|
Consecration
Beckons
by H. Wallace Goddard
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.
4
Nephi 1:3
It seems that
we always have the poor with us. They are our unanticipated and
periodic opportunity to practice mercy, charity, and goodness.
Nancy and I
were walking in downtown Provo when we spotted Douglas coming toward
us. Many times we had sat with Douglas on his bus bench with all
his worldly possessions in a few plastic bags at his feet. From
time to time we had sought him out and tried to be helpful. Many
times we had driven past him and wondered how to be helpful. Running
into him face to face on the sidewalk gave us no luxury to sidestep
our Christian duty.
And
also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your
succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth
in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his
petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. Mosiah 4:16
"Hi, Douglas.
It's good to see you. Would you like to come and join us for dinner?"
Douglas lightened. "Sure." We helped him carry his bags as we walked
the three blocks to our home. While we prepared dinner we tried
to engage him in conversation. He spoke reluctantly and quietly.
It took a real effort to keep the conversation going.
Perhaps
thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore
I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor
impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his
punishments are just- Mosiah 4:17
On one occasion,
months before, I had called the LDS employment office and asked
them if I brought Douglas by if they would help him find work. They
agreed to try. I went and found Douglas and asked if he might want
to go talk with some people who could help him find work. He said
that, if it was all right, he would rather have a ride to Shoney's
so he could get some breakfast. I was tempted to wonder if we could
help anyone who would not help himself.
But
I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great
cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath
done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom
of God. Mosiah 4:18
I took him to
breakfast that morning. And even as we sat at dinner in our home
I wondered if we shouldn't make a room for Douglas downstairs. But
there was no bathroom nearby. And the women in the house might be
uncomfortable. It just seemed so complicated. Unfortunately, when
I don't know what to do, I do nothing, assuming that sometime in
the future I will know what to do.
For
behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the
same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for
both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all
the riches which we have of every kind? Mosiah 4:19
As we finished
dinner I offered to take Douglas to Allen's to get him a few groceries.
He accepted. I encouraged him to fill a shopping cart. In retrospect
it was a silly recommendation since he had no place to store any
groceries that we bought. "I only want a box of Lucky Charms." I
reacted: "Certainly you can use a few other things." "No. Thank
you. I only want a box of Lucky Charms." We made the purchase and
I returned Douglas to his accustomed bench. My conscience ached
for a better solution.
And
behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and
begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that
ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon
you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy,
and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could
not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. Mosiah
4:20
Here, only a
stone's throw from luxury apartments and upscale shopping, Douglas
is the twinge in our collective Mormon conscience. Might some of
the landowners in Provo dedicate 1% or 2% or even 10% of their properties
to people like Douglas? We have homeless shelters. But they have
limits on the number of nights a person can stay. And they are disconnected
from personal service.
And
now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for
your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you
whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall
receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that
ye have one to another. Mosiah 4:21
I remember some
struggling married students telling me that they had taken Douglas
into their apartment for a week. But they were worried about the
landlord and neighbors. After the week, Douglas returned to his
humble bench. And every day a thousand millionaires drive past him.
And
if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your
substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just
will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which
doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth;
and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou
hast done. Mosiah 4:22
I remember talking
with a wealthy and influential friend in Provo about my concern.
I hoped he could help me find some way to unite our efforts. "How
can we help Douglas and all those like him? Can't we work together
to provide housing and clothes and food?" My dear friend seemed
as perplexed and helpless as I. He stared at me and shook his head,
"I am going to hell for ignoring those people."
And
now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these
sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy
One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of
your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly
apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world,
upon your riches? Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are
better one than another . . . Yea, and will you persist in turning
your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your
substance from them? Alma 5: 53-55
Nancy told me
that our son, Andy, who attends BYU walked from campus to Douglas'
bench and took him for a Whopper and fries. I am pleased that our
children are so thoughtful. Maybe they will find the solutions we
have sought.
And
Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the
law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto
myself. D&C 105:5
When Nancy and
I moved from Provo I grieved that we had not found any enduring
way to help Douglas. When we return to Provo for visits we sit with
Douglas on his bench and we buy him lunch. But, while we add central
air conditioning to our home, he still chills in the winter and
bakes in the summer sun.
And
now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you--that
is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day
to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God--I would that ye
should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according
to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the
naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both
spiritually and temporally, according to their wants. Mosiah 4:26
I am aware that
my spiritual well-being depends upon my willingness to minister
to God's children, especially those who are poor. I find myself
worrying about Douglas and wishing we could move back to Provo.
Then my dear wife interrupts my brooding. "Wally, a friend told
me about some neighbors who have been without work for years. I
was just wondering if . . ." I am grateful that God will entrust
me with new opportunities to learn to serve His children.
Respecting
how much a man of property shall give annually we have no special
instructions to give; he is to feed the hungry, to clothe the
naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan,
to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other,
or in no church at all, wherever he finds them, (Joseph Smith,
Times and Seasons, Vol.3, p.732)
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
Click
here to sign up for Meridian's FREE email updates.
© 2006 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
|
