Helaman 3

There's this contrast in Helaman chapter 3 about prosperity in the church where people are living close to the Savior, following gospel principles,  finding joy and peace and with all of that in place the church is growing. That is contrasted to verse 36 that suggests that pride arises in this group as hearts become focused on riches. This is a constant theme throughout the Book of Mormon. Living the gospel brings happiness and joy and prosperity and prosperous people end up being filled with pride as their hearts are focused on riches.

I think about that early verse when there is so much joy and peace from living the gospel I think about what it means to me to be close to the Savior, to live the principles He taught and to find peace and joy. My thoughts immediately go to scriptures that have guided my life.

John 13:34 Love one another . . .

Matthew 18:22 Forgive 70 times 7 times . . .

Matthew 7:1 Judge not that ye be not judged . . .

Matthew 7:12 The Golden rule - Do unto others as you would have others do to you . . .

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden . . .

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth . . .

John 21:16 Feed my sheep . . .

Matthew 20: 27  Whosoever would be chief among you, let him be your servant . . .

Mosiah 4:16 He will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain . . .

Jacob 2:17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you . . .

2nd Nephi 26:33 And all are alike unto God . . .

Alma 34-28 . . . for after you have done all these things, if you 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 you do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is in vain, and availeth you nothing.

D&C 121:41 No power or influence can be or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned . . .

For me and in my way of thinking, drawing close to the Savior has always meant spending time reading the Savior's words and pondering what they mean in my life. How shall I live them? Then asking the Lord to help me do that each and every day.

But then as I consider the verse that suggests pride accompanies a desire for riches, I thought it would be good to review how the Lord asks us to use our resources.

Doctrine and covenants 38:25-27 gives us an opportunity to think about the status of those around us. We know that our communities are filled with those who wear robes and those who wear rags. This section suggest we consider how that can be for disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ who says, "If ye are not one ye are not mine."

I believe we are not one. We who live in suburban communities unfortunately have minimal connections to the poverty that exists around us so we don't ever see it. I've been thinking about that a lot during the pandemic because life feels normal to me. I am healthy and I have income. I don't know anyone who is suffering from loss of a job. No one in my close circle of family and friends has died of Covid. The statistics I see on the news don't feel real.

Poverty - if it doesn't touch us personally - can also not feel real. We walk blindly - not knowing.

So let's look at section 42 where the Lord introduces the law of consecration - His idea of how we should live.

Verse 30 And behold, thou wilt remember the poor, and consecrate of thy properties for their support that which thou hast to impart unto them, with a covenant and a deed which cannot be broken.

Verse 31 And inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor, ye will do it unto me . . .

Verse 32 . . .every man shall be made accountable unto me, a steward over his own property, or that which he has received by consecration, as much as is sufficient for himself and family .

Verse 33 And again, if there shall be properties in the hands of the church, or in any individuals of it, more than is necessary for their support after this first consecration which is a residue to be consecrated unto the bishop, it shall be kept to administer to those who have not, from time to time, that every man who has need may be amply supplied and receive according to his wants.

Then in section 49:20 the Lord reiterates,  But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.

But look at the context here.  In verse 19 the Lord reminds us that "everything which cometh of the earth was given us that we might have in abundance". Then comes the warning of verse 20!

In section 51:3 the bishop is told that he is to see that each family has what they need "according to his circumstances and his wants and his needs."

And why does the Lord ask us to do this? We find that answer in Doctrine and Covenants 78:5-6:

That you may be equal and 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.

Somehow our eternal growth depends on how we use the resources that we have given to us here on earth.

I read section 104:15-18 and thought about how the Lord must feel as he looks down upon our world today.

And this is my purpose to provide for my saints (my children) for all things are mine.

But it must be needs done in mine own way; and behold, this is the way that I, the Lord, have desired to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, and 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 up 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. 

I think he is trying to tell us that someday when we have passed to the other side, we will look back at our lives here on earth with a different perspective.  We'll see how everything we have done has affected others and we will be pained to see the ways we hurt others when we could have blessed their lives.  

I believe our goal should be that which we read in 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 were no poor among them.. 

This is really a lot to consider. The term Zion is used to describe an earthly society based on heavenly principles but in fact it is a description of heaven itself. When I think of the fact that everybody here on the Earth - all of us - are God's children (his people) it does seem to indicate that if we truly love the Lord and are trying to follow Him, if we want to be Heavenly beings, then we should do everything we can to eradicate poverty.