The fourth and final evil pronounced by Isaiah is the neglect of the poor and the needy. How we care for the poor and needy is a high priority to the Lord. To neglect them brings his judgment upon us. The following was revealed to the Prophet Joseph:
17 For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.
18 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. [D&C 104:17–18]
The law of the Lord’s gospel is the fast offering program. The Lord expects us to contribute to it generously and not limit ourselves to contributing only to that program if our circumstances warrant otherwise.
The four sins or conditions which Isaiah listed as reasons for the Lord to stretch forth his hand in judgment upon ancient Israel are very applicable to our own day. As commented earlier, these are:
1. Pride and stoutness of heart • 2 Nephi 19:9
President Spencer W. Kimball recognized similar problems in this day as he dedicated the Washington D.C. Temple. “Our Father, in blessing thy people with prosperity, we pray that they may not be surfeited with flocks and herds and acres and barns and wealth which could bring them to worship these false Gods.”
2. The leaders of this people caused them to err • 2 Nephi 19:16
Note that both political and spiritual leaders of Isaiah’s day were leading the people astray. We ought to appreciate and follow the leadership of a true prophet in this dispensation who is concerned over similar problems. In this same dedication President Kimball also said: “Father, we are concerned with the political world of today and that nations seem to need only the lighting of a match to bring war and desolation and destruction. Bless, we pray Thee, the leaders of nations, that they may rule wisely and righteously and give Thy people freedom to worship Thee in truth and righteousness. Stay the powers, our Father, that would bring us to the brink of annihilation.”
President Kimball likewise expressed concern for the great wickedness of this era: “We are greatly concerned, our Father, with the widespread wickedness in this world, the blasphemy, the corruption, the pollution, the immorality, and we are reminded of days long past when the cities of the plains were destroyed, when cities were sacked, and buildings razed and people taken prisoner, to become slaves of enemy nations. We remember the devastation of a flood which was to cleanse the earth from pollution of men and now we see all the sins of the past being portrayed before our eyes again, when people worship the permissiveness of so called freedoms, walking blindly into the traps which must terminate in destructive calamities. Bless them, Father, that they may return to Thee in total righteousness.”
4. The needy, the poor, the widows, and the fatherless are neglected • 2 Nephi 20:1–2.
These same conditions exist in our day and must not be allowed in our lives if we want to escape the judgments of God. The Lord has given the formula for the care of the poor and the needy. In clarifying D&C 104:16, referred to above, President Marion G. Romney has said: “We talked about how the rich are made low. They are made humble and submissive and obedient to the commandments of the Lord by giving of their means liberally—by giving to the bishop for the care of the poor. How do you exalt the poor as they receive? Well, there is only one way to do that and that is to make them self-sustaining. No man has self-respect when he is the recipient of a dole. If there is anything that he can do, he wants to do it. This program was set up not merely to feed and house and clothe people, it was set up to build people into self-respecting Latter-day Saints” [CR, April 1974, 179].