Monday, October 20, 2014

Zion- No Poor Among them


In the Pearl of Great Price Moses wrote, "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." (Moses 7:18)
This Statement is Perplexing to many and as a result there have developed a whole experimental science of achieving Zion through socialism, communism, fascism, capitalism, united order, and united disorder.
Sadly though we often miss the mark on this one. Instead of trying to re-invent the wheel perhaps we should consider that God has already given us an economic system in the Torah. Consider for a moment that Moses who was the author of the above quote also made a similar statement in the Torah and gave the directions for an economic system so that there would be no poor among them: (Deuteronomy 15)
“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release.
And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the LORD’s release has been proclaimed.
Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release.
**But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—
if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.
For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.
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Israel was given economic principles in the Torah such as the first tithe, the shmittah cycle, and the storehouse principles among others that were designed to make them prosperous whether in liberty or bondage. The Law of Tithing found in Section 119 of the D&C is a reiteration of the ancient law of the first tithe-- 10% of your interest income (profitability) annually, etc. We do not need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to open our eyes to the laws and statutes God gave to his people to establish a society where there would be --NO POOR AMONG THEM!

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