26 And when the
priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people
also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had
imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto
their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the
preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than
the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man
according to his strength.
27 And they did impart
of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and
the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly
apparel, yet they were neat and comely.
28 And thus they did
establish the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual
peace again, notwithstanding all their persecutions.
There were problems in Nephite society that had to be
addressed. Priests left their labor to teach the gospel. Priests supporting
themselves was a major part of the Nephite church.
“And [Alma1] also commanded them that the priests
whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support…
“And the priests were not to depend upon the people for
their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that
they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they
might teach with power and authority from God” (Mosiah 18:24, 26).
“Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor with
their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in
much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the grace of God” (Mosiah
27:5).
The people left their labors to heard the word of God. After
the priests taught the members, both priests and members returned to the
labors. “[T]hey did all labor, every man according to his strength” (Alma
1:26).
“And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order;
for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And
again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win
the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order” (Mosiah 4:27).
“Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and
means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end”
(D&C 10:4).
The church members aided the poor as best they could. “One
way that those who love God and others demonstrate their love and ‘at-one-ment’
(the state or condition of being one) and qualify for spiritual and temporal
blessings is by imparting of their substance to the poor (see Alma 1:27). When
a people become of one heart and mind, there are no poor among them (see Moses
7:18).”[1]
Taking care of the poor is an essential part of the gospel.
During His mortal ministry, a rich man asked Christ what he had to do to be
saved. He told him, “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do
not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy
mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth” (Luke 18:20-21).
He then told him, “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that
thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for
he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How
hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God” (Luke
18:22-24).
Paul taught, “I have shewed you all things, how that so
labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord
Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
King Benjamin taught, “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).
We have been commanded, “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”
(D&C 42:30).
Once again, we read how “costly apparel” was a sign of
weakness in Nephite society. After imparting of their substance, Mormon wrote,
“they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely” (Alma 1:27).
The church began to have peace once more, in spite of
persecutions.
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