“It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him.”- Gordon B. Hinckley

In the scriptures we read, “By their fruits ye shall know them.”  I have often pondered on these seven words.  It is a simple yet powerful truth that can help guide us in these latter days.  I imagine Lehi’s dream and the wonderful, glorious, fruit that he partook of, and how full his joy was upon having tasted of it, and how clear it was that this was good fruit; most precious above all other fruit.The scriptures so eloquently describe planting a seed in our hearts, and as it grows and develops we can know if it was a good seed, but we also discover that we must nourish the seed.  Without our constant care, the seed, even if it was good could die.All mankind deserve the fruits of their labor, and to determine for themselves what they will choose to do with them.  They can choose to be the unprofitable servant and horde it all for themselves, or they can multiply it many times over by being very wise.  There are many possibilities, but the most central point is that they have that God-given right to choose for themselves.

“The Lord said: “Whether [it be] by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” It is the right of every soul to have equal and unrestricted justice before the law, equal rights to worship according to the dictates of conscience and to labor according to his individual inclinations, independently of coercion or compulsion.” – Joseph Fielding SmithWhen a soul is compelled to give, it is no longer true giving but rather, a deliberate taking.  It does not matter the reason why the soul is coerced or compelled to part with the fruits of their labor, it is whether or not the soul was allowed to choose or if their choice was stolen through usurpation.  A lifestyle that is based upon partaking of these spoils is no life at all.  An individual may have a sense of improvement in their life, now that they are able to subsist on the work of others, but over time, those that are being robbed are not able to sustain the needs of those that are partaking, and actually end up struggling more then those that are living off of their effort.  Eventually, all lose the abundance that they once enjoyed.The opposite situation is very powerful, and that is consecration.  “Consecration is the only surrender which is also a victory.”-Neal A. Maxwell.  “But ultimate consecration is the yielding up of oneself to God.” - Neal A. MaxwellWhen we give freely of all that we have, our time, talents, skills, abilities, and anything else that we can produce or create, we receive an increase in blessings.

When we full-heartedly turn to God and put our trust in Him, and rely on Him and not on the arm of flesh or governments to provide, we are truly blessed.  Encouraging each other to be producers, and to live self-sufficiently, yet interdependently, we can truly enjoy the good life.  If we grow lazy, and refuse to work or offer what we have to give:“If we have grown soft, hard times may be necessary. Deprivation may prepare us for further consecration, though we shudder at the thought. If we are too easily contented, God may administer a dose of divine discontent. “-Neal A. Maxwell“We “cannot bear all things now,” but the Lord “will lead [us] along,” as we “give place” in our thoughts and schedules and “give away” our sins, which are the only ways we can begin to make room to receive all that God can give us. (D&C 78:18; D&C 50:4; Alma 32:27, 28; Alma 22:18.)”And He has much to give.  We just need to make the room to receive it by living the correct principles upon which each of His blessings are predicated.

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Charity Angel is a mother of 4 and has been married for almost 11 years. She is a home school educator and runs her own in-home daycare. She is currently pursuing her degree in education and has the long-term goal of obtaining her doctorate. Charity Angel enjoys singing, and has a fan club on Myspace. com She has been the co-organizer for the Springfield Ron Paul meetup group, and later went on to become the Greene County Coordinator. She and her husband are both delegates to the district and state conventions in Missouri, and teach the four-year olds in primary.

Comments (4)

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ed42 said:

	"Should Latter-day Saints support the welfare state as part of the Law of Consecration?" Absolutely, positively NOT!!!
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April 15, 2008
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least of these said:

I believe we are called by the Lord through those authorized to speak for him to remain subject until we aren't. This extends, in my thinking, to laboring in an unrighteous system untill the day when we are humbled and learn His precepts. There are numerous examples throughout the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon (the people of Alma), who, when they humbled themselves to their yoke and began to progress (learn) had those yokes made light untill they were free of the "foolish traditions of their fathers" (king Noah's society). I will continue to bear the yoke untill the Lord decides I no longer need it and pray that he will make it light. thanks for sharing your fine views.

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April 18, 2008 | url
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Charity Angel said:

	Least of these, I agree. We must submit to the bondage while we are in it. However, in our nation we can get involved, and change that government which no longer protects our God-Given rights.
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April 20, 2008
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least of these said:

I appreciate the chance to know your thoughts on this fundamental issue, that of compulsion versus individual agency. At the risk of sounding jaded about our current opportunities to influence our system of government, the experiment of attempting to change it to eliminate it's userous confiscation of individual productive labor was run long ago when several states attempted to work inside the system to address these very issues. When it became evident that any and all peaceful efforts were in vain, they resorted to arms to attempt to protect their rights and this proved to be disasterous. I understand their cause and therefore their people weren't prepared to draw the Lord's support but they were, in general, God fearing people caught in oppression (while they practiced oppression themselves). History has been written by the victors to lead it's students to false conclusions about the nature of that struggle. Observing this I conclude that it will take the Lord to lead us to our freedoms when we are prepared and have done all we are able to clean our own hands and hearts. I believe this process is currently ongoing and this site is evidence of that. I pray for our people and that glorious future. I am grateful for those, like yourself, who desire and seek to make those righteous principles a reality.

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April 20, 2008 | url
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