Lifted this from a thoughtful bloke on FB. Glad there are people out there who care for more than just what is on the boob toob.... Joseph Smith spoke out on many things and it pretty much got him killed. That is the nature of a true Prophet - speak the truth, get yourself killed (or run out of town on a rail). Just part of the job description.
The god of this fallen world rules and laughs, so all of these tenets (below), have fallen by the wayside:
The god of this fallen world rules and laughs, so all of these tenets (below), have fallen by the wayside:
-From “Joseph Smith and Our Destiny"
“The economic Law of the Lord declares every seven years shall be a release for the poor: we have circumvented its operation and are oppressing the needy.
“The law declares, Thou shalt take no usury; we call it interest and collect tribute from our brother.
“The law says, Thou shalt not steal; we legalize great corporations to prey upon our people and rob them of their earnings.
“The law says, The land shall not be sold; we have made it a part of capital the people have been evicted.
“The law says taxes shall be one-tenth of the increase; we have laid a burden upon the poor which is confiscation of property.
“The law says the rich shall bear the burden of government; we have created tax-exempt investments that they may escape.
“The law says, remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy; our people are violating this law while our legislatures have legalized its desecration.
“The law says the poor and the rich shall be treated alike; we have made possession of money the criterion of value so the rich escape while the poor suffer in judgment.
“The law says Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant; those controlling capital, and the tools of production, are grinding their help for profit.”
"That is the nature of a true Prophet - speak the truth, get yourself killed (or run out of town on a rail). Just part of the job description."
ReplyDeleteWhen did the Lord change the job description? Or did he?
(I'm not trying to be facetious; I'd sincerely like to know).
Is there a source for this?
ReplyDeleteThanks - Dan
Wikipedia definition as follows:
ReplyDeleteThe New Testament contains references to usury, notably in the Parable of the talents:
"Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.."
—Matthew 25:27
"…Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow. Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?"
—Luke 19:22-23
The following scriptures teach about lending:
"Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
—Matthew 5:42
"And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
—Luke 6:34-35
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
—Luke 6:38
You check out the Old Testament from Wikipedia on the Jews use, which in short frowns upon charging of interest to a brother Jew, or Israelite and but to others you can charge your interest.
this does pose a problem today, since our civilization was built upon interest bearing loans or other investments otherwise why would anyone loan money or property, put it at risk of loss with no recompense.
No such thing as an easy answer here.