we make, the parts that are successful become infinite treasures in our coffers. Though it may seem like we fail, in reality just the opposite is true -- we are rewarded infinitely for the smallest effort. The rewards of Christian service are so much better than Karma.