God “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world.” (2 Nephi 26:24) Anything that happens is for a reason, and “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Everything he does is to the end of bringing to pass the eternal life of man, maximizing the happiness of man, and preventing as much suffering as possible:
For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39)
And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (Mosiah 2:41)
32 And again, the Lord God hath commanded that men should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not steal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that they should not have malice; that they should not contend one with another; that they should not commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; <u>for whoso doeth them shall perish.</u>
33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that <u>which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing</u> save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile. (2 Nephi 26)
If this is the case, why are so many people unhappy? Why is there so much suffering? And why will the vast majority of mankind go to hell?
The answers to these questions are found in two words: constraints and consequences.
A constraint is an inalterable piece of a problem. For example, if you have a maze where the objective is to connect the start point to the end point, the maze is constrained by your inability to pass through the walls. Consequences are the effects that follow from causes.
Understanding constraints and consequences is as critical to acquiring increased light and truth as knowing the layout and dimensions of a room is to furnishing it. Increasing light and truth requires increasing your awareness of constraints and consequences.