Russell M. Nelson said in April 1986: “Since my previous medical work took Sister Nelson and me to a number of developing nations, we have been exposed to many challenging scenes. In one country so many people were sleeping in the streets and on sidewalks that we literally had to step over them as we walked. In another nation our compassion was stretched almost to the breaking point as we yearned to help countless people in need. Young mothers with babies bundled on their backs begged for money while paddling their little sampan boats which served both as their shelter and their mode of transportation. And, oh, how our hearts ached for young men and women of another country who, one by one were strapped as beasts of burden to wooden wheeled carts heavily laden with heavy cargo. As far as our eyes could see, the endless caravans of vehicles continued pulled by dint of human toil.
Lessons from the Old Testament remind us that when the Lord sent prophets to call Israel back from apostasy in almost every instance, one of the first charges made was that the poor had been neglected.
Scriptures teach us that the poor—especially widows, orphans, and strangers—have long been the concern of God and the godly. The poor have been especially favored by the law. Old Testament teachings authorized poor persons at harvest time to glean after the reapers. At fruit picking time what was left hanging on the branches belonged to the poor. In the sabbatical seventh year and in the jubilee fiftieth year, land was not planted nor tilled, and what grew of itself was free for the hungry.
To those who cared for the poor, blessings where promised. The Lord would deliver them in time of trouble (see Psalms 41:1). Truths were taught by these proverbs:”He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he:” (Proverbs 14:21). “The righteous considereth the cause of the poor; but the wicked regardeth not to know it’ (Proverbs 29:7).
During the Savior’s earthly ministry, He reemphasized His timeless concern for the poor, Remember the reply the Lord gave to the rich man: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell [all] that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21; see also Luke 18:22).
In one of the master’s precious parables, He illustrated this doctrine with the story of one who was hungry and was given meat, another who was thirsty and was given drink, and a stranger who was welcomed. The Lord related those as favors to Him when He taught. “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). And when they were not ministered unto, He admonished, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me” (Matthew 25:45; emphasis added). (For complete talk, click…“In the Lord’s Own Way” General Conference April 1986) (From Teachings of Russell M. Nelson, Deseret Book 2018, p.261-63)
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