“Ye Have Said It is Vain to Serve God”

Bryan Richards

Spencer W. Kimball

"The Prophet Jeremiah asked a similar question:

’Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein...’ (Jer. 12:1, 4.)

"…For those who are concerned with this problem and there are many the Lord has given his answer in the parable of the wheat and tares: (quotes Matt. 13:24-30.)
"The interpretation of the parable given by the Lord himself makes clear that the books are not balanced daily, but rather at the harvest time-in the day of judgment. Malachi records more on this subject: (quotes Mal. 3:16-18, Mal. 4:1-2.)
“…People who are concerned about the prosperity of the wicked are sometimes blinded to their own weaknesses yet magnify greatly the errors of others. If other men make errors or deliberately break laws and commandments, we may be sure that they will pay the ’uttermost farthing.’ They will not escape the wrath of God, and they will pay the full price for their folly. There will be a wise and just God to sit in judgment on all men. There could be a delay in judgment. The wicked may prosper for a time, the rebellious may seem to profit by their transgressions, but the time is coming when, at the bar of justice, all men will be judged, ’every man according to their works.’ (Rev. 20:13.) No one will ‘get by’ with anything.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.303-304)

Neal A. Maxwell

"The fact that the wicked often seem to profit and do very well in this life may fill us with questions: ’Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?’ (Malachi 3:14.)
“Yet is it not true that ’the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?’ (Job 20:5.) The Lord Himself confirmed that those who follow the ways of man have ’joy in their works [but] for a season’ (3 Nephi 27:11).” (Men and Women of Christ, p. 117)

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