The Law of the Boomerang

Life is set up to teach us. Understanding the laws of creation, helps us make choices leading to greater happiness and joy. If the law of the boomerang were understood, even the self-interested would make better choices.

Here's a simple video showing a boomerang in motion:

What does a boomerang have to do with life? Watching a boomerang in motion, helps us understand what becomes of our thoughts, words, and deeds.

A wise father taught his wayward son this truth. “That which ye do send out shall return unto you again.”

Let's look at how Alma taught the law of the boomerang to Corianton.

Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.

And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness. And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?

O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.

Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again. For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.” Alma 41:10-15

The record shows Corianton turning from his sin after being taught truth by his father (Alma 39:1-3, Alma 49:30).

Why don't we make a connection between our thoughts, words, deeds, and the things we experience in life? Notice when the boomerang is thrown, it doesn't immediately come back. It circles around and returns to the thrower.

Most of the time, there are many things occurring between when we throw something out and when it returns. We throw out many thoughts, words, and deeds within a single interaction, and have multiple interactions each day. We throw out both good and evil. When the boomerangs start returning, we don't always understand why they are coming back. Often we don't even remember throwing them.

Another reason the relationship between sending and receiving might not be recognized is the mode of delivery. When we send something out, we have a different viewpoint than when we are on the receiving end. Blaming, making excuses, and justifying our thoughts, words, and deeds are also a hindrance to seeing a clear connection. We learn by continually experiencing both ends of the stick.

Jesus taught, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” Matthew 7:12. For what you do to others, will be done unto you. So if you think about the boomerangs you send out, imagine them coming back to you. Do you want to experience the other end of the stick? If so, send it out. If not, make another choice. This law is designed to teach.

Here is another example, “And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it” 1 Nephi 22:14

Not only do our words and deeds return to us, but our thoughts also return. Even our fears return to teach us. Job gives us incite into his experience, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Job 3:25

This is what Jesus teaches, “Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” D&C 6:34-36

These are the results of those who choose faith in God over fear:

Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. Alma 56:47 . . .

And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain. But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war. Alma 56:55-56

We learn through suffering. We learn when the boomerang returns to us. It is the path Jesus walked, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; ” Hebrews 5:8 And it is the path we walk, “And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer.” Doctrine and Covenants 105:6

The natural man will immediately start judging others after learning about the law of the boomerang, but Paul taught our judgments of others are really only a judgment of ourselves, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” Romans 2:1 And so, this law can only be used internally.

The law of the boomerang is taught throughout the scriptures.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6: 37-38

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

Understanding the law of the boomerang gives new meaning to King Benjamin's words, “And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them. But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.” Mosiah 4:29-30