And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. - Doctrine and Covenants 84:49-51
I debate a lot in my mind over the virtues of the current system we have in society. I see that many are poor, many are lost, and few are rich. I see animals in bondage and hunted for sport. I see the objectification of people and affection for the inanimate. I see pollution and oil covering the land. I see many angry and contentious. I see many wars and rumours of wars. I see many hypocrisies and liars. I see greed and pride. I see slavery.
I realize that much of what I see is with my spiritual discernment while others is outright disregard for the Lord and His commandments. There are so few people that want a better world or even believe that one be possible. Just as many don't know if a better life is even plausible. While those few with so much have so little charity, those with an abundance of need have little help.
Do you blame the system? I saw a sign that said "Each people deserve the government they get" which I can see the point but there are many that don't. We don't deserve this. Many of us are wronged and wrong others with a different wrong and then everyone is victimized until its a dog eat dog world filled with cut throat, merciless individuals.
Capitalism is probably the best system that society employs currently but obviously theres a better way. Communism is not better because certain freedoms are lost, but there are certain freedoms lost with Capitalism as well. The laborer doesn't always get his fair share and sometimes the privileged are unworthy of their inheritance. But, the fundamental flaw I see is that we are working for the money.
How many verses in the scriptures talk about money in a good light? It is the fastest way to the corruption of the soul because it gives men power over other men. DC 49:20 says "it is not given that one man shall possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin." How stark! You won't hear this scripture quoted much. Its hardly irresistible to men, like Gollom in Lord of the Rings. Power is the usual aim of man. Power over the world. But, there is none who is more powerful than He that created the world.
No life or society can be built on any foundation stronger than the Lord's. He is the Rock, the Light, the Way and our Savior. Money cannot save.
In 4th Nephi its very explicit in what a society built on the Lord's looks like. My recent post examines that a bit more.
Lets examine money a bit more. Its not evil. Its an object. It is when it is given the position of being worshiped that it angers the Lord and puts people in bondage. The Lord desires the freedom of all His children but it is up to us to come unto Christ to be free. We cannot be free if we are not His because nothing else can liberate us from the dominion of Satan.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
-Matthew 6:21
2nd Nephi 26: 31 says "if laborers in Zion labor for money, they shall perish."
Isaiah 52:3 says "And ye shall be redeemed without money."
This is good news. We have hope! We have a way out of this mess. We have a way to gain in abundance both temporal and spiritual. The Book of Mormon hardly goes a chapter without mentioning these truths and thus they are a warning and a declaration that we must be diligent in keeping the commandments of God and then He will prosper us. He has enough for everybody to "buy milk and honey without money" (2 Ne. 26: 25). "He that hath no money, come buy and eat." (2 Ne. 9: 50, Isa. 55: 1).
"All they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword" which I take to mean that whichever weapon you choose is the one to be your own demise. Whichever thing you look as a source of life is also your source of death. This is why it is to the utter most importance that we serve the Lord because He is the only one that can save us. All other things shall fail us. They will not last for they are not God and won't support us in our trials. Only Christ can redeem us and give us what we need. Money cannot fill that void. Its like trying to be healthy while eating junk food and not exercising. Its impossible to do the wrong thing and expect it to help you.
Alma 41:10-15
10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?
13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.
14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.
15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.
