“Perhaps Thou Shall Say the Man Has Brought Upon Himself His Misery”

Bryan Richards

Every time I am confronted with a beggar, these thoughts invariably enter my mind. I think, "go get a job," "this is your own fault," and "not the old, Vietnam Vet story again!" In this day and age, there seems to be almost no excuse for a life of vagrancy and begging. Yet Benjamin warns us against such pride, for behold, are we not all beggars? Hugh Nibley taught, "Indolent and unworthy the beggar may be--but that is not your concern: It is better, said Joseph Smith, to feed ten impostors than to run the risk of turning away one honest petition." (Approaching Zion, p. 226)

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