The Articles of Faith Part 53

=3. Benevolence.=--Benevolence is founded on love for fellow-men; it embraces, though it far exceeds charity, in the ordinary sense in which the latter word is used. By the Divine Teacher it was placed as second only to love for G.o.d. On one occasion, certain Pharisees came to Christ, tempting Him with questions on doctrine, in the hope that they could entangle Him, and so make Him an offender against the Jewish law. Their spokesman was a lawyer; note his question and the Savior's answer:--"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."[1256] The two commandments, here spoken of as first and second, are so closely related as to be virtually one, and that one:--"Thou shalt love." He who abideth one of the two will abide both. For without love for our fellows, it is impossible to please G.o.d. Hence wrote John,--the Apostle of Love,--"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of G.o.d; and every one that loveth is born of G.o.d, and knoweth G.o.d. He that loveth not knoweth not G.o.d, for G.o.d is love.... If a man say, I love G.o.d, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love G.o.d whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth G.o.d love his brother also."[1257]

[1256] Matt. xxii, 36-40; see also Luke x, 25-27.

[1257] I John iv, 7-8, 20-21.

=4.= But perhaps the grandest and most sublime of the apostolic utterances concerning the love that saves, is found in the epistle of Paul to the Saints at Corinth.[1258] In our current English translation of the Bible, the virtue which the apostle declares superior to all the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, and which is to continue after all the rest have pa.s.sed away, is designated as _charity_; but the original word meant _love_; and surely Paul had in mind something grander than mere alms-giving, as is evident from his expression:--"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, ...

and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."[1259] Though a man speak with the tongue of angels; though he possess the power of prophecy--the greatest of the ordinary gifts; though he be versed in knowledge and understand all mysteries; though his faith enable him to move mountains; and though he give his all, including even his life,--yet without love is he nothing. Charity, or alms-giving, even though it be performed with the sincerest of motives, devoid of all desire for praise or hope of return, is but a feeble manifestation of the love that is to make one's neighbor as dear to him as himself; the love that suffers long; that envies not others; that vaunts not itself; that knows no pride; that subdues selfishness; that rejoices in the truth. When "that which is perfect" is come, the gifts which have been bestowed in part only will be superseded. "Perfection will then swallow up imperfection; the healing power will then be done away, for no sickness will be there; tongues and interpretations will then cease, for one pure language alone will be spoken; the casting out of devils and power against deadly poisons will not then be needed, for in heaven circ.u.mstances will render them unnecessary. But charity, which is the pure love of G.o.d, never faileth; it will sit enthroned in the midst of the glorified throng, clothed in all the glory and splendor of its native heaven."[1260] If man would win eternal life, he cannot afford to neglect the duty of love to his fellow, for "Love is the fulfilling of the law."[1261]

[1258] I Cor. xiii; see also Alma x.x.xiv, 28-29; Mosiah iv, 16-24.

[1259] Verse 3.

[1260] Orson Pratt, _Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon_, i, 15-16.

[1261] Rom. xiii, 10; see also Gal. v, 14; I Peter iv, 8.

=5. Benevolence Manifested by the Church.=--The Church of the present day can point to a stupendous labor of benevolence already accomplished and still in progress. One of the most glorious monuments of its work is seen in the missionary labor which has ever been a characteristic feature of its activities. Actuated by no other motives than pure love for humanity and a desire to fulfil the commands of G.o.d respecting such, the Church sends out every year hundreds of missionaries to proclaim the gospel of eternal life to the world, without money or price. Mult.i.tudes of these devoted servants have suffered contumely and insult at the hands of those whom they seek to benefit; and not a few have given their lives with the seal of the martyr upon their testimony and work. The charity that manifests itself in material giving is not neglected in the Church; indeed this form of benevolence is impressed as a sacred duty upon every Latter-day Saint. While each one is urged to impart of his substance to the needy in his individual capacity, a system of orderly giving has been developed within the Church; and of this some features are worthy of special consideration.

=6. Free-will Offerings.=--It has ever been characteristic of the Church and people of G.o.d, that they take upon themselves the care of the poor, if any such exist among them. To subserve this purpose, as also to foster a spirit of liberality, kindness, and benevolence, voluntary gifts and free-will offerings have been asked of those who profess to be living according to the law of G.o.d. In the Church today, a systematic plan of giving for the poor is in operation. Thus, in almost every ward or branch, an organization among the women, known as the Relief Society,[1262] is in existence. Its purpose is in part to gather from the society and from the members of the Church in general, contributions of money and other property, particularly the commodities of life, and to distribute such to the deserving and needy, under the direction of the local officers in the priesthood.

But the Relief Society operates also on a plan of systematic visitation to the houses of the afflicted, extending aid in nursing, administering comfort in bereavement, and seeking in every possible way to relieve distress. The good work of this organization has won the admiration of many who profess no connection with the Church; its methods have been followed by other benevolent a.s.sociations, and the Society has been accorded a national status in the United States.

[1262] See page 216.

=7. The Fast Offerings= represent a still more general system of donation. The Church teaches the efficacy of continual prayer and of periodical fasting, as a means of acquiring the humility that is meet for Divine approval; and a monthly fast-day has been appointed for observance throughout the Church. For many years, the first Thursday in each month was so observed; but, with the object of securing a more general attendance at the fast-service, a beneficial change has been introduced, and at present the first Sunday of the month is so devoted. The Saints are asked to manifest their sincerity in fasting by making an offering on that day for the benefit of the poor; and, by common consent, the giving of at least an equivalent of the meals omitted by the fasting of the family is expected. These offerings may be made in money, food, or other usable commodity; they are received by the bishopric or its representatives, and by the same authority are distributed to the worthy poor of the ward or branch. In these and in numerous other ways do the Latter-day Saints contribute of their substance to the needy, realizing that the poor among them may be the Lord's poor; and that, irrespective of worthiness on the part of the recipient, want and distress must be alleviated. The people believe that the harmony of their prayers will become a discord if the cry of the poor accompany their supplications to the throne of Grace.

=8. t.i.thing.=--The Church recognizes today the doctrine of t.i.the-paying, similar in its general provision to that taught and practiced of old. Before considering the present authorized practice in this matter, it may be instructive to study the ancient practice of t.i.the-paying. Strictly speaking, a t.i.the is a tenth, and such a proportion of individual possessions appears to have been formerly regarded as the Lord's due. The inst.i.tution of t.i.thing antedates even the Mosaic dispensation, for we find both Abraham and Jacob paying t.i.thes. Abraham, returning from a victorious battle, met Melchizedek king of Salem and "priest of the most high G.o.d;" and, recognizing his priestly authority, "gave him t.i.thes of all."[1263] Jacob made a voluntary vow with the Lord to render a tenth of all that should come into his possession.[1264]

[1263] Gen. xiv, 18-20; see also Heb. vii, 1-3, 5, and Alma xiii, 13-16.

[1264] Gen. xxviii, 22.

=9.= The Mosaic statutes are explicit in requiring t.i.thes:--"And all the t.i.the of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord.... And concerning the t.i.the of the herd, even of whatsoever pa.s.seth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord."[1265] The tenth was to be paid as it came, without search for good or bad; under some conditions, however, a man could redeem the t.i.the by paying its value in some other way, but in such a case he had to add a fifth of the t.i.the. The tenth of all the property in Israel was to be paid to the Levites, as an inheritance given in acknowledgment of their service in the labor of the tabernacle; and they in turn were to pay t.i.thing on what they received, and this t.i.the of the t.i.the was to go to the priests.[1266] A second t.i.the was demanded of Israel to be used for the appointed festivals.[1267] It is evident, that while no specific penalty for neglect of the law of t.i.thing is recorded, the proper observance of the requirement was regarded as a sacred duty. In the course of the reformation by Hezekiah, the people manifested their repentance by an immediate payment of t.i.thes;[1268] and so liberally did they give, that a great surplus acc.u.mulated; observing which, Hezekiah enquired as to the source of such plenty:--"And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty; for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store."

Nehemiah took care to regulate the t.i.the-paying of the people;[1269]

and both Amos[1270] and Malachi[1271] chided the people for their neglect of this duty. Through the prophet last named, the Lord charged the people with having robbed Him; but promised them blessings beyond their capacity to receive if they would return to their allegiance to Him: "Will a man rob G.o.d? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In t.i.thes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the t.i.thes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."[1272] In visiting the Nephites after His resurrection, the Savior told them of these sayings of Malachi, repeating the words of the Jewish prophet.[1273] The Pharisees, at the time of Christ's ministry, were particularly scrupulous in the matter of t.i.the paying,--even to the neglect of the "weightier matters of the law,"--and for this inconsistency they were severely rebuked by the Master.[1274]

[1265] Lev. xxvii, 30-34.

[1266] Numb. xviii, 21-28.

[1267] Deut. xii, 5-17; xiv, 22-23.

[1268] II Chron. x.x.xi, 5-6.

[1269] Neh. x, 37; xii, 44.

[1270] Amos iv, 4.

[1271] Mal. iii, 10.

[1272] Mal. iii, 8-10; see also III Nephi xxiv, 7-12.

[1273] III Nephi xxiv, 7-10.

[1274] Matt, xxiii, 23; Luke xi, 42. See "Jesus the Christ," p.

556.

=10.= In the present dispensation, the law of t.i.thing has been given a place of great importance; and particular blessings have been promised for its faithful observance. This day has been called by the Lord, "a day of sacrifice, and a day for the t.i.thing of my people; for he that is t.i.thed shall not be burned."[1275] In a revelation, given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, July 8, 1838, the Lord has explicitly set forth His requirement of the people in this matter.[1276]

[1275] Doc. and Cov. lxiv, 23-24; see also lx.x.xv, 3.

[1276] Doc. and Cov. cxix. See the author's "The Law of the t.i.the," 20 pp.

=11. Consecration and Stewards.h.i.+p.=--The law of t.i.thing, as accepted and professedly observed by the Church today, is after all but a lesser law, given by the Lord in consequence of the human weaknesses, selfishness, covetousness, and greed, which prevented the Saints from accepting the higher principles, according to which the Father would have His children live. Specific requirements regarding the payment of t.i.thes were made through revelation in 1838; but seven years prior to that time, the voice of the Lord had been heard on the subject of consecration,[1277] or the dedication of all one's property, together with his time, talents, and natural endowments, to the service of G.o.d, to be used as occasion may require. This again is not new; to the present dispensation the law of consecration is given as a re-enactment; it was recognized and observed with profit in olden times.[1278] But even in the apostolic period, the doctrine of consecration of property and common owners.h.i.+p was old; thirty-four centuries before that time, the same principle had been practiced by the patriarch Enoch and his people, and with such success that "the Lord came and dwelt with his people; ... And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them."[1279] In each of the instances cited,--that of the people of Enoch, and that of the Saints in the early part of the Christian era,--we learn of the unity of purpose and consequent power acquired by the people who lived in this social order; they were "of one heart and one mind." Through the spiritual strength so attained, the apostles were able to perform many mighty works;[1280] and of Enoch and his followers we read that the Lord took them unto Himself.[1281]

[1277] Doc. and Cov. xiii, 71.

[1278] Acts iv, 32, 34-35; see also ii, 44-46.

[1279] Pearl of Great Price: Moses vii, 16-18.

[1280] Acts ii, 43.

[1281] See pp. 362-363.

=12.= The people of whom the Book of Mormon gives us record also attained to the blessed state of equality, and with corresponding results. The disciples, whom Christ had personally commissioned, taught with power, and "they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another."[1282] Further, we read of a general conversion by which the people came to a condition of ideal peace; "there were no contentions or disputations among them.... And they had all things common among them, therefore they were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift."[1283] They were so blessed, that of them the prophet said:--"Surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of G.o.d."[1284] But after nearly two centuries of this happy condition, the people gave way to pride; some of them yielded to a pa.s.sion for costly apparel; then they refused to longer have their goods in common; and straightway many cla.s.ses came into existence; dissenting sects were established; and then began a rapid course of disruption, which led to the extinction of the Nephite nation.[1285]

[1282] III Nephi xxvi, 19.

[1283] IV Nephi i, 2-3.

[1284] Verse 16.

[1285] Verse 24, etc. See "Jesus the Christ," p. 741.

=13. Stewards.h.i.+p in the Church Today.=--A system of unity in temporal matters has been revealed to the Church in this day; such is currently known as the Order of Enoch,[1286] or the United Order,[1287] and is founded on the law of consecration. As already stated, in the early days of the modern Church the people demonstrated their inability to abide this law in its fulness, and, in consequence, the lesser law of t.i.thing was given; but the Saints confidently await the day in which they will devote, not merely a t.i.the of their substance, but all that they have, and all that they are, to the service of their G.o.d; a day in which no man will speak of mine and thine, but all things shall be theirs and the Lord's.

[1286] Doc. and Cov. lxxviii.

[1287] Doc. and Cov. civ, 48.

=14.= In this expectation, they indulge no vague dream of communism, encouraging individual irresponsibility, and giving the idler an excuse for hoping to live at the expense of the thrifty; but rather, a calm trust that in the promised social order which G.o.d can approve, every man will be a steward in the full enjoyment of liberty to do as he will with the talents committed to his care; but with the sure knowledge that an account of his stewards.h.i.+p will be required at his hands. As far as the plan of this prospective organization has been revealed, it provides that a person entering the order shall consecrate to the Lord all that he has, be it little or much, giving to the Church a deed of his property sealed with a covenant that cannot be broken.[1288] The person thus having given his all, is to be made a steward over a part of the property of the Church, according to his ability to use it. The varying grades of occupation will still exist; there will be laborers, whose qualifications fit them best for common toil; and managers who have proved their ability to lead and direct; some who can serve the cause of G.o.d best with the pen, others with the plow; there will be engineers and mechanics, artisans and artists, farmers and scholars, teachers, professors, and authors;--every one laboring as far as practicable in the sphere of his choice, but each required to work, and to work where and how he can be of the greatest service. His stewards.h.i.+p is to be a.s.sured him by written deed, and as long as he is faithful to his charge, no man can take it from him.[1289] Of the proceeds of his labors, every man may use as he requires for the support of himself and his family; the surplus is to be rendered to the Church for public and general works, and for the a.s.sistance of those who are worthily deficient.[1290] As further ill.u.s.trative of the uses to which the surplus is to be devoted, we read:--"All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age. 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. And the storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the Church, and widows and orphans shall be provided for, as also the poor.[1291] Any faithful steward, requiring additional capital for the improvement of his work, has a claim for such upon the custodians of the general fund, they in turn being held accountable for their management, which const.i.tutes their stewards.h.i.+p.[1292] Equal rights are to be secured to all. The Lord said:--'And you are to be equal, or, in other words, you are to have equal claims on the properties, for the benefit of managing the concerns of your stewards.h.i.+ps, every man according to his wants, and his needs, inasmuch as his wants are just; and all this for the benefit of the Church of the living G.o.d, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord's storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church.'"[1293]

[1288] Doc. and Cov. xiii, 30.

[1289] Doc. and Cov. ii, 4-5.

[1290] Doc. and Cov. xlii, 32-35.