Offending God when we do not confess his hand in all things

In D&C 59:21 we read, "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."

Why is God offended and wrathful when we fail to confess his hand in all things?

To offend means to cause to be upset, annoyed, or resentful. These are negative emotional reactions. We know that God's love for us is eternal and perfect, But it can be momentarily tarnished by negative feelings towards us when we offend him. His joy in us and his feelings of love for us are not full when we disappoint him.

Good mortal parents do not expect to be repaid by their children. Indeed, they know that there is no way that a child can possibly pay back all of the time, effort, love, worry, money, and work that the parent has put into raising the child. But they do expect some appreciation. That appreciation should grow as the child matures and is able to see and understand the effort that the parent has expended on his behalf. Only when the child is fully grown and begins to have children of his own will he comprehend the full scope and depth of effort that his parents put into his upbringing.

However, along the way, the parent can expect the child to acknowledge and appreciate the work and effort of the parent. This appreciation not only validates the parent, but it is how the parent knows that his child is "getting it". He knows that the child is increasing in understanding and maturity when he sees evidence that the child can see beyond himself and appreciate the worth and contributions of others.

The parent has hope for his child when that child begins to see himself less as the center of the universe and expands his horizons to recognize the contributions of others. The parent wants to know that his child will grow up to be a good parent in his own right and that he will give to, and do for, his own children in the manner that the parent has given of himself to his child.

An attitude of entitlement is counter to the attitude of selfless charity that a good parent must have. Receiving appropriate expressions of appreciation from the child let's the parent know that the child is growing up. At the same time, the parent's feelings of love are rewarded and strengthened by words of appreciation.

On the other hand, when a child disrepects the parent and fails to feel and show appropriate appreciation for what the parent has done for him, it is natural for the parent to feel some level of resentment towards the child. Of course, appropriate appreciation is based on the child's age and ability to understand. No parent expects his infant to say thank you for changing his diaper. But at some point, the parent begins to teach the child to recognize favors and service that are rendered to him and to mouth words like "Thank you" in response. The hope is that over time, the child will come to recognize these acts on his own and will say thank you with genuine comprehension.

All of these aspects of parent/child relationships apply to our Heavenly Father and to us as his literal offspring. Our Father is a person with emotions and feelings. He feels joy and sorrow, satisfaction and disappointment. Like any good parent, how God's children behave towards him and towards each other affects him. Our Father gives us everything. He has organized and nurtured our spirits. He has provided this earth for us and has provided physical bodies to house our spirits and to give us a mortal experience. He has given us resources, means, strengths and opportunities.

He has designed a plan whereby we can progress and become like him. He has given us a loving Savior - the best of all his children - to atone for us so that his Plan of Happiness can work for us.

His hand was in the founding of the United States and establishment of a government and a society where freedom of religion and of speech could be enjoyed. He has raised up prophets in these latter days and restored the gospel and the Church.

On a personal note, he has placed me in favorable circumstances where all of my needs and wants can be met so that I can spend my time in consecrated work to build up his Church and Kingdom. I have good health, a worthy and faithful companion, a family, a marvelous place to live, good leaders and teachers and friends. My problems and challenges, compared to most of the world, are practically insignificant. To quote the Psalmist, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." I strive to be grateful every day of my life, for I owe all to God and Christ, and I do not want to offend such a generous, merciful, and loving Father.