Guardrails on the Cliffs

In 1994 then Elder Nelson gave this thought-provoking teaching: “Humanitarian relief rendered by members of this church is extensive, multinational, and generally unpublicized. Even so, there are doubtless many who wonder why we don’t do more to assist the innumerable worthy causes to which our hearts respond.  Of course we are concerned with the need for ambulances in the valley below. But at the same time, we cannot ignore the greater need for protective guardrails on the cliffs above. Limited resources needed for the accomplishment of the higher work cannot be depleted in rescue efforts that provide only temporary relief.”  In other words, while giving physical substance to help those in need of clothing, shelter, and food is an essential part of our discipleship as followers of Christ, it may not always be the most important way to use our resources.  Helping to bring other people unto the Savior to save spiritual lives cannot be neglected at the expensive of providing temporary physical relief.   

               The Savior seemed to suggest a similar principle during the final days of his life.  When He was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, “There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.”  Some of the disciples apparently were upset about this because, they reasoned, “this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”  The Savior responded to their criticisms this way: “Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always” (Matt. 26:6-11).  Jesus of course was not suggesting that we shouldn’t help the poor; He Himself had spent much of His ministry helping those in need with physical ailments and even providing them food.  But I believe He was teaching that meeting spiritual needs is more important than physical needs.  He put it this way in our dispensation, “Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul” (D&C 101:37).  As Elder Nelson suggested, others may look at the Church and criticize the large amount of money we spend on temples, meetinghouses, and other buildings and activities.  These are meant to provide opportunity to care for the soul, for people to learn of Christ, make covenants with Him, and ultimately find “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23).  This aligns with President Benson’s teaching: “The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.”  We spend enormous time and effort on missionary work and family history work and temple work in lieu of giving (even more) to alleviate the physical suffering of others because these activities commanded by the Lord will have a far more lasting impact than giving away money.  That said, our efforts to help address the physical needs of others is crucial for our own spiritual development.  We must learn to both symbolically give our best anointment to the Savior and provide our substance to those suffering around us.  As Elder Nelson summarized about choosing between causes to expend our resources, “Fortunately, we in the Church rarely have to make such a decision. We consider love of neighbor an integral part of our mission. And while we serve one another, we continue to build a spiritual house of refuge on the cliffs above. Such a sanctuary becomes a blessing for all mankind. We are but the builders; the architect is almighty God.”