Beggars and Sinners

If I could pick one theme for the last post (It's Not Her Fault), it would be judging others versus loving them. It's an important principle, and so in order to appeal to a larger audience, I specifically steered away from any LDS (Latter-day Saint [Mormon]) jargon when writing it. This post, however, will contain an LDS perspective of a few of the same principles.

The most applicable scripture passage I've found in regards to this is Mosiah 4:16-25 in the Book of Mormon. Even though it was written primarily about beggars and how we ought to treat them, it's also extremely applicable to those who are needy not just in the physical realm but also spiritually, morally, and even socially. If we read the passage in relation to sinners instead of beggars, it brings a whole new perspective. (If you're familiar with the last post, we're talking about the "Nadia"s in the world.)

Speaking of when we're truly following the gospel...

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your [spiritual gifts] unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the [sinner] putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to [spiritually] perish.

 And here's where we often fall short:

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my [love and respect], nor impart unto him of [the gospel] that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

In my opinion, this is teaching that judging isn't just a bad idea, it's a sin we're expected to repent of (and repentance means change). Why is the Lord so harsh here? Because if we do what's in verse 17, we're basically asking for what's in verse 18. Matthew 7:2 - "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." If we want justice, we'll get justice alright. Perhaps God shalt say: You have brought upon yourself your misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto you of my love, nor impart unto you of the Atonement that you may not suffer, for your punishments are just.

Actually, God won't say that. Ever. Because even though we do bring upon ourselves misery, and our punishments are just, He lives by a higher law. He lives by infinite love and mercy. And just to make sure we understand how wholly we rely on those gifts from Him, the sermon continues in verse 19:

19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

Are we not all beggars?

The physically needy lack food, clothing, and money.

The socially needy lack friends, social skills, and opportunities.

The morally needy lack empathy, perspective, and willpower.

The spiritually needy lack faith, hope, and charity.

How many of those things do you have? Are you willing to admit that they're all from the Lord? I never thought I'd quote Obama in the middle of a spiritual lecture, but I firmly believe that if you have any or all of those resources, traits, or abilities, "You didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." And that Somebody was the Lord, through every good thing that's ever happened in your life.

This idea led me to a interesting realization: The reason it's so difficult to admit that OTHERS aren't fully responsible for the FAILURE in their lives is because you must also admit that YOU aren't fully responsible for the SUCCESS of your life. In other words, if you think that you're the one who got yourself to the great place in life that you're at (with physical resources, social skills, a straight moral compass, and spiritual gifts), then you have no choice but to also believe that those who lack those things got themselves to their situation as well. But on the other hand, if you humble yourself and recognize how completely dependent you are on the Lord for everything, and also how often the Lord has worked through others to help you achieve success, then you start to see others as loved ones to help instead of failures to condemn. We start to treat others like the Lord treats us.

In case this has got you wondering, "Well, am I really that dependent on the Lord?", King Benjamin has some more words for you:

20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

All that we have and are is from the Lord. All of it. And if we're here to do the Lord's work, then we ought to be helping our brothers and sisters have more and become more as well.

The last few verses in this section reiterate the punishment of disobeying these principles of love and mercy toward others. Verse 23 in particular ought to hit home for many.

22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.

Are you one of the "rich as pertaining to the things of this world"? To find out, take a quick inventory from the short list I already supplied. I'll ask again, how many of these do you have?

• Food, clothing, money
• Friends, social skills, opportunities
• Empathy, perspective, willpower
• Faith, hope, charity

You may find that you're richer than you think.

The final thing I'll mention here is regarding the other half of verse 23. If we don't share these many riches with others, "[our] substance shall perish with [us]"; our one talent will be taken from us because we buried it instead of doing the Lord's work with it. The success that we think we earned will be taken from us, or at least won't be as enduring as it would be with the Lord. However, if we use them to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees" (D&C 81:5), regardless of what realm they're weak in, then we will be able to multiply our talents and bless others like the Lord blesses us.

President Ezra Taft Benson once said the following:

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that

He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will

 deepen their joys,

expand their vision,

quicken their minds,

strengthen their muscles,

lift their spirits,

multiply their blessings,

increase their opportunities,

comfort their souls,

raise up friends, and

pour out peace.

 Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life."

Let us do for others what God so willingly does for us.