The unworthy stepfather and righteous mother

It's a common question, particularly among those who want to "justify" why God must not exist. Why do good people suffer?

I was talking with someone a few days ago about a related topic. Here's what the basic question that was asked. Why does the Lord allow a righteous woman to marry an unworthy man? 

Here's a related question. Why does the Lord permit a wolf to be called into a church position of trust, such as a bishop or stake president, where he can take advantage of the trust of and prey on others? 

First, we have to realize our perspective is very short term and justice and mercy are not always meted out in this brief existence. But those two things, justice and mercy, are probably why the Lord allows for these things to happen. If this life were all there was, then, yes, it wouldn't be fair. But this life is just a blip in eternity. I believe our odds of success are stacked in our favor, that each of us are given the opportunities we need to become the best we can, to show God that we choose to follow him and his will. We have to realize that we may not view many of the those opportunities in the same light as God does.

Why would the prophets in the scriptures subject themselves to physical, mental, and emotional abuse by wicked people? Wouldn't it just be easier for the righteous to keep separated from the wicked? The reason is these righteous people have a completely different perspective and understanding. They see things in a way that most of us don't.

The thought I had come to mind was while talking to someone about the first example; where a righteous, worthy woman with four children married a man who had four young children. On the outside the man appeared righteous, doing his church duties and fulfilling his responsibilities. But in reality he was not as devoted and righteous as he appeared, and he frequently was party to or intentionally caused emotional, mental, and (later in the marriage) physical abuse through intentional neglect as the woman's physical abilities severely deteriorated.

She felt like she was supposed to marry the man. Why did she? How did it benefit her children?

Anyway, the thought I had was she and her children were the opportunity for the man and his children to return to God. The marriage was the chance for the man to straighten up his life and to provide a righteous example for his children. In essence, God uses the the righteous as a way to give the wicked a chance to return to him. And the righteous receive joy in helping bring God's children back to him.

Despite the chance, the man has done little to change his life for the better. A couple of his children probably have better lives than they otherwise would have. The other two may have gotten into worse trouble if the marriage had not happened, and they didn't have the righteous example of their stepmother, who truly cared for them. At the end, when judgment happens and justice is served the man will have no excuse and will have the righteousness of his wife to condemn him and his choices. Likewise the children who chose to go on wayward paths won't have the excuse of not having a righteous example.

On the other side, the woman and her children, a couple of whom have made poor choices, who suffered through and observed the abuse, disrespect, lack of care, and inequality (the man obviously made preferential treatment towards his own children) will be more deserving of the extension of mercy. The mercy shown to them, particularly if they are accepting of the Lord's atonement, will be fully justified and it will further condemn the man. Since their birth father died while all the children were young, and the stepfather was a poor example and role model, as a husband and father, they may get a little more leniency. They are certainly accountable for their choices, but with a mother in deteriorating health they may be better off when their lives are judged.

The Lord allows the righteous to suffer because it gives the wicked the chance to repent, to return to God. If the wicked don't repent then their actions towards the righteous further condemn them to the demands of justice. As for the righteous, the hand of mercy is extended towards them because of their sufferings at the hands of the wicked.

If the man had actually improved his life and been a better example, then both he and his wife would have been better off in this life as well as the next. But, because he did not the rewards he receives will be much less and the wife's rewards will be much greater. And, the wife's children, I believe, will also get an extra measure of compassion because of what they went through because of their stepfather. 

The same idea is applicable to those wolves in positions of trust. The Lord may permit them to be called and put into various positions because those are opportunities for that person to serve and become better. But, if they take advantage of and prey upon others, using their position for selfish and wicked purposes, then their condemnation will be much greater at the end than if they had never been called to the position. Justice will have claim on them instead of mercy.

Those who are affected by these wolves will be at the other end, where they will have access to mercy and greater compassion towards them, particularly if they remain faithful and have hope in the infinite atonement.

I suspect at judgment, when we have a clear and complete picture of our lives, our choices, and all the opportunities given to each of us to return to God, each of us will accept the justice or mercy that we receive as being the perfect condemnation or reward for our choices and actions.