Scriptures on Equality, the Rich and the Poor

With all the scare of socialism from right-wingers like me and all the critisism of the problem of greed by the leftist-libs I started to wonder what was really correct.  I know that my faith embraced the law of consecration and has sought in times past to live as the early disciples of Christ did having "all things common among them".  This Zionist utopian living is something that we really want and is a true principle.  So how does capitalism and socialism play into this?  I rounded up all the scriptures I could about equality and the rich and the poor.  I discovered that the fundamental principle that must be left inviolate is that of agency, that free will to choose good or evil.  That principle of agency is what we must be protective of when it comes to our government policy.

Here is the long list of scriptures for our mutual edification:

Moses 7: 18

And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

DC 42:31

And inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor, ye will do it unto me…

DC 49: 20

But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.

DC 51: 3

…appoint unto this people their portions, every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs.

DC 56: 16-17

Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!  Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!

DC 70: 14

Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld.

DC 78: 5-6

That you may be equal in the bonds of heavenly things, yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things. For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;

DC 82: 16-19

Behold, here is wisdom also in me for your good.  And you are to be equal, or in other words, you are to have equal claims on the properties, for the benefit of managing the concerns of your stewardships, every man according to his wants and his needs, inasmuch as his wants are just— And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church— Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.

DC 101: 6

Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritance

DC 104: 16-18

But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.   For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.   Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.

DC 105: 3

But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;

DC 136: 8

Let each company bear an equal proportion, according to the dividend of their property, in taking the poor, the widows, the fatherless, and the families of those who have gone into the army, that the cries of the widow and the fatherless come not up into the ears of the Lord against this people.

2 Ne 9: 30

But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also.

Mosiah 4: 16-25

…ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.  Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just— But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.  For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?  And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.  And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.  And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.   I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.  And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.  And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.

Mosiah 18: 27-29

And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.  And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul. And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.

Alma 1: 26-27

And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength. And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.

Alma 4: 11-15

  And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people.  Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.  Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ’s sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy; Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.  And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.

 Alma 28: 13

 And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.

 Alma 34:28

 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.

 3 Ne 6: 9-13

 And thus passed away the twenty and eighth year, and the people had continual peace.  But it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year there began to be some disputings among the people; and some were lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions;  For there were many merchants in the land, and also many lawyers, and many officers.  And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.  Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.  And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.  Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.

 4 Ne 1: 23-26

 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.  And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.  And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.  And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ.

Mormon 8: 35-41

Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.   And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.  For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.   O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?  Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not? Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?  Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

2 Cor 8: 14

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

1 Tim 6: 7-10

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The Welfare State

Just sittin' around chattin' with the boyz at RC Willey, discussing the government welfare programs of WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and Food Stamps. We looked up the Idaho eligibility requirements for food stamps and it just about made "blood shoot out of my eyes" (as Glenn Beck likes to say).

Check this out from their website:

If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you may qualify to get Food Stamps within seven days of your application date:

Is your income this month less than $150?
Are your assets (cash, savings, checking), less than $100?
Is your monthly income plus your assets less than your housing and utility costs?
Is someone in your household a migrant or seasonal farm worker?

What?!!! Are you kidding me! Free money for illegal aliens! I think I need to go out and find me an illegal alien to come and live in my garage so that we qualify for food stamps!

Don't get me wrong. I love poor people. I feel like I am one of them. The good book says that the poor will always be with us. I don't want the poor and weakest among us to die out by natural selection. I just don't agree with the way the government administers "charity" by robbing money from my pocket and losing it in the beaucratic agencies or giving it to abusers. I much prefer the fast offering method administed by Bishops, which is much more likely to be administered to those truly in need and it is used as a hand-up not a hand-out. It also comes by my free will and from my heart rather than by the strong arm of the government forcing me to pay.

You might ask, What is wrong with people getting food stamps? Here's a little econ lesson about food stamps in an allegorical format (I promise I'm making this up as I go):

In the quaint little town of Utopia we find poor Bob who recently moved to town from a foreign country as a migrant worker. In spite of his income from working in the fields, his migrant worker status automatically qualifies Bob for food stamps, a wonderful program from the Utopian government in their response to hard times seven or eight decades ago. Bob uses food stamps to buy a loaf of bread for fifty cents while everyone else pays one dollar at the local bakery owned by Karen. Those food stamps are paid for by the increased taxes of Bob's fellow citizens. Don't we all feel good about chipping in to help Bob during his time of transition into Utopia? Sure we do, because in Utopia we all love and care for one another.

Since Bob can buy his bread at half the price the other citizens can, the value of the Utopian currency goes down and Karen has to raise the price of a loaf of bread to $1.50 to cover her shortfall. All the citizens of Utopia are now paying higher taxes and a higher price for bread to take good care of good ol' Bob.

As time goes on the value of the currency continues to diminish and the salaries of the Utopian citizens cannot keep up. Their ability to purchase bread from Karen continues to slip. Bob also realizes that the price of bread has gone up and that even though he is only paying half price he is now paying $0.25 more than he was before and this hardship is just not fair. Bob petitions the government to increase his food stamp benefits. The other citizens, with their now less powerful income, also begin seeking food stamp benefits. Karen continues to raise the price of bread as more and more people buy her bread with food stamps.

After a few months Karen is charging so much for bread that no body can afford it, even with government assistance, and she can barely afford to bake it. The people cry to the government for help to solve this bread crisis. The Utopian goverment steps in and nationalizes Karen's bakery, meaning that they take over control over the bakery. They inform Karen that she must produce 100 loaves of bread per day and that she must sell them at their specified price of $0.75. If she does not comply, she will be imprisoned. The citizens of Utopia rejoice at the new government program that has reduced the price of bread! All is well in Utopia again...right?

Because Karen can't afford to make that required number of loaves on her own, the government raises the taxes of the Utopian citizens to help Karen pay for ingredients to bake the bread. Even more people are getting food stamps to help them buy the bread. Long lines of 300 people wait outside her little bakery every day, but most of the people in line for hours go home without a single crumb. Afterall, Karen can only make a 100 loaves as dictated by the all-knowing government. Yet certain government officials seem to have plenty of bread in their homes due to their darkroom arrangments with Karen's brother who secretly steals loaves which he sells to them and pockets the money himself.

Everyone in Utopia is now in poverty and there are rumors flying around that the government is not able to take in enough money from taxing the poor citizens to continue to provide food stamps and bakery subsidies. The government and the people are broke. Skirmishes start between hungry citizens and crime becomes rampant. Utopia is not such a happy place any more. Children are crying in the streets.

Three valient young men, Georgie, Johnny, and Tommy return home to Utopia after having been away at college and serving in the military. When they see the state of their quaint little Utopia, they can't take it anymore! They fight with a lot of sacrificed blood, sweat, and tears, but eventually they succeed in abolishing the Utopian government. They teach people about self-sufficiency and self-government. They help set up a government focused on national defense and punishing injustice (Karen's brother and the corrupt former regime have all fled Utopia or have been banished). They encourage people to create and sell products at fair market prices, and they promise that the government will never again be involved with administering welfare or in dicating how people run their businesses. Taxes are rare and only come in the form of assessments when needed to defend Utopia from the evil Mal-estados. Even roads and schools are run very efficienty and very affordable prices by private citizens.

Karen rebuilds her business and people are happy to pay her what the bread is worth and she is able to meet the demand. In Utopia, Bob gets hurt in the fields and his family falls on hard times. The people from their church rally around them and give them a helping hand. Georgie, Johhny, and Tommy provide the kind of passionate and strong leadership that motivates sucessful business people like Karen to find ways to help the poor and needy, but they never compel Karen by force to do so. Bread sales have been good, so Karen hires Bob's children to deliver discounted bread to the elderly and disabled. Karen is very profitable and she feels good about giving from her heart to those in need.

All is well in Utopia!

Solving the Problem of World Poverty

I just found this John Stossel report from last May that supports my earlier blog entry. I say let religions and private charity organizations handle the money and food transportation. There may be some corruption there too, but a lot less than having it pass through the hands of governments. Our government's focus on world poverty should be on working with other governments to create an economic system in which people can prosper.

World Poverty

I applaud the talented musicians of the world who seek to bring awareness to the valid issue of world poverty...However, the Live 8 concerts are going about it the wrong way.

U2's Bono said, "We're not asking you to put your hand in your pockets but we are asking people to put their fist in the air." So what he is saying, whether he knows it or not, is that he wants all of the governments of rich nations to reach into the pockets of it's citizens and steal their money to give to the poor...in kind of a Robin Hood heroic way of course. He wants you to angrily demand with your fist in the air that the government rob you of your money. This money would then be given to the corrupt government officials who are indeed the very cause of the perpetual poverty in these countries...therefore wasting the plundered money from our pockets!

Any effort to feed and clothe the hungry and naked, of healing the sick, and offering help to improve the life of another is praiseworthy. I believe that we will be accountable before God if we do not do all in our power to care for the poor and needy. True charity and true love of mankind has to come from the heart of the giver. Otherwise, it is good for nothing.

When money is extracted from a citizen by the force of law, the citizen is no longer "giving". He is robbed twice...once of his property...and second, of the blessings of giving service to his fellow man. There is something deeply spiritual about truly "giving" of oneself to another that brings about positive changes in the "giver" as well as in the "receiver" of charity. True peace and happiness for both parties are the results of sincere service.

Charity, when done by a person of their own free will and choice is always more effective and the benefits are more directly felt by the intended recipients. When governments are involved, there is a lot of wasted funds and effort.

I once worked for a residential construction company in South Carolina that annually raised funds for a well-known charity. Each division of the company competed against one another to raise the most money. (Oh, my goodness, a competition to raise money for charity!? Well, that's outright blasphemy! No...its downright smart and inspired!) An amazing and ambitious lady in my division came up with the idea of a golf tournament...where each hole was sponsored by one of our suppliers. These sponsorships more than covered the greens fees and the provided lunch. The entry fees of all the players went directly to the charity. Our division raised exponentially more money than the other divisions...some of which resorted to pressuring donations out of the employees pockets. You see, private citizens, doing private charity are more efficient than government agencies.

I have great faith in goodness of the hearts of the American people! Yes, we do need to be reminded regularly and made aware of the needs of others. It is easier to be lazy and self-absorbed than it is to be proactive and selfless. Our elected officials would do well to be an encourager of private companies and private citizens to come up with creative ways of contributing to the welfare of the poor. Too often our elected officials try to create programs that "take from the rich and give to the poor." Just imagine if politicians could lead the effort by tapping into the brain power of the rich to find ways to help the poor! Rich business people aren't rich because their stupid. Politicians often try to appeal to the "grassroots" of America...well, they should let the "grassroots" American have the freedom to "give" their money in innovative ways that will affect more lives for good. A true statesman is a cheerleader of the efforts of the people he leads, not a thief with noble intentions. A true statesman motivates us to give from our hearts.

Mr. Bono and fellow Live 8 musicians, I'm asking you to reach deep into your pockets and lead by the example of love and heartfelt kindness. Celebrities make the most money with the least amount of effort and also seem to waste the most money on frivolous things. God gave you your talents and you can be some of the most effective charity leaders because of it. Your anger with world leaders will not solve the poverty problem. Your talents can be multiplied and millions of lives touched if use your talents wisely.