The Necessary Suffering: Defining God and Understanding His Creation

How often do we truly *define* the terms we wield in theological discourse? The recent podcast episode, “The Strength of MORMON Theology: The Truth That Sets It Apart,” pressed this very question, echoing the pointed challenge Jordan Peterson once posed to Greg Bonson: What do you mean by “God”? The uncomfortable silence that followed highlights a critical failing in much contemporary Christian thought – a lack of rigorous, definitional clarity.

It’s not enough to simply utter a word; we must understand its implications, its boundaries, its very essence. To speak without definition is to produce mere noise, a hollow performance lacking genuine substance. This deficiency becomes particularly acute when grappling with difficult doctrines like suffering, where facile answers often crumble under scrutiny.

The discussion in the podcast centered on a seemingly intractable problem: How can a just God permit, or even seemingly *allow*, suffering – the suffering of animals, the suffering inherent in mortality? Mainstream Christian explanations often falter here, struggling to reconcile divine benevolence with the undeniable reality of pain and loss. Latter-day Saint theology, however, offers a perspective rooted in the necessity of opposition, the eternal progression of souls, and the boundless potential for redemption through the Atonement.

The analogy of the crushed deer, as presented in the podcast, is particularly illuminating. It isn’t enough for God to alleviate suffering and then offer compensation. The act of allowing suffering, even for a time, becomes a moral failing if that suffering wasn’t *necessary* for some greater, ultimately redemptive purpose. As Jacob Hansen articulated, the very act of intervening without necessity would be akin to inflicting harm simply to provide a subsequent, inadequate remedy.

This isn't to suggest a callous indifference to suffering. Rather, it reflects a deeper understanding of God’s purposes – a perspective reinforced by the counsel found in D&C 42:2: “Wherefore, I command you, that when ye are instructed, ye should ask of me, that I may give unto you understanding.” We must seek understanding, not easy answers.

The concept of a “realm of injustice being necessary” may initially seem paradoxical, even unsettling. Yet, consider the profound implications: it implies a divine order that transcends our limited, mortal comprehension. It necessitates a humility that acknowledges the vastness of God’s plan and our own imperfect understanding. It demands we pray not merely for the absence of suffering, but for the wisdom to discern God’s will, even when that will appears to lead through trials and tribulations.

The echoes of this principle resonate throughout scripture. Remember the prophet Isaiah’s lament, “Though thou hast done valiantly in the midst of her borders, yet thou hast not known her estate: her people thou hast delivered to the nations like sheep to the slaughter” (Isaiah 51:23)? Even in the midst of righteous indignation, the prophet recognized the overarching purpose of God’s actions.

The podcast episode, “The Strength of MORMON Theology: The Truth That Sets It Apart,” doesn’t offer simple solutions. It demands that we engage with these challenging questions, wrestle with them in prayer and study, and seek the guidance of the Spirit. It invites us to refine our understanding of God, not by minimizing the problem of suffering, but by embracing the profound truths that illuminate it.

May we, as disciples of Christ, continually strive to deepen our understanding and to embody the divine attributes of justice, compassion, and unwavering faith.