There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon that has occupied my time this morning. I wrote an article on it, focusing, as most of us who read it do, on how to use our wealth to help the poor. However, there is a small phrase tucked into this verse that caught my attention today:
“And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.” (Jacob 2:19)
The little phrase we tend to skip over is “liberate the captive.” In a time when few of us live in countries with slavery, what does this verse mean? The verse was spoken in a sermon the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob was giving to his own people, chastising them for losing sight of the teachings of God. However, the Book of Mormon prophets kept these records just for our day—the people of the time didn’t have them. This means, if he chose to record the sermon, it has application for us. How can we today liberate the captive?
There are many ways to be captive. One can be held captive through sin, debt, addiction, poverty, or lack of education. One can be captive by not knowing the teachings of God. Anything that keeps you from reaching your full potential as a child of God can hold you captive.
With that in mind, the verse is specifically about the appropriate use of excess income. What are some ways you can use your discretionary income to liberate the captive?
Since no one can solve every problem, one solution is to think of which forms of captivity are of particular concern to you. You can put your money to good use in those areas, allowing you to make a larger single contribution than if you spread your money out. Another solution is to choose a single organization to help. Some people also prefer to help individuals rather than to deal with organizations.
to help liberate the captive. Some programs focus on the needs of members, but many others serve regardless of faith. You can read on the church’s website about their humanitarian outreach.
This outreach is funded by donations from both church members and non-church members alike. None of the money donated to this outreach is used for administration or outreach, a rare situation. Those costs are paid from regular church funds.
The services offered span a wide range of ways to liberate the captive. For instance, the church’s outreach has donated more than 190,000 wheelchairs to people around the world who would otherwise be captives in their beds. The clean water initiative has provided clean water to over three and a half million people in thirty-four counties by providing such things as wells or boreholes, purification, or storage systems. LDS ophthalmologists have served more than 30,000 people in sixteen nations.
While we may not be in a position to help so many people individually, the collective good done when a group of people band together to help can be immeasurable. A former prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints once said, “The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “I Believe,” Ensign, Aug 1992, 2)
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
