What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series
The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality. This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.Highlight and Twilight of the Nephite Civilization
In this article I would like to conclude the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon, which is best done by sharing what may be the most illuminating chapter in the Book of Mormon on inequality - 4 Nephi.
4 Nephi covers nearly 300 years of history in unfortunately only 4 pages. But first we need to finish up the history of 3 Nephi.
After the crumbling of the church and government described in the post on Gadianton Robbers, those who destroyed the government so that they could more easily become rich are destroyed by earthquakes and storms, while many of the righteous remain safe and gather in another part of the land.
Jesus appears. He heals the sick, teaches the gospel, and establishes a church among the people similar in organization to the church of the Apostles in the New Testament.
He institutes the Law of Consecration among them (which will be discussed further in the chapter of Solutions to Inequality). In short, the Law of Consecration, or "having all things common" among the people, means that there is no socio-economic inequality - all resources are shared. The same system was established by the Apostles in Acts 2.
The effects of this equality are tremendous. 4 Nephi:
3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift. ...
10 And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people. ...
15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.Equality in temporal things leads to a removal of social problems, or spiritual iniquities, and the people are happy. All of their previous problems - the iniquity, the strife, the lies, the murders, and the warfare - came because of inequality, and the priestcrafts and secret combinations that created the inequality. When the inequality is removed, so too are all of their problems.
Their peace lasts 200 years, until the equality ended. Somehow, although everyone theoretically should have had equal resources, some are able to flaunt their wealth and pride, and then everything falls apart.
24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.
25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.
26 And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ. ...
28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity, and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their hearts. ...
34 Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. ...
42 And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton.
46 And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton did spread over all the face of the land... And gold and silver did they lay up in store in abundance, and did traffic in all manner of traffic.Once economic inequality is reintroduced the people quickly return to their iniquities - their priestcrafts, robbing, dissensions, persecutions, strife, envyings, and secret combinations. Throughout the last books in the Book of Mormon, the iniquity of the people led to all the usual consequences - more inequality, social strife and contention, all manner of wickedness, the erosion of government, recession, murder, chaos, and war, as well as other serious consequences including the removal of the Church which Jesus establishes.
The people, now all of them wicked and iniquitous, divide themselves into tribes based on their race - or their family line. Year after year, battle after battle, war after war, hundreds of thousands of people are killed on both sides of the conflict. Unlike earlier wars, this bloodshed is not a conflict of iniquity vs. righteousness, or freedom to commit iniquity vs. regulation - but is a free-for-all of iniquity, greed, and unnatural hatred.
Eventually, the entire culture of the Nephites, and the remnants of their government and religion, which fought for so long against iniquity and inequality, are completely destroyed, leaving only a record which speaks from the dust as a warning against unfettered iniquity, and unaddressed inequality.
Conclusions
There are a lot of important lessons I feel the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon can offer regarding economic inequality, but here is a summary of the highlights:
- Under the reign of kings the people of the Book of Mormon are frequently, and fiercely, unequal. The iniquities of these kings also often leads to the iniquity and general wickedness of all the people. The church of God, and the government of the land, are formed in response to this inequality - and thereafter remain as a bulwark against inequality and iniquity.
- Even with a religion and civil laws which restrict iniquity, economic inequality still at times afflicts the Nephites. The sharp divide between the rich and poor creates pride, the persecution of the poor, further inequities, strife, malice, and severe recession. It also leads to other forms of inequality, including inequities in education and justice.
- Most of the time, inequality exists among the Nephites because of organized or systematic iniquity - or calculated actions of a few to rob the people. The Nephite religion and government is designed to fight individual and organized iniquity, and by so doing limit inequality.
- Systematic iniquity comes in a few main forms:
- Priestcrafts - or the twisting of religion in order to enrich a few, or to justify iniquities and inequality
- Secret combinations - or secret groups which rob, murder, steal, lie, and disrupt/control government in order to enrich a few
- Dissensions - the breaking away from culture, religion, and government in order to practice iniquities without interference
- Iniquity and greed - especially through dissensions - are the primary cause of war in the Book of Mormon. These long and bloody campaigns can be boiled down to a conflict between anarchy, dissension, inequality, and unrestricted greed on one hand, and laws, government, justice, equity, liberty, society, regulation, and religion on the other.
- Economic inequalities in the narrative may be connected to racial inequities and tensions. It is possible these tensions are used to further the agenda of organized iniquity.
- When the Nephites experience equality then there are no signs of social problems, iniquity, and other forms of wickedness among the people. When the Nephites experience inequality - especially orchestrated inequality - then iniquity, wickedness, and chaos abounds. Eventually, it is inequality which leads to the destruction of an entire civilization.
The next two chapters in this series, on Teachings of the Book of Mormon and Solutions to Inequality, will be posted soon. In the meantime, read the lists of highlighted chapters I included after several posts. Better yet, just read Mosiah through 4 Nephi, and then let me know your thoughts.
What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents
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