THE ONLY CURE FOR THE ILLS OF THE WORLD

President Joseph Fielding Smith was a direct and strong-spoken man.  He didn't shy away from issues that were difficult to tackle.  He did it out of love for the Saints to help us find our way back home.  Sometimes, if was difficult to hear him. He spoke with such sharpness, it often made me wonder if he was a compassionate man.  In all these years since, I believe he truly was.  He, like Jacob, of the Book of Mormon was called to be the prophet in the troubled times of the 1970s. Jacob was called after the death of his beloved brother, Nephi.  

Jacob's people's problems were their greed and pride and their use of the Holy Scriptures on the Brass Plates in an attempt to rationalize their growing immorality. He called the people to assemble at the temple.  This is an important point in understanding who his audience was: members of Christ's church worthy enough to be there.  Remember, in the ancient temple of Solomon, varying degrees of worthiness was required to enter certain parts of the temple.  While I get the picture that this address was given in the outer court, I still believe these were not the rabble of the Nephite nation where were ostensibly seeking to appear righteous. They may have been like some who declare a belief in Christ, but who attend church on Easter and Christmas.

Jacob addressed both issues.*  He found it a difficult task, but one with which he had to do toe "rid his garments of their sins."(v2) He said he felt "weighed down" in anxiety for them. He acknowledged that in appearance they seemed obedient, but that he knew their thoughts and the wickedness of their hearts, that they were beginning to "labor in sin." It broke his heart that he had to talk so boldly about these sins, in part because their wives and children would be hurt by hearing the declaration of the husbands' and fathers' sins, which he called abominable.

Disparity of class and wealth in ancient America

1. Their love of riches. In particular, they had begun to mine for gold and silver and other precious ores. One thing that happens when there is a gold or silver strike, men seem to go crazy.  California. Dakota, the Klondike - all were fueled by greed and avarice and led to all sorts of lascivious and violent behavior. The picture of such gold strikes of the 19th century are pretty graphic.  I wonder if the Nephites were beginning to fall victim to "gold fever." (v.12)
2. Their pride at their riches.  The prophet mentioned "stiff necks and high heads" claiming credit for themselves instead of seeing blessing from the Lord.  This led them to look down on those who had less because they "supposed they were better than those who were not affluent." (v. 13)
   
3. Believing that God justified them in this.  Jacob reminded them that the Lord does not uphold such attitudes and behaviors.  He begged them to repent and not allow their growing pride to destroy their souls. He begged them to consider their brethren to be as worthy as they in that they would share of their substance so that all may have what they need. (v. 16-17)

Ancient American gold earrings

Jacob told them that the Lord had blessed them with plenty so that they could use their wealth to benefit those around them. Said he:

But before 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 feed the hungry and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted. (v. 18-19) 

As I think of those Gold Rush pioneers, I don't think I have yet heard a story of any of them going to the gold fields to gain the wherewithal to help their neighbors. One western historian noted that motive was a key factor in the westward movement in the United States.  According to him those who traveled the Oregon Trail in search of land (another sort of wealth) and those who went to California lost cohesiveness in their groups. By comparison, those who traveled the Mormon Trail seeking freedom to worship God and to build Zion (not gold or land wealth) grew closer on the trail, helping one another each step of the way. They traveled as the host of Zion in well-organized groups, following Brigham Young just as the ancient Israelites did on their Exodus from Egypt following Moses. (Western Historian, Wallace Stegner)

Take that forward about 150 years.  We have people who seek wealth in politics and entertainment, who parade their celebrity and wealth like a badge of honor, lifting their noses to the "masses" whom they consider beneath them.  Many of these people are the Gadiantons of the 20th and 21st Centuries.  

Then their are men and women who seek their wealth to benefit mankind.  One such man was John Huntsman, Sr., who over the course of his lifetime gave away more the one and a half billion dollars to charitable causes. I have seen the benefits of Huntsman's philanthropic work when in 2008, my father and my husband, were both treated at the Huntsman Institute in Salt Lake City.  

I have been abundantly blessed with all that I need and much to share.  I have never been wealthy of famous, nor have I ever desired to be.  I am grateful for the blessings of education and opportunities that have been mine such that I could take care of my family after their father died. I have a remarkable family who are taking care of me as I grow older and more infirm. I am wealthy in those things that count.

I am most wealthy in the love and grace of Jesus Christ and the blessings of His gospel.  As I look at the problems in our world, they seem insurmountable, but in the Savior, I can find both answers and peace.  As President Smith said, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only cure for the ills of our world

© March 2020 Dr. Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson

* story in Jacob 2: 2-35