“Imparting to One Another Both Temporally and Spiritually According to Their Needs and Their Wants”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet

The society of Zion is made up of a people who have put their trust in that Spirit which leads to do good, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously (see D&C 11:12). The people of such a holy commonwealth seek the interest of their neighbors, for they have come to love their neighbors as themselves. They are consecrated in principle and practice. Those who have give freely, and those who have not willingly receive in the right spirit; both are sanctified in the process.

“According to Their Needs and Their Wants”

King Benjamin taught his people that “for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God-I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants” (Mosiah 4:26; italics added). In a modern revelation the Lord explained that the Saints “are to be equal, or in other words, you are to have equal claims on the properties [in the storehouse], for the benefit of managing the concerns of your stewardships, every man according to his wants and his needs, inasmuch as his wants are just” (D&C 82:17; italics added).

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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