Alma 1:29-33

²⁹ And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth. ³⁰ And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need. ³¹ And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.

Alma 1:29-31 (Emphasis mine)

We see an important theme in Mormon’s writings in these verses.  The people becoming righteous, are blessed with prosperity, turn away from the Lord, and suffer the consequences, be they war or captivity. 

Mormon tells us little of what happened during Mosiah(2)’s reign.  Chapters 1-6 in the book of Mosiah primarily deal with King Benjamin and his great sermon.  Chapters 7-8 tell us how Ammon found the people of Limhi.  Chapters 9-22 contain the story of Zeniff, Noah, Abinadi, and Limhi.  Chapters 23-24 include the story of Alma(1) and his people.  We don’t read about the reign of Mosiah(2) until Chapters 25-29. 

Mosiah(2)'s reign appears to have been one of peace and prosperity.  The other stories tell us about a people who are blessed, become prosperous, become wicked, and eventually are taken into bondage by the Lamanites.  Only the intervention of the Lord brings freedom.  (The story of Alma(1) and his people do not fall into this cycle.  Nevertheless, Mormon finds a justification for their bondage even though they were a righteous people [see Mosiah 23:21-24].)  These stories better illustrate Mormon’s purposes than does the reign of Mosiah(2).

During the first year of Alma(2)’s reign, the people became a righteous people. They served the Lord.  They took care of the poor.  They did all that was commanded of them. 

They began to prosper and become an “exceedingly rich” people.  They had an “abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need.”  Instead of turning away from the Lord, they served Him.  They used their wealth to help those who were poor and needy.  It didn’t matter if they were “out of the church or in the church.”  They had “no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.”  They became “far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.” 

Riches are not a bad thing.  It is what is done with them.  Paul told us “the love of money is the root of all evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10/Emphasis mine).  It is what people do with their wealth that matters.

The scriptures are full of warnings about problems wealth can cause.  For example, in Proverbs we are told “[r]iches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death” (Proverbs 11:4) and [h]e that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch” (Proverbs 11:28). 

Jacob taught us “[b]efore 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 afflicted” (Jacob 2:18-19).  The Savior said “[g]ive to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew 5:42); “[b]ut rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you” (Luke 11:41). 

King Benjamin taught the people “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.  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—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. 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 4:16-19/Emphasis mine). 

One of the reasons I love King Benjamin’s sermon is that he speaks plainly.  We are told it is our responsibility to help “him that standeth in need.”  It doesn’t matter if “[t]he man brought himself his misery.”  King Benjamin tells us the person who refuses to help “hath no interest in the kingdom of God.”

Alma(1) emphasized this to his people when they were at the waters of Mormon.  He “commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.  And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul” (Mosiah 18:27-28). 

We are all expected to do our part.  We are expected to help as best we can.  If we are given much, much is expected.  If we are given less, less is expected.  Our situation in life doesn’t matter.  We are expected to do whatever we are able to do, nothing more, nothing less.  That is all the Lord expects of us.  But, He does expect it of us.

Many years ago, I attended a singles ward.  This wasn’t a “traditional” singles ward.  Our membership ranged from early 20’s to late 60’s.  We had single parents attending with children, so we had a Primary.  It was a unique situation. 

Our bishopric consisted of three very wealthy men.  During my time in the ward, I had the opportunity to serve in a couple of positions where I was able to see what these men did to help members of our ward.  They did their alms in private.  The few who were in a position to see what they did and those who helped were the only ones who knew about their help.  We had an annual week-long camping trip each summer.  Not being able to afford to pay was not an acceptable reason to stay home.  The bishopric covered their costs.  There were members of the ward who would not have been able to survive had not the bishopric given them money out of their own pockets. They did this willingly.  They did this because it was a part of their stewardship as the bishopric of the ward.  Their money was important to them only insofar as it could help members of the ward any way they could.  I would like to share their names with you, but I know they would not want that.  Here were three men who took the commands of the Lord to take care of those not as fortunate as they were seriously.

I would like to share an observation from Hugh Nibley.

“These very popular verses with Latter-day Saints must be taken in full context with verses 26 and 30 and the rest. So why does God enrich the righteous then, as we see in Alma 1:29–31 here? Brigham Young gave the answer to that many times. One whose talent, initiative, dedication, and industry have been demonstrated is now in line for the next test, the next step. That's why. So naturally he is given these riches to test him to see what he will do with them. Work itself doesn't sanctify. We are told it is possible to work like the devil, or to work like demons … God gives a capable man wealth and power, as Brigham says, to see what he will do with it … So everyone must pass the wealth test, and it's the hardest of all. Remember, Satan trys men and tempts them. How does he do it? You can have anything in this world for money. That's the way he is going to tempt you, of course. We are to be tested to see if we will be faithful and true in all things whatsoever the Lord commands.” [1] (Emphasis mine)

³² For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and in babblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible. ³³ And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon them, every man suffering according to that which he had done, they became more still, and durst not commit any wickedness if it were known; therefore, there was much peace among the people of Nephi until the fifth year of the reign of the judges.

Alma 1:32-33 (Emphasis mine)

Those who did not belong to the church involved themselves in all manner of wickedness.  They became “lifted up in the pride of their own eyes,” committing all manner of sin. 

Jacob faced this problem with his people.  He preached to them, telling them, “the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they” (Jacob 2:13). 

Lindon Robison writes about the economic situation during this time.

“The Book of Mormon contrasts the economic prosperity of members of the Nephite church with that of those who did not belong to the church. This contrast provides evidence of the economic advantages of loving one another and the economic disadvantages of loving things. In one era, members of the church ‘did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church’ (Alma 1:31). The reason that those who were not members of the church failed to prosper was their lack of at-one-ment [the state or condition of being one]. Instead of serving one another they indulged in ‘idleness, and in babblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering’ (Alma 1:32).” [2] (Emphasis mine)

Those who committed this wickedness were prosecuted “inasmuch as it was possible.”  This quieted things down for a time.  There was peace for five years.

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[1] Lecture 43: Alma 1-2, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 20, 2012.

[2] "No Poor Among Them”, Lindon J. Robison, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 20, 2012.