King Benjamin’s third point is how to retain a remission of sins. First, we must be helped both spiritually and temporally. Therefore, what is right in one situation, may not be so in another. The evils of the dole system were mentioned in chapter one of this work. Not only does the dole not help them spiritually, it harms them. From the beginning the ground was cursed “for thy sake” and “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” (Genesis 3:17–19). In modern revelation, the Lord commanded “thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer” (D&C 42:42). Therefore, King Benjamin directs, “see that all these things are done in wisdom and order” (Mosiah 4:27). The wisdom of providing for the needy is to examine the situation and provide opportunities for them to help themselves as the welfare program of the Church directs. For those who are unable to work the Lord has another plan:
15 And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
16 But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.
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 104:15–18]
The law of the gospel is the fast offering program. Every adult member of the Church is asked to fast for twenty-four hours and donate the cost of two meals to the Church for the care of the needy. The Bishop or local leader of the Church unit is to use that money for the needy. Excess funds are sent to Church headquarters to help in areas where the needs are not met by local contribution. A man should not be required to run faster than he has strength (Mosiah 4:27), but he should do what his strength allows him to do. Therefore the recipient may be asked to work part-time for the supplement received from the fast offering fund.
The order of the Church for helping the needy is self, family, and Church. Therefore, the motto of “help them to help themselves” should be followed. The father is responsible to provide for his family although circumstances may sometimes alter that role. This responsibility may extend to close relatives, but again should be done in wisdom. To neglect this responsibility is a sin. Paul wrote to Timothy: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).
When the law of consecration is lived in the future Zion society, those who are widowed or orphaned may draw upon the Bishop’s storehouse.
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord, in addition to the laws of the church concerning women and children, those who belong to the church, who have lost their husbands or fathers:
2 Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken; and if they are not found transgressors they shall have fellowship in the church.
3 And if they are not faithful they shall not have fellowship in the church; yet they may remain upon their inheritances according to the laws of the land.
4 All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age.
5 And after that, they have claim upon the church, or in other words upon the Lord’s storehouse, if their parents have not wherewith to give them inheritances.
6 And the storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the church; and widows and orphans shall be provided for, as also the poor. Amen. [D&C 83:1–6]
In the meantime, the Church Welfare Program is to provide for needy members as the circumstances and wisdom dictate.
For those who are not members of the Church but of another church, the government is called upon to help. However, this should not be a dole system, and the government would do well to follow the pattern established by the Church.
King Benjamin’s advice on borrowing would fall under the same wisdom category. To borrow implies it will be returned. Not to return something borrowed causes ill feelings and mistrust among neighbors. It may even prompt some act of retaliation such as taking other things from the borrower as a means of payback. This act would be stealing, and so may cause the neighbor to sin (Mosiah 4:28).