Comments on: The Liberal Mormon: Wilford Woodruff on Liberality

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:03:30 +0000

Paul — you make a good point.

Ardis — thank you for sharing this.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:08:28 +0000

Honestly, when I make a list of the most generous people I know, not a damned one of them is rich.

By: SLK

SLK — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:48:28 +0000

I love this series. Thanks so much!

p.s. My grandfather was a bishop and then stake high councilman, and to the end of his life (in the mid-’80s) an unreconstructed New Dealer. (He often described himself as a “died-in-the-wool Democrat.)

By: David Y.

David Y. — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:37:33 +0000

I liked this line: “In this way all the people can have an equal opportunity of doing their duty to the poor.”

By: Chris H.

Chris H. — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:57:26 +0000

(not commenting on blogs, smiley will have to do)

By: John Mansfield

John Mansfield — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:47:04 +0000

liberal:liberality::conservative:conservation

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:30:23 +0000

I think this was easier to administer in a day when wealth did not equate to a number of TVs or cars and other toys in the driveway. Assessing “need” is still a very difficult thing for bishops who do it carefully. God bless the Relief Society for the role they play. And God bless those whose fast offering contributions are generous, and unknown to most.

By: -MMM-

-MMM- — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:09:28 +0000

Grant: Some of the wealthiest men I know are also some of the most charitable, righteous men I know. I’m not sure which is the chicken or which is the egg. I know it is proven that people who give more to charity end up making more money, and that the Lord blesses those who serve and are obedient. But I also know some really wonderful, righteous people in very humble circumstances, who constantly struggle financially.

Sorry I got off topic – I like this line from President Woodruff:

“It would be a great evil among us to encourage any class in living upon the benevolence of the community. No system of begging should be permitted.”

By: Grant

Grant — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:41:42 +0000

But how to enforce the “law of liberality” except by voluntary exercise of individual agency? Ah! but there is a way to at least encourage it in the organizations of the church. The Relief Society sending out sisters to do good. The fast offerings administered by the bishops. I mean, I can’t really speak for the RS not being a female member, but I do a lot of charitable service because someone with priesthood authority asks me and gives me an assignment. I don’t do an awful lot on my own initiative probably to my condemnation. There has to be some form of organization to help us be charitable. In other words, we’re in this together.

It’s not that much different in a community of people who are not within this same religious belief system or members of the RS or priesthood quorums. We participate in communities where we come together to establish opportunities, even requirements to do good for the benefit of each other and our society as a whole. That’s called government instituted by God for the benefit of man and woman and we are held responsible to God in establishing and performing its laws (I’m paraphrasing but it is from Sec. 134.)

I know President Woodruff wasn’t addressing “secular” government at the very moment in time he was sorting out plural marriage and statehood, etc. (My 2nd Great Grandfather in the territorial penitentiary at the time – not on a mission, but family and church helped take care of his “wives” and children.)

Which brings me back to wealth and riches. I think we sometimes look at it backwards that we think we gather wealth in this life to demonstrate our ability to serve the Lord on missions, or as bishops, stake or mission presidents, etc. because you see successful men in these positions. I actually think the Lord calls people to serve in the church sometimes to distract them – keep them away from being more successful in amassing money or success in the world. He puts them to work in his kingdom instead.