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.Table of Contents
Understanding Inequality in the Book of Mormon
In the last article we addressed how the Book of Mormon frequently discusses social problems, but describes them in very different terms and in different ways than we would in modern academia. As the title to this article suggests, the Book of Mormon also greatly differs from much of modern Christianity in how it discusses sin, wickedness, and iniquity. This article addresses those differences.
The Book of Mormon mentions several types of sin and wickedness - both at the individual and societal scales. As you will be clear throughout this series, the sin which is most common among the people of the Book of Mormon, and invokes the greatest retribution from God and His prophets, is inequality between the rich and poor - and the pride, persecution of the poor, social strife, and other immorality that always seems to coincide with inequality.
These conditions are summed up in one word: iniquity.
When modern religious discourse contains words like 'sin' and 'wickedness' what is usually being referred to is a departure from what is morally good and right on a personal scale - for example the "seven deadly sins" of lust,
gluttony, envy, greed, sloth, wrath, and pride. The primary consequence of such a sin is the personal separation from God.
As sin is largely a personal phenomenon, the solution requires personal introspection, communion with the divine, repentance and reformation, and forgiveness of self and others.
As sin is largely a personal phenomenon, the solution requires personal introspection, communion with the divine, repentance and reformation, and forgiveness of self and others.
The 'iniquity' of the Book of Mormon is not your classic Christian deviation
from morality, but it uses some of the same religious terms to describe mistakes which the society makes, or mistakes that an individual makes which can lead to social problems.
This isn't to say that the Book of Mormon does not address the common forms of immorality discussed in modern Christianity, but that the Book of Mormon authors predominantly address larger social problems, described as 'iniquities'.
The God of the Book of Mormon is upset when his people contend with one another, when family obligations are not taken seriously, when his people are economically unequal, when the poor are not taken care of, etc. Personal wickedness is rarely mentioned. Even the few times the book discusses sexual immorality, the primary problem addressed is that the immorality affects the faith and well-being of other people (Jacob 2, Mosiah 11, and Alma 39).
The inequalities described in the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon, as both a moral and social problem, is impossible to understand with a paradigm that views wickedness solely on the personal scale. To be sure, people can be personally prideful, greedy, wrathful, and slothful in situations including some form of economic inequality, but if personal problems are the only errors that the Nephites in the Book of Mormon have, then the solution would simply be for prophets to teach these sins, and invite the people to repent, and be humble.
And yet, that is not the message the Nephites hear. They are told again and again that they need to share their resources; to sacrifice of their riches not only to meet the needs of the poor, but to correct the inequality once and for all. Furthermore, the Nephites form a government which combats inequality, and punishes those who would commit iniquities, and thereby create inequality.
Consider for now one example:
Jacob 2:
This isn't to say that the Book of Mormon does not address the common forms of immorality discussed in modern Christianity, but that the Book of Mormon authors predominantly address larger social problems, described as 'iniquities'.
The God of the Book of Mormon is upset when his people contend with one another, when family obligations are not taken seriously, when his people are economically unequal, when the poor are not taken care of, etc. Personal wickedness is rarely mentioned. Even the few times the book discusses sexual immorality, the primary problem addressed is that the immorality affects the faith and well-being of other people (Jacob 2, Mosiah 11, and Alma 39).
The inequalities described in the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon, as both a moral and social problem, is impossible to understand with a paradigm that views wickedness solely on the personal scale. To be sure, people can be personally prideful, greedy, wrathful, and slothful in situations including some form of economic inequality, but if personal problems are the only errors that the Nephites in the Book of Mormon have, then the solution would simply be for prophets to teach these sins, and invite the people to repent, and be humble.
And yet, that is not the message the Nephites hear. They are told again and again that they need to share their resources; to sacrifice of their riches not only to meet the needs of the poor, but to correct the inequality once and for all. Furthermore, the Nephites form a government which combats inequality, and punishes those who would commit iniquities, and thereby create inequality.
Consider for now one example:
Jacob 2:
13... and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they. ...
16 O that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!
17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.The solution matches the economic component and social scale of the problem. Preaching against envy, hubris, and sloth can only address pride - a second wave of wickedness which seems to always coincide with inequality - but to address the socioeconomic immorality of inequality the Nephites are told to correct the inequality.
Inequality as an Abomination
You may have noticed in the above quotation that Jacob referred to the inequality of the people as both an 'iniquity' and an 'abomination'. This word 'abomination' is used less often than 'iniquity' in the Book of Mormon - but when it is used it is in the context of institutional inequality, or practices which bring about inequality.
Viewing inequality as a serious word such as 'abomination' requires religious paradigm shift. The God of the Book of Mormon is most indignant when social inequities are caused and perpetuated.
This is not to say that He does not care about personal sin, but the Book of Mormon evidences that His greatest concern is when a sin affects lots of people - and the most common sins to do so are 'iniquities'.
I realize that for many of you it may be hard to understand and accept a world where God's most hated sin - an 'abominable' sin - is inequality and iniquity. It is alien to much of what is taught in modern Christianity.
Furthermore, many people today would claim that some of the iniquities described in the Book of Mormon are not sins at all - such as the iniquity of not giving resources to the poor which not only address their needs, but also their wants.
And yet, the Book of Mormon narrative and teachings cannot be read and understood without this paradigm shift.
For the record, I have been contrasting the Book of Mormon with modern mainstream Christianity. The same arguments above could be made for contrasting the Bible with mainstream Christianity as well. Later in the series we will take a look at where the Bible confirms the teachings of the Book of Mormon.
Chapter 2 of this series on Teachings of the Book of Mormon on Inequality is dedicated towards contrasting Book of Mormon teachings with modern economic ideas, including many informed by mainstream Christianity. It will continue this discussion.
When you are ready, check out chapter 1, the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon, and see what the narrative of the book has to say about inequality.
What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents
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