The Poor and the Needy, the Sick and the Afflicted

After Moroni wrote that he saw us in our day, he made this description of our society: “For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted” (Mormon 8:37). Certainly that is an accurate description of many of us in our world today, where we are far more concerned with our own money and substance and clothes than on those who are in need around us. It is interesting that this same list of four types of people who are in need is repeated again in two other scriptures. Mormon described a time among the Nephites when the righteous did care for those who were suffering: “And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely” (Alma 1:27). And in our dispensation the Lord commanded us with the same list: “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” (Doctrine and Covenants 52:40). If we do not remember to help the poor and the sick and all who are in need around us, then we cannot truly call ourselves the disciples of Christ.  

            This evening my older daughter asked her younger sister (with whom she was bickering) this question: “Do you love your dolls or me more?” My younger daughter was not in a very good mood and responded that she loved her dolls more. Of course she didn’t really mean that, but it is a temptation that we all have to love things more than people. Considering their conversation and reading this question from Moroni makes me ask what I really love the most—do I care about possessions or position more than I love helping others who are in need? Cain’s problem was that he “loved Satan more than God,” and surely if we value our money and substance more than serving those around us then we have the same problem (Moses 5:18). Jacob made it clear that the reason for seeking for riches is this: “Ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted” (Jacob 2:19). Helping others is not just one more thing that we should be doing with a bit of our means; it is what God gave us means for. The Lord made it clear how He feels about those who will not give of their possessions: “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” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:18). He certainly was not mincing words! All of these passages are powerful reminders to us that to live as God would have us live we must do all we can to help any who are suffering.