Gospel Doctrine, Lesson 35: “Repent and Return

Unto the Lord”, Helaman 13-16 To download past handouts, go to: highlandvalleysundayschoolnotes2012.blogspot.com

“If any of you feel that there is no life in your meetings,…. Then it becomes your duty to go and instill life into that meeting,

and do your part to produce an increase of the Spirit and power of God in the meetings in your locality.”

~Brigham Young, JD 10:309

“ ‘Condescending’ means settling for inferior goods to avoid effort and tension.

Brigham hated that: ‘That diffidence or timidity we must dispense with. When it becomes our duty to talk, we ought to be willing to talk,…

Interchanging our ideas and exhibiting that which we believe and understand

affords an opportunity for detecting and correcting errors’ — The expanding mind must be openly and frankly critical, come hell or high council;

without that we get ‘too much of a sameness in this community’ — ‘I am not a stereotyped Latter-day Saint, and do not believe in the doctrine….

Are we going to stand still? Away with stereotyped “Mormons.”’”

~Brigham Young, as quoted by Hugh Nibley, Brother Brigham Challenges the Saints, 329

#1 Elder Delbert L. Stapley: “(quoting Hel 16:22) This account of wickedness and contentions among the Nephites prior to the Lord's birth in the meridian of time is

duplicated in the wickedness, contentions, and deceptions of our day as we ap-proach the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prophecies con-

cerning these days are also being fulfilled and Satan is stirring up the hearts of men to do iniquity continually; and to thwart, if possible, faith in the great event of Christ's second coming to earth, which I testify is sure to come to pass. Satan is alert and active. We must

be more alert and perceptive of the false and insincere schemes of his agents among us.” (CR, Oct. 1961)

#2 Elder Richard L. Evans: “lest there be some doubt as to what a prophet is, we submit that it is one who, under the appointment and inspiration of the Lord God,

speaks truth as the spirit moves him, regardless of what the world is thinking and

regardless of what men would like to hear. And, there-fore, a prophet is seldom popular, and the cost of being a

prophet is always great, for he may be called upon to say those things which are not pleasing… and he may find himself fighting

against a tide of mass-misconception, and, as history records, be stoned, crucified, banished, ridiculed, shunned, or rejected. For

the truth is not pleasing unto all men, and time has proved that majorities are not always right…It is not important that a prophet should say those things with which you and I are in

full accord. But it is important that you and I should bring ourselves into full accord with those things which a prophet speaks by virtue of his office and calling.” (Improvement Era, Nov., 1939)

#3 The Prophet Joseph Smith: “I saw (in vision) Brigham Young standing in a strange land, in the far south and west, in a desert place, upon a rock in the midst

of about a dozen men of color, who appeared hostile. He was preaching to them in their own tongue, and the angel of God standing above his head, with a drawn

sword in his hand, protecting him, but he did not see it.” (TPJS, 108)

#4 The Prophet Joseph Smith: “Peace will be taken from the earth and there will be no peace only in the Rocky Mountains. This will cause many hundreds and thousands of the

honest in heart to gather there; not because they would be saints but for safety and be-cause they would not take up the sword against their neighbor.” (quoted by Duane S. Crowther in

Prophecy, Key to the Future, 55)

#5 President Brigham Young: “An inland Empire will be established in these valleys of the mountains, which will be a place of refuge for millions of people to gather

to, when the great day of the judgments of God comes upon the earth, and the righteous come here for safety. Our people will go East, West, North and South,

but the day will come when they will be glad to come back. We will be shut out from the rest of the world.” (Ibid., 58)

#6 President Brigham Young: “We are blessed in these mountains; this is the best place on earth for the Latter-day Saints. Search for the history of all nations and every geographical

position on the face of the earth, and you cannot find another situation so well adapted for the Saints as are these mountains. Here is the place in which the Lord designed to hide His

people… It has been designed, for many generations, to hide up the Saints in the last days, until the indignation of the Almighty be over.” (Ibid., 58)

#7 President Ezra Taft Benson: “In the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for pre-paring for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few

decades just prior to Christ's coming to America. By careful study of that time pe-riod we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that

preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet.... Can anyone doubt that this book was meant for us and that in it we find great power, great comfort,

and great protection?" (Ensign, Nov 1986, 6-7)

#8 Hugh Nibley: “The Prophet Samuel the Lamanite sets forth the interesting rule that when ‘the Economy’ becomes the main and engrossing concern of a society--or in the rou-

tine Book of Mormon phrase, when ‘they begin to set their hearts upon their riches’--the economy will self-destruct. This is how he puts it: ‘Ye do always remember your riches; . . .

your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, . . . envy-ings, strifes, malice, persecutions and murders, and all manner of iniquities’ (Helaman

13:22). Note well the sequence of folly: first we are well pleased with ourselves because of our wealth, then comes the game of status and prestige, leading to competitive maneuvers,

hatred, and dirty tricks, and finally the ultimate solution. Where wealth guarantees respect-ability, principles melt away as the criminal element rises to the top” (The Prophetic Book of Mor-

mon, 349)

#9 President Brigham Young: “Said the Lord to Joseph, ‘See if they will give their farms to me.’ What was the result? They would not do it, though it was one of the plainest things in

the world. No revelation that was ever given is more easy of comprehension than that on the law of consecration…. Yet, when the Lord spoke to Joseph, instructing him to counsel

the people to consecrate their possessions, and deed them over to the Church in a cove-nant that cannot be broken, would the people listen to it? No, but they began to find out that they were mistaken, and had only acknowledged with their mouths that the things

which they possessed were the Lord’s. I wish to see the people acknowledge the principle of consecration in their works, as well as in their prayers. The Lord makes them well by His

power, through the ordinances of His house, but will they consecrate? No. They say, ‘It is mine, and I will have it myself.” And Hugh Nibley adds, “There is the treasure, and the

heart is with it.” (Hugh Nibley, Approaching Zion, 348)

#10 President Brigham Young: “Could our brethren stay in Jackson county, Missouri? No, no. Why? They had not learned ‘a’ concerning Zion; and we have been traveling now forty-two years, and have we learned our a, b, c?... I will say, scarcely.”... “I never attributed the driving of the Saints from Jackson County to anything but that it was necessary to chasten

them and prepare them to build of Zion.”… “We are not yet prepared to go and establish the Center Stake of Zion. The Lord tried this in the first place… He gave revelation after revelation; but the people could not abide them… They do not know what to do with the

revelations, commandments and blessings of God.”… “So though this people will surely go back to Jackson County, they will nonetheless be held back until they are ready—which may

be a very long time.” (Hugh Nibley, Brother Brigham Challenges the Saints, 336-37)

#11 Hugh Nibley: “… at the age of nineteen [Brigham Young] ‘sought for riches, but in vain; there was something that always kept telling me that happiness originated in higher

pursuits… It is possible for a man who loves the world to overcome that love, to get knowl-edge and understanding until he sees things as they really are, then he will not love the

world but will see it as it is.” (Ibid., 330)

Other thoughts too great not to include: Helaman 13:19 For I will, saith the Lord, that they shall hide up their treasures unto me; Hugh Nibley: “What is con-secrated is then made sacred, withdrawn from the ordinary economy, dedicated to a particular purpose and to that purpose only. It can never be recalled or used for any other pur-pose without being de-secrated. A striking passage in Helaman brings this out while providing a pow-

erful bit of evidence for the bona fides of the Book of Mormon. Samuel the Lamanite tells the people that their riches will be cursed because they have set their hearts upon them; and that when they flee before their enemies and bury their treasures, if they bury them not unto the Lord, they will become slippery and can never be found again. In the Copper Scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls we learn that when the Jews fled from Jerusalem before their enemies, they also buried their treasures; and they also buried them up unto the Lord so that they could never again be used in profane negotiations. All such buried treasures had to be used for the temple and nothing else. It would be hard to find a more convincing parallel. It is a reminder that when I consecrate, it cannot be with limitations or qualifica-tions.” (Approaching Zion, p. 389) Helaman 13:38 President Spencer W. Kimball: “Oliver Wendell Holmes said: ‘Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.’ Tagore expressed a similar thought in these words: ‘I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung.’ My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music still in us. Let us rather use this precious mortal probation to move confidently and gloriously upward toward the eternal life which God our Father gives to those who keep his commandments.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 16-7) President Ezra Taft Benson: “Some people intend to make a decision and then never get around to it…They intend to paint the barn, to fix the fence, to haul away that old machinery or remove that old shed, but the time of decision just never arrives. “Some of us face a similar situation in our personal lives…We intend to pay a full tithing, to begin keeping the Word of Wisdom, to make our initial home teaching visits early in the month. However, without actual decision followed by implementation, the weeks and months go by and nothing is accomplished. We could drift into eternity on these kinds of good intentions. The Lord apparently sensed this weakness in His chil-dren, for He said: ‘Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today.’ (DC 64:25)” (God, Family, Country, p. 389.) Helaman 15:3 President Brigham Young: “There are several here who will address you, and sup-pose that they should chastise us a little, do we not deserve it? Still, perhaps some will complain of the speaker for chastising them, when perhaps the first sentences which meet their eyes upon opening the Bible, will convey the idea that every son and daughter whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, but those who are not chastened are bastards and not sons. (Heb 12:8) Says one, ‘I am willing to be chas-tened, but I am not willing to have that brother who has just come from England, or some other coun-try, chasten me, but if some one high in authority should do it, I would kiss the rod and reverence the hand that gave it;’ but the man who will only receive chastening from the Lord Himself is not in a proper state of mind before Him. The Latter-day Saints have been chastened much and often. Many in this congregation have had their corn and wheat stacks burned in consequence of their religion, and have often been called to part with their fathers and mothers, their wives and children, in consequence of their religion. They have been chastened here and there, and perhaps some may think we are being chastened now by the drought and insects. I am willing to take it as a chastisement, and to learn that wisdom and knowledge which I had not before it happened; and if every man could realize and understand it, they would receive it as a prize and as a lesson that would qualify them for future duties. Though our chastisements are often hard to be

borne, those who bear them patiently, willingly, and submissively, will find that they yield the Gospel fruits of righteousness insomuch that they will know how to be Saints indeed.” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 54) Helaman 16:6 President Ezra Taft Benson: “How we respond to the words of a living prophet when he tells us what we need to know, but would rather not hear, is a test of our faithfulness.” (BYU Speeches of the Year, 1980, p. 28) Elder James E. Faust: The relationship of money to happiness is at best questionable. Even the Wall Street Journal acknowledged, "Money is an article which may be used as a universal passport to every-where except heaven, and as a universal provider of everything except happiness." Henrik Ibsen wrote, "Money may buy the husk of many things, but not the kernel. It brings you food, but not the appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness; days of joy, but not peace or happiness." (To Reach Even Unto You, 8) President Brigham Young: “It is all good, the air, the water, the gold and silver; the wheat, the fine flour, and the cattle upon a thousand hills are all good… But that moment that men seek to build up themselves… and seek to hoard up riches,… it proves that their hearts are weaned from their God; and their riches will perish in their fingers, and they with them.” (JD 1:272-73) President Brigham Young: “This I know by experience, I know that the things of this world, from beginning to end, from the possession of mountains of gold down to a crust of johnnycake, makes lit-tle or no difference in the happiness of an individual.” (JD 7:135) President Brigham Young: “The man or woman who enjoys the spirit of our religion has no trials; but the man or woman who tries to live according to the Godspel of the Son of God, and at the same time clings to the spirit of the world, has trials and sorrows acute and keen, and that, too, continually. This is the deciding point, the dividing line. They who love and serve God with all their hearts rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; but they who try to serve God and still cling to the spirit of the world, have got on two yokes— the yoke of Jesus and the yoke of the devil, and they will have plenty to do. They will have a warfare inside and outside, and the labor will be very galling, for they are directly in opposition one to the other.” (JD 16:123) Hugh Nibley: “In the law of Moses, the Lord’s release cancels all indebtedness of man, while God transfers his claims on our indebtedness to the poor, it is through them that he asks us to pay our debt to him.” (Approaching Zion, 229) Elder Stephen B. Oveson, of the Seventy: “We… learned a beautiful lesson about consecration from one of the assistants to the president in our mission. A decision had been made that one of our mis-sionaries needed to be sent home early from his mission. He had been disobedient on several occa-sions despite counseling, contracts, and repeated warnings. The airplane ticket had been purchased, and the appropriate approvals were obtained from the South America South Area Presidency and the Missionary Department to send this missionary home. When the assistants brought the missionary in for his final interview, he protested loudly and tearfully that he did not want to go home. He promised to improve and said he would sign yet another con-tract. In desperation, President Oveson called the two assistants and Sister Oveson into his office and asked the elder to wait outside while the possible courses of action were discussed. Sister Oveson,

somewhat out of patience with the situation, believed that sending him home was the only reasonable thing to do. “If he is allowed to stay,” she maintained, “the other missionaries might think that obedi-ence is not important.” One of the assistants said, “I have to agree with Hermana Oveson. I don’t think we really have a choice.” When President Oveson asked the other assistant for his opinion, the assistant said, “I see much good in this elder. President, if you will let me go back out into the field, I will take him for my companion for the rest of my mission. I will take responsibility for him and help him to become a loving and obedi-ent missionary.” We all had tears in our eyes by the time this elder finished his remarks. We could not believe that any-one could be so loving and caring, especially a 20-year-old missionary. The decision was made to do as he requested. He found it exceedingly difficult at first, but slowly his junior companion learned a great deal from him and became a trustworthy missionary. When the senior companion went home, his companion stayed to finish his mission, becoming in time a senior companion and a trainer before he was honorably released. The follow-up to this true experience is that this once-wayward elder has since married and been sealed in the temple. He and his wife now have a son. They are active in the Church and are helping to build the kingdom. What a difference a consecrated, Christlike person made in the life of this missionary and his future family! (“Personal Consecration”, Ensign, Sept. 2005) Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “Years ago I became acquainted with two families in the process of dissolving a jointly owned commercial enterprise. The principals, two men who were friends and mem-bers of the same Christian congregation, had formed the company years earlier. They had a generally congenial relationship as business partners, but as they grew older and the next generation began to take part in the business, conflicts emerged. Finally, all parties decided it would be best to divide up the assets and go their separate ways. One of the two original partners devised a stratagem with his lawyers to secure for himself a significant financial advantage in the dissolution at the expense of the other partner and his sons. In a meeting of the parties, one of the sons complained about this unfair treatment and appealed to the honor and Christian beliefs of the first partner. ‘You know this is not right,’ he said. ‘How could you take advantage of someone this way, especially a brother in the same church?’ The first partner’s lawyer retorted, ‘Oh, grow up! How can you be so naive?’ “Integrity is not naiveté. What is naive is to suppose that we are not accountable to God. The Savior declared: “My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; … that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil” (3 Nephi 27:14). One who lives a conse-crated life does not seek to take advantage of another but, if anything, will turn the other cheek and, if required to deliver a coat, will give the cloak also (see Matthew 5:39–40). The Savior’s sternest re-bukes were to hypocrites. Hypocrisy is terribly destructive, not only to the hypocrite but also to those who observe or know of his or her conduct, especially children. It is faith destroying, whereas honor is the rich soil in which the seed of faith thrives.” (CR, Oct. 2010)

The Law of Consecration By Victor L. Brown

Victor L. Brown was a member of the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fire-side address was given at Brigham Young University on 7 November 1976.

I appreciate the opportunity this evening of spending a few minutes with you at this fireside. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will be with us, as I have chosen a subject about which little is said and too little is known. I refer to the law of conse-cration, which is lived through the united order. In 1874, a year before this University was founded, President Brigham Young, who was spending the winter in St. George, organized the Saints there into a cooperative economic and spiritual un-ion. His intent, evidently, was to help the people there do a better job of caring for the poor and to reverse a growing ten-dency toward worldliness. This movement or organization was legally incorporated and was called the United Order of Zion. The following rules of conduct were drawn up for those who entered the order:

We will not take the name of Deity in vain, nor speak lightly of his character, or of sacred things. We will pray with our fami-lies morning and evening and also attend to secret prayer. We will observe and keep the Word of Wisdom, according to the spirit and the meaning thereof. We will treat our families with due kindness and affection, and set before them an example worthy of imitation. In our families and intercourse with all persons, we will refrain from being contentious or quarrelsome, and we will cease to speak evil of each other, and will cultivate a spirit of charity towards all. We consider it our duty to keep from acting selfishly or from covetous motives, and will seek the interest of each other and the salvation of all mankind. We will observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, in accordance with the revelations. . . . In our apparel and deportment we will not pattern after nor encourage foolish and extravagant fashions. . . . We will be simple in our dress and manner of living, using proper economy and prudence in the management of all entrusted to our care. . . . We will honestly and diligently la-bor and devote ourselves and all we have to the "order" and to the building of the kingdom of God. [Comprehensive History of the Church, 4:485–86 ]

As President Young returned to Salt lake City in the spring of 1875, he stopped in many of the settlements of southern and central Utah, encouraging them to establish united orders. Others of the Brethren visited settlements of northern Utah to encourage similar action.

United Orders in Orderville and Brigham City

Perhaps two of the better-known examples of these orders as practiced by the Saints in Utah in the 1870s and 1880s were located in Orderville and Brigham City. The Orderville united order began in 1875. The settlers deeded all their property to the community corporation, including

several hundred acres of land, houses, cattle, horses and mules, sheep, hogs, chickens, agricultural machinery and equip-ment, sawmills, and a large variety of provisions and supplies. . . . The order operated a number of farms, gardens, and or-chards, including a cotton farm, a poultry project, three dairies, a sheep enterprise, a steam sawmill, and water-powered gristmill, and several molasses mills. . . . Almost complete self-sufficiency was attained. . . . The order had its quota of black-smiths, clerks, artists, musicians and teachers, and even an herb doctor. [Leonard J. Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom, pp. 334–35]

This particular order in southern Utah was probably the most communal of any of the orders ever established. During its first years of existence, the order was very successful. The financial statements that were produced in the order's third year indi-cated a remarkable self-restraint and discipline among the seven-hundred-odd members of the community. However, prob-lems soon developed, caused partly by a lack of restrictions on new members, changing economic conditions in the sur-rounding communities, and a growing discontent among the young people. It seems that the young people began to envy those in surrounding prosperous mining towns, thinking that Orderville's ways were old-fashioned.

The story is told of a certain young man in Orderville who felt the need for a new pair of pants:

As he gained in stature, the pants he wore seemed to shrink, but as there were no holes in them, and no patches, his appli-cation for a new pair was denied. But where "there is a will, there is a way." There was a big crop of lambs that spring.

When the lambs' tails were docked [or cut off], the young brother surreptitiously gathered them and sheared off the wool which he stored in sacks. When he was assigned to take a load of wool to Nephi, he secretly took the lambs' tail wool with his load and exchanged it for a pair of store pants. On his return, he wore his new pants to the next dance. His entrance caused a sensation. The story is that one young lady rushed up to him, embraced and kissed him. The president of the order demanded an explanation, and when it was truthfully given, he said: "According to your own story these pants belong to the order. You are requested to appear before the board of management tomorrow evening at half past eight, and to bring the store pants with you."

At the meeting, the young brother was commended for his enterprise, but was reminded that all pants must be made of cloth from the same bolt. However, to prove its good will, the board of management agreed to have the store pants un-seamed and used as a pattern for all pants made in the future, and further, the young man in question would get the first pair.

The tailoring department was soon swamped with orders for pants. The elders of the order protested. The boys went to work, as usual, but loafed on the jobs. It was noticed that the everlasting pants worn by the boys were getting thin in spots, and even some holes had developed. These boys were often on their knees when at prayers or when weeding the garden, but not much time was spent sitting down. Why was this unusual wear on the seat of the pants? When the elders saw the boys going in groups to the shed where the grindstone was housed, they became suspicious and investigated. Yes, the boys had been wearing out their pants on the grindstone. The elders protested and then capitulated. A load of wool was dis-patched to Washington mills to trade for cloth. The tailor shop was a busy place. The boys were hard at work. The pants rebellion was over! [Arrington, Great Basin Kingdom, p. 336]

In Brigham City, under the direction of Elder Lorenzo Snow of the Council of the Twelve, a cooperative developed in a much different direction. Rather than turning properties over to a community corporation as in Orderville, the members were in-vited to take shares in a cooperative venture that by 1874 included some forty branches covering almost every phase of in-dustry and agriculture in the valley. The Saints in the community were urged to trade locally within the cooperative. Brigham City came to be known as one of the most prosperous, progressive cities in the territory. The cooperative was so successful that the Panic of 1873, which hit the rest of Utah, was virtually unnoticed in the Brigham City area. Eventually, however, for various reasons—including an influx of nonmembers, Brigham Young's death, changing economic conditions, and the ex-treme pressure brought to bear by the federal government because of polygamy—the united order movement was generally short-lived. In the mid-1880s the First Presidency counseled the few remaining orders to disband.

Revelations About the United Order

As we look back over these noble experiments in Utah, we now see that the original law of consecration, revealed through the Prophet Joseph in the early 1830s, was never strictly followed in any instance, either in Utah or in Missouri. To better understand the history and doctrines behind the original united order, not the united orders practiced in Utah, but the order envisioned by the Prophet Joseph, we need to turn to the Doctrine and Covenants. This was sometimes referred to as the order of Enoch and, more commonly, simply the united order. The united order described in these revelations will be the pattern to which we will someday return when Zion is redeemed—and this may not be very far off.

During the first year after the restoration of the Church, the Prophet Joseph received the revelation now recorded in section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants, referred to by the Prophet as "embracing the law of the Church." In this revelation the Lord said:

If thou lovest me, thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments.

And behold, thou wilt remember the poor, and consecrate of thy properties for their support that which thou hast to impart unto them, with a covenant and a deed which cannot be broken.

And inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor, ye will do it unto me; and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church and his counselors, two of the elders, or high priests, such as he shall appoint or has appointed and set apart for that purpose.

And it shall come to pass, that after they are laid before the bishop of my church, and after that he has received these testi-monies concerning the consecration of the properties of my church, that they cannot be taken from the church, agreeable to

my commandments, every man shall be made accountable unto me, a steward over his own property, or that which he has received by consecration, as much as is sufficient for himself and family.

And again, if there shall be properties in the hands of the church, or any individuals of it, more than is necessary for their support after this first consecration, which is a residue to be consecrated unto the bishop, it shall be kept to administer to those who have not, from time to time, that every man who has need may be amply supplied and receive according to his wants.

Therefore, the residue shall be kept in my storehouse, to administer to the poor and the needy, as shall be appointed by the high council of the church, and the bishop and his council;

And for the purpose of purchasing lands for the public benefit of the church, and building houses of worship, and building up of the New Jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed—

That my covenant people may be gathered in one in that day when I shall come to my temple. And this I do for the salva-tion of my people. [D&C 42:29–36]

Somewhat later in the same revelation, the Lord said:

Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer. . . .

Thou shalt live together in love. . . .

Thou shalt stand in the place of thy stewardship.

Thou shalt not take thy brother's garment; thou shalt pay for that which thou shalt receive of thy brother.

And if thou obtainest more than that which would be for thy support, thou shalt give it into my storehouse, that all things may be done according to that which I have said. [D&C 42: 42, 45, 53–55]

In this revelation, given in February 1831, the Lord began to reveal the principles and procedures of the united order. From 1831 to April 1834, when section 104 of the Doctrine and Covenants was revealed, the Lord gave many instructions concern-ing the united order and the law of consecration. The Lord placed great emphasis on our obligation to care for the poor and the needy when he said:

I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.

And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.

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.

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.

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 104:14–18]

As I mentioned earlier, we learn from the historical record that in addition to the Utah activities there were early attempts by the Saints in Ohio and Missouri to live the united order. Because of transgressions and because the people were not obedient in all things, the Lord on June 22, 1834, suspended the requirement that the Saints live the united order as of that time. This revelation is recorded in section 105 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., explained these early failures by saying that

in practice the brethren in Missouri got away, in their attempts to set up the united order, from the principles set out in the revelations. This is also true of the organizations set up here in Utah after the Saints came to the valleys. . . . This instru-ment is not in accordance with the principle laid down in the revelations touching upon the united order.

The basic principle of all the revelation on the united order is that everything we have belongs to the Lord; therefore, the Lord may call upon us for any and all of the property which we have, because it belongs to Him. This, I repeat, is the basic principle. [Conference Report, October 1942, p. 55]

Righteous Stewardships

It is most important that we remember the united order is based on the underlying principle that the earth and all things therein belong to the Lord and that men hold their temporal positions as stewards accountable to the Lord. According to the revelations, each man entered the united order by consecrating to the Church all that he had. This was done, as we have read, "with a covenant and a deed which could not be broken" (D&C 42:30), whereupon the bishop, in consultation and after reaching agreement with the donor, deeded back to the donor sufficient for his and his family's needs. This, then, became his stewardship.

President Clark has cautioned us:

One of the places in which some of the brethren are going to stray is this:

There is continuous reference in the revelations to equality among the brethren, but I think you will find only one place where that equality is really described, though it is referred to in other revelations. That revelation affirms that every man is to be "equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs." Obviously, this is not a case of "dead-level" equality. It is "equality" that will vary as much as the man's circumstances, his family, his wants and needs, may vary. [Conference Report, October 1942, p. 55]

This procedure, the bishop deeding back to the individual his stewardship, preserved in every man the right to private own-ership and management of property. Private ownership of property was basic to the united order. The intent was that each man would improve his stewardship—that is, use the property to produce a living for himself and his family. Any surplus that he might produce above the wants and needs of his family was consecrated to the Church. This surplus went into a bishops storehouse, from which the needs of the poor, the orphan, and the widow were met; from which stewardships were given to others; and from which the activities of the Church were financed

Joseph Smith, in a letter to Bishop Edward Partridge in 1883, wrote:

The matter of consecration must be done by the mutual consent of both parties; for to give the Bishop power to say how much every man shall have, and he be obliged to comply with the Bishop's judgment, is giving to the Bishop more power than a king has; and upon the other hand, to let every man say how much he needs, and the Bishop be obliged to comply with his judgment, is to throw Zion into confusion and make a slave of the Bishop. The fact is, there must be a balance or equilibrium of power between the Bishop and the people, and thus harmony and good will may be preserved among you. [Documentary History of the Church, 1:364]

From this letter we can see how important it is for each member to keep all the commandments in order to be in tune with the Spirit of the Lord sufficiently to live the united order.

Some have erroneously thought that consecration and the united order resembled either communism or socialism. This is incorrect. In 1942 the First Presidency of the Church issued this statement:

Communism and all other similar isms bear no relationship whatever to the united order. They are merely the clumsy coun-terfeits which Satan always devises of the gospel plan. Communism debases the individual and makes him the enslaved tool of the state to whom he must look for sustenance and religion; the united order exalts the individual, leaves him his prop-erty, "according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and his needs," (D&C 51:3) and provides a sys-tem by which he helps care for his less fortunate brethren; the united order leaves every man free to choose his own religion as his conscience directs. Communism destroys man's God-given free agency; the united order glorifies it. Latter-day Saints

cannot be true to heir faith and lend aid, encouragement, or sympathy to any of these false philosophies. They will prove snares to their feet. [Conference Report, April 1942, p. 90]

The results of socialism and communism are far different from the results of living the law of consecration. In Moses we read, "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). In the Book of Mormon we read of the marvelous experiences the Nephites had during the two-hundred-year period following the Savior's visit to this continent:

And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.

And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift. . . .

And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lascivious-ness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. [4 Nephi 2–3, 15–16]

Wouldn't it be a glorious experience to live in such a society? In actual fact, this is the society to which those will belong who are prepared to live the law of consecration when the Lord sees fit to ask it of us. Some would say that this is fantasy, con-sidering that human beings are what they are. Perhaps this is true. Nevertheless, it is also a fact that, when we reach the point of self-mastery and become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ sufficiently to keep all of his commandments, we will reach a plane of human happiness and peace which does not exist in the world today.

Preparation to Live the United Order

It is my conviction that we cannot begin too early in life to prepare to live the law of consecration. We know of the second coming of the Savior. We do not know the day nor the hour, but we know he will come again. We also know that, although there is still much to be done prior to his coming, many prophecies are being fulfilled today. We also know that we must be prepared to live the law of consecration prior to his coming. The question is—what do we do to properly prepare ourselves to live this law? I suppose the point of beginning is our conversion to the principle that everything we have really belongs to the Lord. Until we feel in total harmony with this, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for us to accept the law of consecra-tion. As we prepare to live this law, we will look forward with great anticipation to the day when the call will come. If, on the other hand, we hope it can be delayed so we can have the pleasure of accumulating material things, we are on the wrong path.

In other words, do we really accept the scripture found in Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his right-eousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"? I suppose another way of saying it is that we need to set our pri-orities or our goals of life now, and then conform our lives to those principles that will permit us to reach them.

Now may I suggest some specific steps that everyone here can take in preparing to live this great law. First, tithes and offer-ings. Some years ago I was a member of a stake presidency. One day, as we were reviewing the tithing record of some of the officers in our stake, we noted the tithing of a member of the branch presidency of our Spanish-American branch. He lived in humble circumstances, had a large family to provide for, and was sustaining a son in the mission field. He had his own business, digging ditches with a ditch-digging machine. His tithing seemed excessive for his circumstances. In an inter-view with him we questioned him as to his understanding of the law of tithing. His response was, he knew he was expected to pay 10 percent of his personal income. But he said, "The Lord has been so good to me and my family, I can never repay him. I pay 10 percent of the income of my business, not my personal income." This wonderful brother is already prepared to live the law of consecration. The amount is of no consequence. The spirit and attitude of being honest with the Lord are what is important. President Harold B. Lee once said, "I have had difficulty understanding how a people who are not able to sacrifice to a point where they can pay a tenth of their interest annually are more than ten percent ready for the united or-der" (Conference Report, October 1941, pp. 110–15).

Now as to fast offering. Fast offering funds are used for the care of the poor. President Kimball has recently said, "I think we should be very generous and give instead of the amount we save by our two meals of fasting, perhaps much, much more—ten times more where we are in a position to do it. I know there are some who couldn't" (Welfare Services Meeting, April 1974, p. 12). We realize that as students you are not yet particularly affluent. Notwithstanding this, when I visited one of your stakes here on campus some years ago, I was thrilled at the per capita fast offerings. As I recall, it was a stake of mar-ried folks, and the fast offerings were higher than in many off-campus stakes. This tells me that many of you are well along the road in preparing to live the law of consecration.

Another important experience in this preparation is the living of the second great commandment: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." I should like to relate to you two inspiring stories having to do with this law. Each of them has to do with students who were on this campus. Bob and Shauna were newlyweds who lived off campus in a humble ward in Provo. During his second year of graduate school and while Shauna was carrying their first child, Bob lost his part-time job. Shauna became very despondent, uncertain of how they would properly care for their expected baby. One evening while Bob was away at class, Shauna spent the evening on her knees, tearfully pleading for the Lord's help. Her prayer was interrupted by a soft knock on the back door. She opened the door cautiously and peered out, encountering a large box of groceries neatly overlaid with used but clean and serviceable baby clothing. Bob and Shauna never found out who their thoughtful neighbors were. Several struggling young couples in the ward were preparing themselves to live the law of consecration by silently gathering and sharing part of their surplus, even though it was very meager, with those in need.

One very special situation involved a young man who had cerebral palsy—and I know this young man. He came to BYU with a stranger as a companion. His father had asked for help so his son, virtually helpless in a wheelchair, could come to BYU. One young man, hearing the plea for help, volunteered to live with and care for this palsied student. The story's a long one, filled with love, frustration, optimism, and despair. The results are very special. Today this young man still is in a wheelchair. He still is afflicted with cerebral palsy, but far from helpless. He is an attorney, specializing in Russian, is married and the father of two lovely children. It is safe to say that his unusual talents and strengths might never have been developed with-out the consecrated service of his roommate and others. Again, someone was preparing to live the law of consecration.

In conclusion, may I suggest that we seriously reflect on the words of Jacob in the Book of Mormon:

Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the af-flicted. [Jacob 2:17–19]

My dear, wonderful brothers and sisters, I'm so grateful to see you here tonight and pray the Lord will touch your hearts. I know he's touched many. I bring the greetings and the love of a prophet of God to you, President Spencer W. Kimball. As we go out to our various responsibilities, he constantly reminds us that he loves us. It's so wonderful to have a prophet to lead us. The heavens are opened. Our Heavenly Father is so close.

The other day I was in a small meeting at which President Kimball presided. One of those in the meeting who has a heavy load of responsibilities said, "You know, I can't sleep after 3:00 in the morning." Another said he had the same experience, whereupon President Kimball said, "There is no need for you to waken at 3:00; 3:30 will do."

There's an urgency, my brethren and sisters, about our relationship with our Heavenly Father, an urgency such as I have never felt before in my life. I feel that urgency primarily through the urgency expressed by President Kimball. May we be blessed to understand our relationship with our Heavenly Father. May we understand that we are preparing the world for the second coming of the Savior. No man knows the day nor the hour, but it isn't very far off.

I bear my witness that God truly lives. This is his kingdom; this is his Church. He is the head of this Church and is constantly involved in directing the affairs of the Church through his servant and our President, Spencer W. Kimball. I bear this witness to you, and leave my blessing that you may feel that sweet spirit of peace that comes from keeping his commandments; for he said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments," in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

LESSON 35 OUTLINE On board: Alma I

Alma II

Helaman I (stripling warriors)

Helaman II (Chief Judge)

Nephi II & Lehi II (missionaries)

As I was reading through some of Brigham Young’s thoughts this week I found a couple of quotations that, as a Sunday School teacher, I really like, since sometimes I know we all have felt a bit bored in our classes. They’re both at the start of the hand-out….There are many of you who have much to contribute, but don’t, either be-cause you feel “timid”, or because you don’t want to “rock the boat”. I hope this gives you a feeling of being free to contribute anyway! And so we’ve arrived at the Samuel the Lamanite chapters: Helaman 13-16. ~What can we deduce from the fact that the Lord sent a Lamanite prophet to the Nephites? Don’t they have a prophet of their own? (Yes, Nephi II. Per haps they’re not listening to him, which means they’re in dire straits!) ~How many years is this before Christ’s birth? (5, see Helaman 14:2)

Quotation #1

REPEATING PATTERNS

Preach Repentance »Abinadi/ Lehi-Nephi & Cast Out Shiblon Revelation »Alma/ Ammonihah Returned »Samuel the Life Sought Lamanite Righteous Separated City Destroyed

Zarahemla

And so we have much in common with these Nephites. We live in a time of great wickedness, contention, and deception as well, as we await Christ’s Second Coming. Samuel’s story is similar to Abinadi’s, Alma the Younger’s, and many other prophets of God. ~Why does the Lord give us repeat, or similar, stories in the scriptures? (to make sure we don’t miss an important lesson, so we can see patterns and apply those patterns to our time) ~First, what do all these cities (on board) have in common? (all were destroyed due to wickedness) ~But before they were destroyed, what did Heavenly Father do? (sent prophets to preach repentance to them) ~Looking at verse 2 in Helaman 13, how long was Samuel in Zarahemla preach- ing? (many days) ~Was his message accepted? Why not? (He told them they needed to change)

Helaman 13:26 ~Are prophets sent to make us feel comfortable, pleased with where we are? ~Why does Heavenly Father speak to us through prophets? (to guide & warn us so that if we listen we can live with Him eternally; because He loves us)

Quotation #2 It seems to me only false prophets are accepted by the world. True prophets, and even Christ Himself are mocked, rejected and often killed. ~When the Nephites rejected Samuel, what did they do? (cast him out, see Hel. 13:2) ~What happened next? (Samuel received a revelation, telling him to return, see Hel. 13:3) ~Were Abinadi, Alma & Samuel able to return easily, or did it require greater effort than the first time? (Abinadi had to disguise himself, Alma had to enter the city by a different gate, and Samuel had to climb up on a wall!) ~Did they accept any of these prophets the second time? (Some did, see Hel. 16:1) ~What did those who didn’t believe Samuel’s words do next? (sought his life)

Helaman 16:2 ~Can you think of other prophets that have been miraculously protected? (Ammon, Alma & Amulek, Abinadi, Christ, Paul, Peter, Joseph Smith,

Brigham Young:) Quotation #3

When the Nephites see that Samuel can’t be killed, more repent! (see 16:3) ~Finally, when all who will repent have done so, what is the next step in the pattern? What do the wicked do to the righteous? (cast them out or kill them, righteous separated) ~Let’s take a look at Abinadi’s believers. What happens to them? (the Lord tells them to flee) ~How about Alma & Amulek’s believers? (men cast out, women & children al- lowed to burn as a testimony against the wicked) ~And Samuel the Lamanite’s believers?

3 Nephi 1:9, 16 ~Did they finally believe? (yes, the more part were baptized, see 3 Ne. 1:22-23) ~So in this case, it would seem the righteous didn’t need to separate them selves, is that right? (No, in 3 Nephi we see that the Gadianton Rob- bers again rise to power, forcing the righteous to gather to Zarahemla and Bountiful with all their flocks and goods (see 3 Ne. 3:13-14). But we’re getting into next week’s lesson!) ~And what is the final step in the pattern? (city/wicked destroyed) ~What happened to King Noah’s city? (destroyed by Lamanites) ~Ammonihah? (ibid.) ~And how was Zarahemla eventually destroyed?

Helaman 13:13 ~When was it destroyed by fire? (at Christ’s death, see 3 Nephi 8:24) ~Prior to the destruction of the wicked at the Second Coming, can we expect to have to separate from the world?

Quotation #’s 4-6 Back to Samuel. There is much we can learn from his words. They were delivered to the Nephites, but they were written for us!

Quotation #7 ~In order that we may avoid the fate of these Nephites, what is always the cause of war, bloodshed, pride and wickedness? (heart set on riches)

Notice there is another pattern here: Helaman 13:21-22, 31

Quotation #8 ~Is there a way to avoid this curse?

Helaman 13:18 ~What does it mean, to “hide [our treasures] up unto the Lord”? Is He asking us to literally bury our wealth? ~What are we to do with it, then? What is the celestial law that we are supposed to be living? (the law of consecration) Last week Sister Dally asked about this, and since it fits right in with our lesson, I thought we’d discuss it a bit. ~Who can briefly define the law of consecration? (Consecrating, or dedicating, all that we have to the Lord, through His servants, and then receiving back according to our wants and needs, as a stewardship, in order to build up the Kingdom of God in preparation to receive Zion) ~Has the Church tried to implement this law? (yes, about 4 times)

Quotation #9 It is because we failed to live this law that we were driven from Missouri.

Quotation #10 ~Is it a difficult law to live?

Quotation #11