Seeking Particular Blessings Connected To Obedience Of Certain Commandmants

[Vanguard]

Greetings, all. I attended our GD class yesterday to see how well our brand new teacher would do. We recently reorganized the ward boundaries in the stake necessitating a whole slew of new callings. Our good brother opened the class with questions regards to determining how we can receive particular blessings based on obeying certain commandments. The class quickly bogged down in a way I don't think he anticipated. I myself found it quite confusing and frustrating in that I didn't agree with what appeared to be the initial premise that we can determine blessings and the commandments connected to them.

Question - 

How would you characterize the scriptural passages that suggest this link between certain blessings and commandments? Is there another way to view the reception of blessings? - I will 'hold on showing my own cards' to see where the conversation goes. ; )

 

[The Nehor]

In my experience they don’t work very well. You end up falling back on you’re getting a bunch of blessings you just don’t recognize as such or you have to figure out how you didn’t actually qualify for the blessings and need to work harder at it somehow.

[CV75]

44 minutes ago, Vanguard said:

Greetings, all. I attended our GD class yesterday to see how well our brand new teacher would do. We recently reorganized the ward boundaries in the stake necessitating a whole slew of new callings. Our good brother opened the class with questions regards to determining how we can receive particular blessings based on obeying certain commandments. The class quickly bogged down in a way I don't think he anticipated. I myself found it quite confusing and frustrating in that I didn't agree with what appeared to be the initial premise that we can determine blessings and the commandments connected to them.

Question - 

How would you characterize the scriptural passages that suggest this link between certain blessings and commandments? Is there another way to view the reception of blessings? - I will 'hold on showing my own cards' to see where the conversation goes. ; )

 

I would characterize the scriptural passages as being general in principle, metaphorical as well as literal in content, adaptable to circumstances, moderated and co-moderated by other scriptures concerning what to ask for and how, regulated and co-regulated by other laws we don't know about or acknowledge co-operate with any given law, what God's ultimate blessings are, and subject to the overriding law that God determines the form, degree and timing of interim blessings along the way in a way designed for us to obtain His ultimate blessings.

[bluebell]

1 hour ago, Vanguard said:

Greetings, all. I attended our GD class yesterday to see how well our brand new teacher would do. We recently reorganized the ward boundaries in the stake necessitating a whole slew of new callings. Our good brother opened the class with questions regards to determining how we can receive particular blessings based on obeying certain commandments. The class quickly bogged down in a way I don't think he anticipated. I myself found it quite confusing and frustrating in that I didn't agree with what appeared to be the initial premise that we can determine blessings and the commandments connected to them.

Question - 

How would you characterize the scriptural passages that suggest this link between certain blessings and commandments? Is there another way to view the reception of blessings? - I will 'hold on showing my own cards' to see where the conversation goes. ; )

 

This sounds too much to me like trying to bind God. As in, if we do certain things then we can make God behave in a certain way. And that is not what the scripture is saying.

We are never in the position of power, we are never calling the shots. This speaks about our covenantal relationship with God where He sets the terms and we agree to them.  If we bind ourselves to Christ through ordinances and continue to have faith, repent of our sins, obey his commandments, etc., then we can trust that we will receive all the Father hath.  Those are the blessings He promises.   

This is not a scripture about how to make sure you get the job promotion you’re after, get to marry a certain person, or make it through the entire winter without catching a cold.  That’s witchcraft.  

Edited November 18, 2025 by bluebell

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Vanguard said:

Greetings, all. I attended our GD class yesterday to see how well our brand new teacher would do. We recently reorganized the ward boundaries in the stake necessitating a whole slew of new callings. Our good brother opened the class with questions regards to determining how we can receive particular blessings based on obeying certain commandments. The class quickly bogged down in a way I don't think he anticipated. I myself found it quite confusing and frustrating in that I didn't agree with what appeared to be the initial premise that we can determine blessings and the commandments connected to them.

Question - 

How would you characterize the scriptural passages that suggest this link between certain blessings and commandments? Is there another way to view the reception of blessings? - I will 'hold on showing my own cards' to see where the conversation goes. ; )

 

The whole ‘I am bound if you do what I say’ can be both inspiring and despair producing.  If it doesn’t happen as expected/wanted or at all, it must be ‘something I did wrong’ and you can always find something less than perfect, so you try again…still doesn’t happen as far as you can tell, you either become a perfectionist feels like a failure again and again or for some, reject that God exists.  Can be hard at times to find a healthy middle road viewing it as reassurance, but not setting one up for disappointment.

Unfortunately some may interpret God as a vending machine of blessings if they go too much in that direction imo.

Edited November 18, 2025 by Calm

[let’s roll]

The windows of heaven opening for tithe payers, like the glory of God being made manifest in the lives of those with physical or mental  challenges, can occur in a variety of ways.  We do well to be open to His omniscient will on how those blessings manifest themselves, thereby learning to recognize and benefit from His will, rather than expecting our will to be done.

[JLHPROF]

The idea is completely scriptural:

D&C 130:20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

God is a God of order and is bound by eternal law.  There are blessings that God can give without merit on our part under the principles of grace and faith. But there are others that are eternally bound to obedience to law.

God has rules he has to follow too.

D&C 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

[bluebell]

4 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

The idea is completely scriptural:

D&C 130:20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

God is a God of order and is bound by eternal law.  There are blessings that God can give without merit on our part under the principles of grace and faith. But there are others that are eternally bound to obedience to law.

God has rules he has to follow too.

D&C 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

In D&C 130 it says there is one law on which all blessings are predicated.  In your opinion, what is the Law that we must obey to receive all other blessings?  Is it the Law of the gospel maybe?  Sincere question.

[bluebell]

3 hours ago, Calm said:

Unfortunately some may interpret God as a vending machine of blessings if they go too much in that direction imo.

The Follow Him podcast scholar (Dr. Britney Nash) brought this up in the lesson D&C 130:21. 

Quote

 

Dr. Nash:                                                       "In verse 21, it says, and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. There can be two dangers in how we read this verse. If we feel we are not receiving the blessings we want, it’s because we have been disobedient or have not hit on the perfect formula of how to pray or we’re not righteous enough to receive that blessing. But some things God withholds from us in mercy. For a time we may not see how he’s being merciful, but withholding that from us is. Second, when we do receive something, it’s easy to congratulate ourselves and think we deserve it because we’re so good and righteous. That’s not the case either. It’s our lives are good because God is good, not because of what we’ve done that makes us deserve it. Even though we certainly benefit from obeying the laws of God, that goes without saying. That’s what we’re intended to do. That provides the outlet where God can give us certain blessings. I don’t think we should go around feeling that we deserve every good thing that happens to us.

John Bytheway:               00:48:06             Was it Elder Christofferson who used the vending machine example? If I do this obedience, I get this blessing, and if it doesn’t pop out right now, I get really mad. I’m hitting the machine and everything. Where’s my blessing? Sometimes there’s a waiting period that occurs.

Hank Smith:                      00:48:24             John, I have that quote right in front of me. If you don’t mind, I’ll steal your spotlight here.

John Bytheway:               00:48:28             Yeah, share it.

Hank Smith:                      00:48:29             He said, this is April of 2022, so fairly recent. "Some misunderstand the promises of God to mean that obedience to him yields specific outcomes on a fixed schedule. They might think, if I diligently serve a full-time mission, God will bless me with a happy marriage and children, or if I refrain from doing schoolwork on the Sabbath, God will bless me with good grades or if I pay tithing, God will bless me with that job I’ve been wanting. If life doesn’t fall out precisely this way or according to an expected timetable, they may feel betrayed by God, but things are not so mechanical in the divine economy. We ought not to think of God’s plan, this is what you said John, as a cosmic vending machine where we, one, select a desired blessing, two, insert the required sum of good works and three, the order is promptly delivered.

                                           00:49:18             He says, God will indeed honor his covenants and promises to each of us. We need not worry about that. The atoning power of Jesus Christ who descended below all things and then ascended on high and who possesses all power in heaven and in earth ensures that God can and will fulfill his promises. It is essential that we honor and obey his laws, and then this is I think what Brittany you were getting at, but not every blessing predicated on obedience to law is shaped, designed and timed according to our expectations. We do our best, but we must leave to him the management of blessings, both temporal and

 

I can't think of anything we can do to receive particular blessings, can you?  Even the blessings of keeping the word of wisdom do not include never getting sick, tired, or even dying from an illness.

Edited November 18, 2025 by bluebell

[JLHPROF]

20 minutes ago, bluebell said:

In D&C 130 it says there is one law on which all blessings are predicated.  In your opinion, what is the Law that we must obey to receive all other blessings?  Is it the Law of the gospel maybe?  Sincere question.

It's not a single law. It's the body of eternal law. Much as a lawyer practices law or an officer enforces the law.

So God applies and upholds the law.  You could correctly call it the Law of the Gospel. Additionally whether we realize it or not this mortal life can be termed as a kingdom in the gospel sense and D&C 88 also applies.

36 All kingdoms have a law given; 37 And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom. 38 And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions. 39 All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified.

So what eternal laws apply to this mortal life? And what conditions and bounds?

See also

Mosiah 2:24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

This principle is the first half, grace is the second part. (Although I'm not sure immediately is literal here).

 

Edited November 18, 2025 by JLHPROF

[JLHPROF]

Got me thinking more on this principle.

1 hour ago, let’s roll said:

The windows of heaven opening for tithe payers, like the glory of God being made manifest in the lives of those with physical or mental  challenges, can occur in a variety of ways.  

This is a good example. Another might be:

Baptism is a sign and a commandment which God has set for man to enter into His kingdom. Those who seek to enter in any other way will seek in vain; for God will not receive them, neither will the angels acknowledge their works as accepted, for they have not obeyed the ordinances, nor attended to the signs which God ordained for the salvation of man, to prepare him for, and give him a title to, a celestial glory” (Joseph Smith History of the Church, 4:554).

Or:

"What is the sign of the healing of the sick? the laying on of hands, is the sign or way marked out by James & the custom of the ancient saints as ordered by the Lord & we should not obtain the blessing by persuing any other course except the way which God has markd out."  Joseph Smith - Discourse, 20 March 1842

All blessings have laws upon which they are predicated. Sometimes the only thing the law requires is faith or a humble prayer. Sometimes an ordinance is required for the blessing. Sometimes an act of obedience like paying tithing.

 

[Calm]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

I can't think of anything we can do to receive particular blessings, can you?  Even the blessings of keeping the word of wisdom do not include never getting sick, tired, or even dying from an illness.

Only generally speaking.  One is promised healing in some cases, but no specifics as in ‘you will be healed so you won’t have arthritis (or recover hearing and sight, mental acuity, no more high cholesterol or diabetes or whatever, etc) any more if you obey this law’; security and peace are promised in other cases, which many assume is financial security, but seems more emotional in my experience.

Quote

That provides the outlet where God can give us certain blessings. 

This is how I see it.  Obedience prepares us to connect with the Spirit and God’s power so he can change us, but he chooses how he goes about doing that, including anything in our environment that is needed.

Edited November 18, 2025 by Calm

[Calm]

43 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

All blessings have laws upon which they are predicated. Sometimes the only thing the law requires is faith or a humble prayer. Sometimes an ordinance is required for the blessing. Sometimes an act of obedience like paying tithing.

This does not say if those blessing are specific or general though.  Do you think you can be healed from a certain illness or infirmity you plan on being healed of if you obey a certain law?  If so, what is the promised result and what must be obeyed? (Sincere questions trying to make sure I understand your position)

Edited November 18, 2025 by Calm

[blackstrap]

We tend to think of blessings as always good and pleasant . Is it a blessing to be sick? Is it a blessing to have financial troubles ? Would it have been a blessing to humanity if the Father had granted Christ's prayer to remove the ' cup ' ? 

[The Nehor]

7 hours ago, JLHPROF said:

The idea is completely scriptural:

D&C 130:20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

God is a God of order and is bound by eternal law.  There are blessings that God can give without merit on our part under the principles of grace and faith. But there are others that are eternally bound to obedience to law.

God has rules he has to follow too.

D&C 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

Human: Wow, that is really impressive. Can I see these laws?

God: No.

Human: Okay, so everything will just appear arbitrary. Got it.

[Vanguard]

19 hours ago, JLHPROF said:

All blessings have laws upon which they are predicated. Sometimes the only thing the law requires is faith or a humble prayer. Sometimes an ordinance is required for the blessing. Sometimes an act of obedience like paying tithing.

This is where I think I get hung up. Taking this literally, I'm sure it would trigger my neurotic nature of trying to figure out which law I should obey in order to trigger which blessing. Over the last few years I am coming to the conclusion that I'd rather not be interested in trying to figure it out. It's better for me to obey because I believe it serves my 'human engine' better. After all, the laws of the Gospel are simply a recipe for making the 'human engine' run at its peak performance, are they not? What transpires as a result of this obedience I'd rather leave in God's hands. I'd rather my motivation be because I love the Savior and not because I desperately want something from him.

I'm remined of my good friend who had recently converted to the Gospel many years ago. Tithing had been an issue because he had a young family and was struggling quite a bit. He invited my wife and I over one night in part to inform us that he and his wife and decided to pay their tithing as an exercise of faith. He followed this up by announcing that not a day later his landlord had shifted the rental amount by $100! My wife quickly exclaimed something to the effect -'See? You made the sacrifice and are now reaping the blessings!' With a wily eye, my friend quickly retorted that the payment was increased by $100. ; )

Edited November 18, 2025 by Vanguard

[Calm]

3 minutes ago, Vanguard said:

After all, the laws of the Gospel are simply a recipe for making the 'human engine' run at its peak performance, are they not?

Yes….in relation to our own needs and desires and to others (so we can aid them getting to the peak as they aid us).

I prefer to think of obedience as preparing me to receive blessings I leave up to God since he knows my needs and desires better than I know myself rather than some sort of exchange (I give him obedience, he gives me blessings).  Preparation will ultimately have me running at peak performance….though not in this lifetime.  God will help prepare me as well as bless me.  Blessings can even be seen as preparation for the next stage of development.  Eternal progression….

[bluebell]

20 hours ago, JLHPROF said:

 

Mosiah 2:24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

This principle is the first half, grace is the second part. (Although I'm not sure immediately is literal here).

 

I know a few GAS (and probably others) have taught that we are not blessed immediately nor cursed immediately for our choices, because training us is not what God is after.  He is after changing us.  How would you interpret the word immediately in Mosiah?  I'm not sure how to define it in a way that makes sense with other teachings.

Edited November 19, 2025 by bluebell

[Kenngo1969]

I haven't been following the thread slavishly, so please forgive me if someone already has made this point (it's excellent: it bears repeating! ), but, yes, in some cases, specific blessings are tied to obedience to certain commandments.  If I obey the Word of Wisdom, all else being equal, chances are pretty good that my health will be better than it would be if I did not obey it.  If I obey the Law of Chastity, I don't have to worry about s*xually transmitted !nfections, unplanned (and unwanted) pregnancies, and so on. 

All of that having been said, God isn't a vending machine.  I've stood there beating the machine in frustration until my fists are a bloody pulp waiting for "Blessing A5" for my "two-quarters' worth of obedience," but ... that ain't the way it works.  (Eventually, once I passed the "beat-the-machine-in-frustration-until-my-fists-are-bloody" stage, it was pretty liberating to find that out.  I let go of a lot of unrealistic expectations I had for myself.  And, after a couple of years in casts, my hands are much better, thank you!  )  Yes, we are blessed for obedience, but God is an Absolute Sovereign: It is He who decides when, where, under what circumstances, to what extent, and so on, those blessings come.  And, in any event, even the best blessings we possibly can imagine in mortality will pale (in fact, they might even be pulverized into dust and blow away in the mortal winds) in comparison to the blessings we will receive in the realm(s) to come.  It is then that our obedience will count most.

But [or, And] ... we do live in a fallen world: Hewing conscientiously to the principles of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ didn't save my sister-in-law, who is one of the finest people I have ever known, from dying a horrible death from cancer.  Nevertheless, I have no doubt where she is: As the Savior said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."  Matthew 10:28, KJV. 

And I've told my own story several times here: Two major operations, each of which failed ... miserably ... and each of which was followed by a month and a half with my lower half (plus) completely immobilized in plaster, followed, in turn, by months of painful, grueling, and ultimately (it would turn out) fruitless physical therapy.  Whereupon those operations, in turn, were followed by three more that threatened the same fate but that, it turned out, ultimately, were successful.  Did I do anything different?  Was I any "better" (that is, better behaved, more faithful, more obedient, and so on) for the last three than for the former two?  Nope!  And then, there was law school: I was obedient to what I thought (and to what I think, still) the Lord wanted me to do then, but ... in mortal terms, has it paid off?  Nope!  Will it ever, in mortality?  Probably not.  Am I OK with that?  Sometimes, I'm "more OK" with it than I am at other times, but ... C'est la vie!  As Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin [and his wise, sainted mother] put it, "Come what may, and love it."

Yes, oftentimes, this mortal Second Act is bewildering ... because we don't remember the premortal First Act, and the postmortal Third Act hasn't happened yet.  I've quoted C.S. Lewis here fairly recently, but perhaps what he wrote has relevance to this topic, as well:

Quote

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

     —C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

For what it's worth.

[MustardSeed]

I teach GD and it was the toughest week for me to show up.  But this particular part of the discussion was great.

We listed on the board all of the natural consequences of obedience to God. Things like, humility, connection to God, peace of mind (knowing we are pleasing God), emotional growth, etc- as opposed to the proverbial check in the mail.  
I shared  the story of having gone to the mental hospital during my college years as a volunteer and meeting a woman who had had a breakdown of sorts because her husband had had an affair. She explained it to me that she had done everything “right” and it was too confusing for her to have experienced such a betrayal. 
To think of the gospel in terms of vending machine rewards can be absolutely devastating when life actually happens. But that we can expect natural consequences such as we listed on the board.

This seemed to be a satisfying reasoning, in our particular class. 
 

 

Edited November 19, 2025 by MustardSeed

[bluebell]

16 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I teach GD and it was the toughest week for me to show up.  But this particular part of the discussion was great.

We listed on the board all of the natural consequences of obedience to God. Things like, humility, connection to God, peace of mind (knowing we are pleasing God), emotional growth, etc- as opposed to the proverbial check in the mail.  
I shared  the story of having gone to the mental hospital during my college years as a volunteer and meeting a woman who had had a breakdown of sorts because her husband had had an affair. She explained it to me that she had done everything “right” and it was too confusing for her to have experienced such a betrayal. 
To think of the gospel in terms of vending machine rewards can be absolutely devastating when life actually happens. But that we can expect natural consequences such as we listed on the board.

This seemed to be a satisfying reasoning, in our particular class. 
 

 

That’s a great way to frame it. 

[Senator]

19 hours ago, Calm said:

Yes….in relation to our own needs and desires and to others (so we can aid them getting to the peak as they aid us).

I prefer to think of obedience as preparing me to receive blessings I leave up to God since he knows my needs and desires better than I know myself rather than some sort of exchange (I give him obedience, he gives me blessings).  

Isn't that basically saying the same thing?  I work obedience to prepare me to receive blessings or (I give him obedience, he gives me blessings). It's just that there is no specificity to the blessings?

Edited November 19, 2025 by Senator

[JVW]

On 11/17/2025 at 5:11 PM, Vanguard said:

Greetings, all. I attended our GD class yesterday to see how well our brand new teacher would do. We recently reorganized the ward boundaries in the stake necessitating a whole slew of new callings. Our good brother opened the class with questions regards to determining how we can receive particular blessings based on obeying certain commandments. The class quickly bogged down in a way I don't think he anticipated. I myself found it quite confusing and frustrating in that I didn't agree with what appeared to be the initial premise that we can determine blessings and the commandments connected to them.

Question - 

How would you characterize the scriptural passages that suggest this link between certain blessings and commandments? Is there another way to view the reception of blessings? - I will 'hold on showing my own cards' to see where the conversation goes. ; )

 

I learned in 2011 that I am a very poor judge when trying to determine what is a blessing and what is a curse in my life. I got a broken neck as the passenger in a 75 mph rollover car accident in the Nevada desert. At the time I thought it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me, but upon reflection over the years I think it was one of the best things that's ever happened to me; the fallout (good and bad) from that event still ripples through my life to this very day.

One thing I've been working through as part of my 12 step recovery is to recognize my addiction as a gift and blessing and not a curse. To be grateful to God for it instead of being angry at Him for the ways I've been a victim and slave to my addictions.

Weakness is a gift from God. But there are many instances in which those gifts are a curse instead of a blessing and I find it nearly impossible to tell the difference.

I read recently from a randomly interviewed Jewish women that in Jewish culture they view three things as God's greatest blessings: health, wealth, and family. I would add to that "knowledge" because "to be learned is good if you hearken to the counsels of God" according to the Book of Mormon. However, in the end, any of these perceived blessings can be curses. Though if those are the greatest blessings then I suppose one could use how much of each of those they have as a barometer for how well they are following God, but I don't think that's fair or right when we all have such unique and individual circumstances.

I think it's dangerous to try and attribute specific blessings to specific commandment keeping and the most obvious example of this is the Prosperity Gospel in which you receive money from God if you give money to the church. While the LDS don't preach that, many members believe in it, and that's not cool.

It kind of sucks that there aren't any specifics in God's word, life would feel more simple if there were. But it feels kind of the same as when I was a missionary, I had no way to measure how good of a missionary I was because I couldn't compare my mission to anyone else's and there were no standards set other than "follow the handbook" which just means you are following the rules, not necessarily preaching with God's power and authority. Even now as a member I don't exactly know what my standing is with God. It's not like I get a letter grade, or daily feedback on how perfectly I'm connecting with Christ. It can be very frustrating and my response to it has been to loosen up and stop worrying so much about the details and just enjoy growing as a little plant and enjoy the sunshine, the occasional rain, and the periodic fertilization while watching bugs crawl around on the dirt.

[Vanguard]

2 hours ago, Senator said:

Isn't that basically saying the same thing?  I work obedience to prepare me to receive blessings or (I give him obedience, he gives me blessings). It's just that there is no specifity to the blessings?

I would go a step further to stay not only is there no specificity to said blessing but that many times I wouldn't recognize if it bit me.  ; )

[Vanguard]

4 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

If I obey the Word of Wisdom, all else being equal, chances are pretty good that my health will be better than it would be if I did not obey it.

And therein lies what I believe is the crux of the dilemma. I follow the WofW because I want to be obedient to what I believe my Father-in-Heaven would want and I believe my physical health is better than what it would be if I didn't. I don't want to make any claims about having avoided 'x,y,z' physical ailment as a result of my WoW obedience. In fact, I don't think I can.

On a more personal note, you appear to have endured quite a bit over the last many years and yet you still claim allegiance to your God. You have not turned you back substantively against Him. Instead, you are seeking meaning from those experiences and how it may relate to your relationship with Him. Perhaps, that is the blessing?