Curse to the 3rd and 4th Generations

[SAM]

There are many places in the scriptures where if certain people violate a commandment or treat someone or a group of people poorly they will be cursed, as will their family to the 3rd or 4th generation. This has always made me wonder because I thought we believe that we are punished for own sins. I've been contemplating this a lot lately and the only thing I can come up with is that there is some kind of eternal law or natural consequence that ensues when some commandments are broken that will curse multiple generations. Does anyone have any insight on this?

[Original_Intent]

There are many places in the scriptures where if certain people violate a commandment or treat someone or a group of people poorly they will be cursed, as will their family to the 3rd or 4th generation. This has always made me wonder because I thought we believe that we are punished for own sins. I've been contemplating this a lot lately and the only thing I can come up with is that there is some kind of eternal law or natural consequence that ensues when some commandments are broken that will curse multiple generations. Does anyone have any insight on this?

That's one way to look at it. Another is that the Lord sometimes curses them for their own sake. i.e. he cursed the ground for Adam and Eve's sake. Whether the Lord blesses or curses, i believe He does everything for the eternal benefit of those that He takes action against (or for).

So such a cursing for generations may mean that they suffer in this life, but that suffering will be on the heads of the first generation being cursed.

The Lamanite curse of a dark skin also came with the Lord's blessing that they would not be held to the same standard. they certainly partook of the curse for untold generations, but promises were also made for future generations (possibly the current one?)

That's just me spitballing - good question.

[The Student]

Perhaps I oversimplify, but I take it as a warning to each and every person that they should be wary of the decisions that we make as the outcome of our sins would EFFECT our families for several generations.

If my father were to be sent to prison for trafficking drugs (not a chance in Hades that he would chose this path). We would lose our home and become destitute. I would be forced to drop out of school and get a job without a degree. My future children may not have the blessings of a stay at home mom....

Cause and effect of our actions, not only on ourselves, but a ripple throughout future generations. (just a thought)

[Ezra]

I'm going to piggy back on what what original intent said.

As family's and people when we err. It's many times handed down generation to generation.

This is why the warnings of vain traditions of our fathers.

You might think of it this way. The original idiot person or people to get the cursing hand down to three children the same thinkings and understandings that got them the cursing. So the same chasetening is required for the children as the fathers.

But I belive you are correct in that as soon as one walks away from that cursed path it's a diffent ball game for that person. And their sins are on there own heads.

A quote I love is

In no way can one man no matter how well educated and knowledgeable can in one life come to such a complet understanding to safly judge and dispell the traditions of the generations.

I agree with that when they are good. But all it takes is one man with the spirit of God to walk away from generations of sin.

The key is the spirit v's the thinkings and knowledge of men.

Stay close to and work on building your spiritual connection and you will never have to worry about being cursed. Quieting the human mind enough to allow your spiritual mind to finnally be heard over the loud boisterous logical mind of man is not an easy task but well worth the effort.

[marc]

In my opinion, it takes as many generations to "repent" of iniquity. In other words, to overcome the dysfunctions that come with sinning. Whether it's idolatry, false traditions, even abuse in all its forms. I come from a dysfunctional family. I don't know how many generations of emotional and physical abuse because there was a lack of love, the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe I have overcome all, if not most of my family's iniquities. It's ironic, though because my wife and I couldn't have children of our own. My father's line ends with me, unless, of course, I consider my two adopted sons, both of whom come from severely abusive and broken homes of their own and know little more than jail/prison life. An idolatrous generation produces idolatrous offspring. An iniquitous generation produces iniquitous offspring. Essentially, unless offspring embrace the healing power of Jesus Christ's atonement, the sins of the fathers are visited upon the sins of the children for at least three and four generations-the time it probably takes to be healed of all its accompanying baggage.

[Teancum]

Yeah, I do have a bit if insight on this matter.

Several years ago I worked at a small town in Utah. I saw the effect of this curse to the third and fourth generations firsthand. I am from a very small town that has two wards.


To set the background for this, at the time of Brigham Young, Col. Connor or OConnor of the United States Army wanted to dilute the political and economic power the pioneers had in the area. So he encouraged his soldiers to go prospecting and mining and set up mining towns. Jesse Knight who was a Mormon miner, develop some rich mines but treated his workers fairly. The non-Mormon mine owners did not want Jesse Knight to use their railroad or smelting facilities, so he built his own. To ensure the dilution of power Col. O'Connor recruited miners from everywhere except the Mormon communities. There was a hatred or at least an animosity towards the Mormon people in his mining towns and cities.

I worked in one of these mining towns where the animosity can still be felt today. In a place where there should be two or three wards because of being in close proximity to the center of the LDS faith, and size of the town, there is a ward with only maybe 20 members attending, being threatened to be put back into a branch status.

This town suffers not only spiritually, but also economically. So it's my thought experiment that applies this curse to the third and fourth generations to these towns that were founded not according to principles of the gospel. Many of these towns are no longer around, or are ghost towns, or are suffering from some malady.

I can apply this to families where brothers of faithful members were not so faithful and their posterity's do not enjoy the gospel and those branches of the family tree are withered and some have dried up completely and died.

So in opposition to the curses, there are also blessings to the third and fourth generations. In these same families, traits or good characteristics, callings, and abilities can be traced down through the families of those who remained faithful. Even temporal blessings pronounced upon the great great grandfathers can be traced down through their posterity to today.

I believe that's one reason why there is somewhat of a propensity to share vocations with your forefathers. The same blood flows through your veins.

Of course all of this is nonscientific and a complete and rigorous study has not been conducted to my knowledge.

Anyway this is something to think about.

[Thinker]

As mentioned, natural consequences (socially, genetically, intellectually and psychologically, parenting etc) may be a "curse" that affects generations.

I read about a spiritual experience someone (not lds) had that supported this idea among others, which make sense...though I wish he would've clarified some things. He spoke about how we need those who've passed on in our family and they need us - we are like a chain and when one is stuck, the rest are in some way. He also spoke of the importance of marriage between a man and woman - they help each other energetically.

He explained:
-The clearing of your files (files are like karma?, or a type of spiritual curse?) will raise your vibration and is your goal to help yourself and your family.
-Meditate to help your subconscious dominate more often.
-Words have power - how you use them (connect with others) is more important than meditation (both of which potentially give you energy to clear your files).
-Control your emotions. Excessive anger creates more files. Anger is not your enemy nor your friend. Learn mercy and forgiveness from Christ. Think positive.
-Have faith.
-God is called omnipotent in every religion - why? Because it's everything - you, me, this stone, this grass, everything. Even people who try to harm other people. There is god in everything in this world. So if you really worship God, showing compassion and love to everything in this nature, is a true path.

[Tony]

"Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" is mentioned in Exodus twice and once in Numbers and Deuteronomy.

The Lord brings it up again in the Doctrine and Covenants, and we find resolution to this in D&C 98:45-47, in which the Lord tells us that the children or the children’s children simply need to repent.

“And if he do this, thou shalt forgive him with all thine heart; and if he do not this, I, the Lord, will avenge thee of thine enemy an hundred-fold;

“And upon his children, and upon his children’s children of all them that hate me, unto the third and fourth generation.

“But if the children shall repent, or the children’s children, and turn to the Lord their God, with all their hearts and with all their might, mind, and strength, and restore four-fold for all their trespasses wherewith they have trespassed, or wherewith their fathers have trespassed, or their fathers’ fathers, then thine indignation shall be turned away.”

[SAM]

Thanks, everyone. Lots of good insight. It does just appear to be natural / law / consequences that certain choices will affect generations. Funny to think of a curse being a blessing, but it's true, this mortal experience is for our own good, so if we're sent to a family under a curse it can only serve to give us important experience if we use it to grow and learn.

[bethany]

As mentioned, natural consequences (socially, genetically, intellectually and psychologically, parenting etc) may be a "curse" that affects generations.

I read about a spiritual experience someone (not lds) had that supported this idea among others, which make sense...though I wish he would've clarified some things. He spoke about how we need those who've passed on in our family and they need us - we are like a chain and when one is stuck, the rest are in some way. He also spoke of the importance of marriage between a man and woman - they help each other energetically.

He explained:
-The clearing of your files (files are like karma?, or a type of spiritual curse?) will raise your vibration and is your goal to help yourself and your family.
-Meditate to help your subconscious dominate more often.
-Words have power - how you use them (connect with others) is more important than meditation (both of which potentially give you energy to clear your files).
-Control your emotions. Excessive anger creates more files. Anger is not your enemy nor your friend. Learn mercy and forgiveness from Christ. Think positive.
-Have faith.
-God is called omnipotent in every religion - why? Because it's everything - you, me, this stone, this grass, everything. Even people who try to harm other people. There is god in everything in this world. So if you really worship God, showing compassion and love to everything in this nature, is a true path.

This is a good way to say it. however, we need to learn how to get rid of the perpetuation of the curses now. God is done with the repetitive cycles of destruction if we are willing to let them go. Time to stand up & be who were we were meant to be rather than victims of ancestral choices, iniquities, & false traditions. Time to claim our sovereignty.