Teachings of the Book of Mormon Concerning Inequality

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.

This article is the beginning of a chapter on deconstructing the prosperity gospel and other bad ideas.
 
Series Table of Contents

In this new chapter of the series I will be building upon the historical context of the last chapter to take a closer look at what the Book of Mormon teaches about inequality.  We have covered some of the central teachings in the introductory articles and throughout the last chapter as they are important for understanding the history of the book, but this chapter will go into more detail.

In addition to presenting these details, I have organized this chapter to be juxtaposed with prevalent modern ideas about inequality, poverty, wealth, today, summed up in what I will refer to as the "prosperity gospel and related bad ideas".  One reason I do this is because these modern ideas are very much in disagreement with the Book of Mormon, and so they make understanding the economic messages in the book difficult. 

The modern ideas need to be dismantled to truly understand the Book of Mormon,

The rest of this article will introduce what I mean by the "prosperity gospel" and its "related bad ideas", and thereafter introduce each article which is included in this chapter.

Deconstructing the Prosperity Gospel and Related Bad Ideas

Prosperity Gospel, or Prosperity Theology, is a belief shared in some Christian circles which teaches that if an individual follows the teachings of God then they will be blessed with material things.  There are also undertones that it is God's will for his followers to become rich, and that wealth is a worthy pursuit.  Poverty then is a sign of moral degradation and laziness, assuming that if poor people had been righteous then they would not be in poverty.

As this message implies that wealth and poverty come from God as a reward for personal morality, there is no need for a discussion on the economic causes of inequality, and certainly no need for a discussion on economic solutions, because the true solution is simply for the poor to be more righteous.  At its heart, this philosophy really is not about God, and more about the self - since God only gives wealth to the righteous, it is personal righteous choices that cause wealth.  It is no more than idolatry and priestcraft - a worship of the self and an elevation of

The most overt versions of the prosperity gospel have been championed by several televangelists from the 1970's to the present, beginning in the U.S., and growing in international popularity.  Prosperity Gospel churches have found great success among poor populations who feel economically powerless, and who are inspired to give away their money to churches in the hopes that they will be rewarded by future riches.  In short, prosperity theology churches have been very profitable, and thus offer one example of a modern day priestcraft.

But these televangelists only represent the most overt form of the prosperity gospel.  The economic ideas of the prosperity gospel in some form or another exist in most modern American Christian denominations.  This includes the LDS faith which many of you readers belong, although prosperity theology has been specifically taught against by Elder Oaks in a recent general conference address.

Beyond organized religion, some of the ideas of the prosperity gospel have also bled into every-day American thought, in both religious and secular ways.  If poverty is seen in our country, it is predominantly assumed that it is a result of bad decisions on the part of the poor, while wealth is most often attributed to intelligence, hard work, or being "blessed".  Inequality is overlooked as a spiritual, or even social, concern because it is assumed to be the justified result of God, choices, or just different personal capacities to be successful.

However, not all personal and political persuasions that view the poor in such a way would consider themselves to be part of this "prosperity gospel", and several of the ideas that we will address in this chapter are secular in nature.  This is why I have chosen to identify this collection of ideas as the "prosperity gospel and related bad ideas".

The teachings of Jesus Christ, both in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon, unequivocally reject the teachings of the prosperity gospel and the other related ideas.  Take a look at the articles below to find out how.

Articles in this Chapter

General Economic Teachings - This article will be a review of the general economic themes in the Book of Mormon; especially a review of iniquity, family and human obligations, pride, envy, persecution of the poor, and economic inequality.

What is Prosperity? - The Book of Mormon frequently talks about prosperity, and even promises prosperity for a society which keeps the commandments.  As opposed to the prosperity gospel, these promises are not recipes for individual wealth, but instruction on how a society should share its resources with those who are most vulnerable.

Origins of Wealth - This article will return to the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon and explore why the Nephites become wealthy in each circumstance, and what this can say concerning the prosperity gospel.  It is found that some of the time they become wealthy as a result of righteousness, but the type of righteousness are qualities that naturally create wealth, including cooperation and equality.

Wealth and the Rich - Book of Mormon attitudes and teachings concerning wealth and the rich.  Riches are to be avoided as they are spiritually precarious, and the rich are among the most criticized groups in the book for their wickedness and iniquities.

Poverty and the Poor - Book of Mormon attitudes concerning poverty and the poor.  Poverty as both an elated state, and an infirmity which should be addressed through individuals, the gospel/church, and the society.  Unlike the rich, the poor are never characterized for immorality and iniquity.

Agency and Poverty - A common modern assumption is that those in poverty can simply choose to act in a way to climb out of poverty - or to "exercise their agency".  The agency taught in the Book of Mormon is a very different concept than that used in modern discourse, applying only to special spiritual choices, and not to every decision.  Agency, or 'choosing your way' out of poverty is never a solution offered for poverty or inequality.

Accountability and Poverty - Whose fault is inequality or poverty?  In the Book of Mormon the concept of accountability is different than in modern discourse.  In the book, economic accountability, and the spiritual consequences of iniquity, are not always expected for every individual, and in fact spiritual culpability is often placed entirely on the rich who create poverty and inequality through their actions. 

      Jesus and King Benjamin on Accountability - The articles about agency and accountability 

      focused how the Book of Mormon versions of agency and accountability differ from the modern 

      concepts, and how that affects its view of poverty and the poor.  This article instead explores the 

      teachings of Jesus and King Benjamin that state we simply are not supposed to judge the poor,
      making determining accountability irrelevant.

Self-Reliance - Book of Mormon teachings relating to the modern concepts of Provident Living or Self-Reliance, or independence and work ethic.  Work ethic is an important aspect of spiritual maturity, but hard work or the lack thereof is not the cause of economic inequality, and therefore is also not a social prescription.  The misuse of the concepts Provident Living and Self-Reliance to justify inequality, to judge others, or to excuse withholding resources from the poor, constitutes as priestcraft.

Entitlement -  Entitlement - or the feeling that one deserves special treatment - is not a concept that is specifically in the Book of Mormon, but there are similar concepts including pride, envy, and hearts set on riches.  Today there is the worry that charitable giving to the poor can lead to feelings of entitlement - but the Book of Mormon provides the opposite message, that charity is the cure for entitlement.

The Gospel and the Free Lunch - This article addresses the Book of Mormon teachings about the Atonement of Jesus, grace, repentance, salvation, and the workings of the Gospel and Church of Jesus, and how these relate to the economics of the Gospel.  We do not earn our salvation, it is a free gift, and we keep the commandments because we love the Lord and are asked to, including serving the poor.  The economy of the gospel is the same - the needs of people are to be a free gift, and we should work not to earn our keep, but because it is spiritually mature to do so.

The Heresy of Korihor and other Priestcrafts - An explanation of the philosophies of the anti-Christ Korihor, and other examples of priestcraft, which teach a dangerous philosophy that is not too dissimilar to today.  Forthcoming.

King Benjamin's Address - A conclusion to this chapter, summing up all the previous objections to the prosperity gospel that the Book of Mormon offers through King Benjamin's address. Forthcoming.