After teaching the Nephites about the fall and the atonement, King Benjamin taught them that they should show love and gratitude to their Maker for His mercy and grace. He then taught them that they also should love and serve each others for when ye are in service to your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.(Mosiah 2:17)
Part of serving includes helping those who cannot help themselves. Benjamin explained it in monetary terms, but his meaning goes far deeper than simply financial charity. Because God has forgiven us, we must forgive other. Because God has answered our pleas for help, we should not ignore a brother in need. He said: . . . 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. (Mosiah 4: 16)
King Benjamin was a king and a prophet, but I also think he was an expert in human psychology as well. He understood our tendency to blame the person in need for his own misery. With my background in psychology, I think we do this partly out of selfishness, but also as a way of distancing ourselves from such heartache, i.e., since I don't do those wicked things, I won't ever stand in need as this man does.
I know that Benjamin understood that because he said that people 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 -(Mosiah 4: 17) Benjamin warns us that if we take this attitude, we are in need of repentance. 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: 17)
This wise king, prophet, and physician, then brought his point home beyond money: If God, in His mercy, has forgiven us and blessed us despite our imperfections, why do we think we can withhold out forgiveness and compassion from a brother who is hurting.
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I learned this lesson for myself a few years ago when I was asked to help a young friend who was addicted to serious drugs and to the behaviors that supported his habit. At first, I refused to help, but the Lord moved my heart to compassion for this young man. I remembered that, although I have never used or been addicted to the drugs with which he struggled, I have my own sins. I realized in one thought that those sins are addictions of a sort. In my struggle to repent of my sins, I have often cried out to God for patience and compassion. He never turned His back on me, even though I often had to experience the consequences of my own bad choices. Most importantly, He never stopped loving me. I, too, am a beggar.
Because of this scripture and many others, I accepted the challenge. I worked with this young man for over 4 long years. I rejoiced with him for every step forward. I wept with every step back. I suffered sorrow at his suffering as he accepted the natural consequences of his sins. I forgave when he did things to hurt me. I didn't judge. I never treated him like an addict. I encouraged him and affirmed him at every opportunity. I walked by his side through it all until he was able to emerge as a man ready to seek and accept treatment. He is now almost 5 years sober. He doesn't need me anymore, but when he needed me, I was there.
Through it all, I have never stopped loving him. I was blessed to understand, at least a little, what God meant when He told Enoch why He wept for His sinful children:
And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains? . . . how is it thou canst weep?
And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, . . . But behold, . . . Satan shall be their father, and misery their doom: . . . wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer? (Moses 7: 28, 32, 37)
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Some years ago in General Conference, Elder Holland spoke of King Benjamin, when he said:
For one thing, we can, as King Benjamin taught, cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves.* Perhaps come have created their own difficulties, but don't the rest of us do exactly the same thing? Isn't that why this compassionate ruler asks, "Are we not all beggars?" Don't we all cry out for help and hope and answers to prayers? Don't we all beg for forgiveness for mistakes we have made and troubles we have caused? Don't we all implore that grace will compensate for our weaknesses, that mercy will triumph over justice at least in our case? Little wonder King Benjamin says we obtain a remission of our sins by pleading to God, who compassionately response, but we retain a remission of our sins by compassionately responding to the poor who plead with us?**
I hesitate to refuse anyone needing something that I can give because I know that I am also a beggar.
© Dr. Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson, April 2020
*This reminds me of the Savior's words on the topic when he was asked about the blind man, Master, who did sin this man or his parents that he was born blind? (John 9:2)
**https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2014/10/are-we-not-all-beggars?lang=eng
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