Support the Cause of the Poor

Three individuals were instructed specifically in section 124 of the Doctrine and Covenants to take special interest in the poor. Of George Miller the Lord said, “I seal upon his head the office of a bishopric, like unto my servant Edward Partridge, that he may receive the consecrations of mine house, that he may administer blessings upon the heads of the poor of my people, saith the Lord” (v21). Then later of Vinson Knight the Savior instructed, “And let him lift up his voice long and loud, in the midst of the people, to plead the cause of the poor and the needy; and let him not fail, neither let his heart faint; and I will accept of his offerings” (v75). Finally of William Law the Lord said this: “If he will do my will let him from henceforth hearken to the counsel of my servant Joseph, and with his interest support the cause of the poor” (v89). In this revelation and many others the Lord was consistently concerned about caring for the poor of His people, and surely these instructions for these three men apply to all of us: we too should seek to “administer blessings upon the poor”, “plead the cause of the poor and needy”, and “support the cause of the poor”.  The Lord’s earlier injunction summarizes well these instructions: “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).

               We recently watched some of the short video clips of the Church’s various humanitarian projects, and one of these showed our efforts to provide wheelchairs for those in need. The video showed images of people without legs and how they were blessed by receiving a wheelchair. Without looking at her I asked my five-year-old daughter about the video but then turned to see that she was in tears because of what she saw. Her little heart was breaking because of the images of people suffering and in need. After that experience she would pray, without prompting, for the poor in her nightly prayers. And she would also talk to me excitedly about how we should give houses to the poor who don’t have them. The solution to the problem of the poor in her mind was simple: for those who don’t have a house, let’s give them one. Yesterday at our tithing settlement as our Bishop discussed with my children how church funds are used. She perked up and eagerly mentioned how they would be used to help the poor. To me she unknowingly follows this counsel of the Lord to Vinson Knight to “plead the cause of the poor.” Her guileless and giving spirit is a powerful reminder to me that I should be more concerned with helping those in need—if we truly want to be the Lord’s disciple we must do what we can to help those in need.

               As the Lord commanded the early Saints to move from New York to Ohio, He gave this instruction, “I give unto the church in these parts a commandment, that certain men among them shall be appointed, and they shall be appointed by the voice of the church; And they shall look to the poor and the needy, and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer; and send them forth to the place which I have commanded them” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:34-35). Certain men, perhaps like Bishops today, were commanded to look after the poor and provide relief so that they would not suffer. We each have that responsibility in some way today as we seek to be the Savior’s disciples. There are undoubtedly many we cannot reach, but surely there is someone that we can help as we look to “support the cause of the poor” in some small way in our own lives.