Administer of Your Substance

Elder Holland taught us in this last general conference that we should be more concerned about caring for the poor and needy.  He suggested that this is one of the most often repeated commandments from the Lord.  Here are some of the references to this that we find in the scriptures.  King Benjamin taught, “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” (Mosiah 4:16).  Alma questioned the members of the Church in Zarahemla: “Will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?” (Alma 5:55).  Amulek taught the poor Zoramites: “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… ye are hypocrites who do deny the faith” (Alma 34:28).  The Savior also taught that if we would give meat to the hungered or take in a stranger or clothe the naked, it would be the same as if we had done it unto Him.  And to those who did not these things, He would say, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire” (Matt. 25:35-41).  In our dispensation the Lord declared of the Church, “They shall look to the poor and the needy, and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer” (D&C 38:35).  Likewise He told the Saints, “Ye must visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief” (D&C 44:6).  Again He said, “Remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple” (D&C 52:40).  There are many other references in the scriptures related to helping the poor and needy, confirming Elder Holland’s statement that this commandment has been repeated again and again from the Lord.