Fairness and the Atonement

Fairness and the Atonement

Here is a thought that I used to share with my Ethics classes at BYU.  I think it will be meaningful to all who have worked for a large organization and had concerns about being treated fairly.

In a discussion of a popular case study in engineering ethics the Departments of Philosophy and Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University contributed the following statement regarding what constitutes fairness in business dealings:

  

The concept of fairness is enormously complex and probably not subject to any simple definition. Perhaps it will be enough to say that fairness involves at least two elements:  First, the person’s decision or commitment  requires free and informed consent. In order to be treated fairly, a person must be given the opportunity to make decisions in a non-coercive atmosphere and on the basis of as much information as possible. In particular, information relevant to his decision should not be deliberately concealed from him.   Second, fairness requires that harm and benefit be shared in a roughly equal manner, unless there are other relevant circumstances. For example, it is not fair for one group to enjoy all of the benefits of a social policy and another group to bear all of its negative consequences.

This definition of fairness in business suggests to me that our understanding of ethics is based on mankind's inherent understanding of the atonement of Christ.  I believe these perceptions of fairness stem from man’s inborn sense of right and wrong.  This sense has its origin in the Spirit of Christ, which accompanies every person who is born into this world (Elder  Packer Apr 05 Conference)  (Moroni 7:16).

As an example of this consider these two conditions for business fairness expressed by the Texas A&M scholars in light of what we know about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

First, a person’s decision or commitment to act requires free and informed consent.  That is, in order to be treated fairly, a person must be given the opportunity to make decisions in a non-coercive atmosphere and on the basis of as much information as possible.

This requirement clearly proceeds from conditions accompanying the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement of the Savior.

Every person who is born on Earth and lives to the age of accountability is expected to comply with certain minimum behaviors in order to experience happiness in this life and some degree of glory in the next.   We are constantly required to choose from among alternative thoughts and actions.  The scriptures are clear that we are both free and informed as we choose whether we will follow Christ or not.

A couple of scriptures will suffice to show this doctrine; it is taught in many places.

Regarding our being informed Lehi taught his son Jacob in 2 Ne. 2:5: “And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil.”  In verse 27 of that same sermon Lehi taught that “all things are given them (knowledge) which are expedient unto man.”   The world recognizes that it would be unfair to require an associate to make a decision or take an action for which he or she was not sufficiently informed, and particularly if vital information was intentionally withheld.

Regarding our freedom to act without coercion Lehi was also clear in that same sermon: “. . . they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon . . “,  and in the next verse:  “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death . . .”  So we are free to choose and sufficiently informed.  Many other scriptures teach this; see for example: Alma 12:28-32; Moses 5:10-12; Moses 5:58-59, Moses 6:56-62; Moses 7:32-33; Hel 14:30-31.

Second, fairness requires that the resulting harm or benefit be shared in a roughly equal manner among the parties involved.

This is part of the very definition of the Atonement.  The Father and the Son share in our joy and glory when we do well.  In fact, God has revealed that His glory or happiness is connected to his bringing to pass our eternal life or glory or happiness (Moses 1:39).

And if we fail Christ stands ready to share in that failure.  Knowing that we would all need rescuing He agrees to take upon himself our bad decisions if we will truly try our best to honor Him and live as he asks us.  Again, a few passages will suffice out of many.

Amulek testifies to the Zoramites: “Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it. . . . And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption (Alma 34:8 – 16).”  For further examples of Christ’s sharing see Mosiah 15:8-9; Moroni 7:27-28; Alma 7:11-13; Isaiah 53:4-6.

There is an interesting example in the account of the people of King Noah who had repented of their sins and chosen to follow Alma into the wilderness.  Through the deceptions of Amulon and the promise-breaking of the Lamanites Alma and his followers came under the subjection of Amulon and the Lamanites.  Alma and his people recognized that they had sinned under the influence of King Noah and the Lord chastened them for those bad decisions by allowing Amulon to strap burdens to their backs and drive them as beasts.  But God cannot tolerate slavery for long and came to the rescue of these people.  He “shared” in their unfortunate predicament by relieving the burdens that were upon their backs so that they could not feel them (Mosia 24:14).

In the event that we make a poor choice, causing unhappiness or loss to come to ourselves or some other person, the Savior is prepared and willing to share the burden of that wrong choice if we are willing to admit our mistake and seek that He share the burden with us.  This is in stark contrast to Satan who has always been unwilling to share in the misery of his followers but laughs when they fail and happily drags them down to hell (Alma 30:60; 34:39).

And so we see that the secular definition of fairness in business practice follows strongly from the eternal truths of the Atonement as they are taught to men by the Spirit of Christ.  As Moroni says the Spirit of Christ enters into all men and women when they are born (Moroni 7:16; D&C 84:45-46) and Christ himself teaches that “all things bear record of Him. (Moses 6:63).”