Preach By The Way and Remember the Poor

Section 52 of the Doctrine and Covenants calls many elders to travel in pairs to Missouri and to be missionaries on the way. The Lord instructed then over and over to preach the word in these verses: “And let them journey from thence preaching the word by the way, saying none other things than that which the prophets and apostles have written…. Let them go two by two, and thus let them preach by the way in every congregation, baptizing by water…. Let my servant Thomas B. Marsh and my servant Ezra Thayre take their journey also, preaching the word by the way unto this same land. And again, let my servant Isaac Morley and my servant Ezra Booth take their journey, also preaching the word by the way unto this same land…. Let my servants David Whitmer and Harvey Whitlock also take their journey, and preach by the way unto this same land. And let my servants Parley P. Pratt and Orson Pratt take their journey, and preach by the way, even unto this same land. And let my servants Solomon Hancock and Simeon Carter also take their journey unto this same land, and preach by the way” (v9-10, 22-23, 25-27). From these verses we can see that the Lord was serious about missionary work and the need for these elders to preach the gospel to those they would come across. It wasn’t enough for them to reach their destination in Missouri—they needed to preach the gospel as they went.

                For those who would remain behind, the counsel was very similar: “Let the residue of the elders watch over the churches, and declare the word in the regions round about them.” The elders who would not go were to stay in Kirtland and do what? Declare the word just like those who were traveling. The next verse gives at least a partial definition of what it means to be a disciple of the Savior. Given all of this instruction for missionary work to be performed, we would expect that it would be focused on preaching the word—surely an important part of being a disciple is to stand as a witness for Him. But that’s not what the verse says: “And 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” (v39-40). This verse even seems a little out of place, but it is a powerful reminder that in our efforts to help people spiritually as we preach the gospel, we cannot overlook the need to help those in need temporally as well. Even if we preach His word, if we do not remember “in all things the poor and the need” then we will not be considered His disciple. In a revelation about a week later the Lord again emphasized the need to help the poor: “Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls” (Doctrine and Covenants 56:16). If we will not give our substance to the poor, if we have, then our riches will turn to our condemnation. For those who will not open their mouths to declare the gospel, the Lord is not well pleased: “Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them” (Doctrine and Covenants 60:2). Similarly, those who will not be open with their substance to give to those in need, the Lord is likewise not pleased. Section 52 is a reminder that the Lord’s work is both temporal and spiritual, and we should seek to both preach and help those in need by the way each day.