But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.
Doctrine and Covenants 49:20
This scripture is very specific about the current imbalance of wealth in America and the world. First it says “it is not given.” This means that God did not set up the current world economy and does not approve of it. “Wherefore” in this context means “because of this.” So the Lord is telling us that the “world lieth in sin” BECAUSE of the material inequality among people.
Think about it for a minute, would robbery and theft occur if the thieves already had the same material comforts as the victims? (I understand that we would have to exclude Wall Street from this example). Would financially secure people be as likely to turn to drugs or prostitution or gangs? Doesn’t material inequality lead directly to pride, greed, and envy?
It is easy for the comfortable to simply assume that their comfort is the normal way of the world. We tend to ignore information about hungry children in America and famine overseas.
Yet, in many ways, our excess of comfort is based on exploitation of the poor. This is not a situation that good people should be supporting. Certainly not people who call themselves “Saints.”
The root of all evil
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.
1 Timothy 6:10
It is important to note that this much abused scripture says “root of all evil.” “Root,” in this case, means the source, the origin. A root also nourishes and gives support to the plant. So the love of money not only causes evil, but it continues to support and feed it.
Even more important than the word “root” is the word “all.” ALL evil can be traced back to the love of money. The love of money means that the person puts the material things of this world ahead of the things of God. It also means that the person puts his own pursuit of power and gain ahead of the needs of anyone and everyone else.
A world of abundance
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.
Doctrine and Covenants 104:17-18
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.
God did not place us here on Earth to spar viciously with each other over limited resources. He gave us a world that was glorious, beautiful, and abundantly full of every resource we need. He expects us to care for the Earth and share its resources equally with each other. To take more than one needs is theft.
In fact, that is the very test of this life. Will we be open, loving, and generous or will we be cautious, selfish, and greedy? Will we develop the resources of this world to improve the ongoing lives of everyone? Or will we exploit the resources of this world for short-sighted, short-term, personal gain?
God will provide
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 6:25-26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
It is wise to plan ahead, to save, to store, to prepare for the unforeseen, but in doing so we must always remember, and be grateful to, God, the source of our blessings. It is all too easy, if we have accumulated a surplus, to grow complacent and self-satisfied. It is a hard doctrine to understand that if God gives you a surplus, it is so you can share your blessings generously with others – especially the less fortunate. Jesus taught that hoarding is foolish. (See Luke 12: 16-20).
God’s gifts are free to all. It is Satan who tries to put a price on everything. Satan’s Big Lie is that you must work for him because resources are tight and there is “no free lunch.” Jesus taught that if we focus on the important things, God will take care of the necessities of life for us.
Our needs are few
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1 Timothy 6:8-9
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.
A person’s basic needs are food, clothing, and shelter. Beyond that, we have social and emotional needs that are met through family, friends, and work.
But more than 70% of American adults are overweight. Nearly 40% are obese. The average consumer throws away 70 pounds of clothing a year. And American homes are the largest in the world. This level of consumption is not only not necessary, it is unhealthy.
Eliminating poverty
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. Moses 7:18
Latter-day Saints are charged with the task of building Zion. This literally means that each of us should be doing what we can to actively fight poverty. There cannot be a Zion (by definition) if anyone is poor. The institutional Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually has a very good record of helping needy people around the world – especially during natural disasters.
The question for each of us, however, is more personal. How do we use the resources we have been blessed with? Is it enough to just pay our tithing and fast offerings? How well do we compensate our employees? How do we treat panhandlers on the street? And, do we support politicians who try to help the needy or politicians who protect the greedy?
Sources
Hugh Nibley, “What is Zion? A Distant View,” Approaching Zion, Collected Works of Hugh Nibley 9:25.
Hugh Nibley, “Gifts,” Approaching Zion, Collected Works of Hugh Nibley 9:85.
Hugh Nibley, “Work We Must, but the Lunch is Free,” Approaching Zion, Collected Works of Hugh Nibley 9:202.
“Overweight and obesity statistics 2021,” SingleCare, January 21, 2021.
“How Much Waste Does the Fashion Industry Produce?” The Pretty Planeteer.
Joe Pinsker, “Why Are American Homes So Big?” The Atlantic, September 12, 2019.
Photo source
Tuca Viera, “Inequality … in a photograph,” The Guardian, November 29, 2017.
Amen to that.
A big problem: LDS like most Americans are ignorant of all economic theory, including Marx, whose “surplus value” whereby most profits come from shorting hired labor, does not appear in our discussions.