Bruce R. McConkie defined the Law of Consecration as "we consecrate our time, our talents, and our money and property to the cause of the Church: such are to be available to the extent they are needed to further the Lord's interests on earth."
In the beginning years of the church, members of the church attempted to live this law under a movement titled the United Order. They were hoping to achieve income equality, to eliminate poverty and to increase group self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, people aren't perfect (both leaders and members), and it wasn't successful. However, when Christ comes to reign on earth again, it will be instituted.
Some higher-income people might feel that we are already living this law, through our government, and not by choice. I can't disagree with many of my friends. We pay almost 40% of our income to taxes, which when combined with what we give to tithing, adds up to 50% of our income. We actually knew one physician who reduced his hours to the equivalent of a part-time job, because he knew that he would fall into a lower tax bracket. With the reduced taxes, he would end up bringing home just as much money working fewer hours than he would working full time and making more money.
I'm a Democrat, so I understand that there are all kinds of programs and subsidies which take our money and are actually beneficial to us. If we actually had to pay full-price for our electricity, or our water, we would pay for little else. The government subsidizes the cost of those. (I felt for Europeans when I figured what they were paying for unsubsidized utilities. The cost nearly broke them, and the idea of ever buying a home was a pipe dream for many.)
Where I have a problem with the tax collection is in the form of freebies. People who believe they can live for free in this country. John loves to quote the bumper sticker "Work harder. Welfare recipients are depending on you." It's not a joke for John. We pay for people to have free health care, so that they can see John, and because they are on Medicaid, John actually loses money to see those patients. Of course, the men can accompany their women (but not necessarily their wives) to their appointments on any given day, because they have no jobs. But they have iPhones. And they reek of cigarettes.
A couple of months ago, John performed a hysterectomy on a Medicaid patient. John is paid nothing for this surgery, and surprisingly, this woman knew that. A couple of weeks later, at her return appointment, she thanked John for helping her, and she offered him a gift. She happens to own a farm, and she sells shares of her farm to anyone who wants to buy them. Each week, the shareholders show up at her farm, and collect whatever fruit, vegetable or flower is in season that week. A normal share is several hundred dollars, and she was offering one to John for free. Or actually, she was offering it as payment.
John has only been collecting his share for two weeks now, but what a haul! There has been fresh bread (some of the best I've ever tasted), lettuce, spinach, onions and annuals. And this is when we still have freezing temperatures at night! It's been delicious, and I know that if we fell on hard times, we could almost feed our family on what John brings home. In other words, if I was to add up the amount of money we could save by not buying these things, over an entire summer, she has completely paid her medical bill.
And that's how the Law of Consecration should work, and our welfare system as well. Imagine if all those who are living the free life had to actually pay for what they are getting, either in goods or in labor. The country would be healthier, and the people would be happier.
In the beginning years of the church, members of the church attempted to live this law under a movement titled the United Order. They were hoping to achieve income equality, to eliminate poverty and to increase group self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, people aren't perfect (both leaders and members), and it wasn't successful. However, when Christ comes to reign on earth again, it will be instituted.
Some higher-income people might feel that we are already living this law, through our government, and not by choice. I can't disagree with many of my friends. We pay almost 40% of our income to taxes, which when combined with what we give to tithing, adds up to 50% of our income. We actually knew one physician who reduced his hours to the equivalent of a part-time job, because he knew that he would fall into a lower tax bracket. With the reduced taxes, he would end up bringing home just as much money working fewer hours than he would working full time and making more money.
I'm a Democrat, so I understand that there are all kinds of programs and subsidies which take our money and are actually beneficial to us. If we actually had to pay full-price for our electricity, or our water, we would pay for little else. The government subsidizes the cost of those. (I felt for Europeans when I figured what they were paying for unsubsidized utilities. The cost nearly broke them, and the idea of ever buying a home was a pipe dream for many.)
Where I have a problem with the tax collection is in the form of freebies. People who believe they can live for free in this country. John loves to quote the bumper sticker "Work harder. Welfare recipients are depending on you." It's not a joke for John. We pay for people to have free health care, so that they can see John, and because they are on Medicaid, John actually loses money to see those patients. Of course, the men can accompany their women (but not necessarily their wives) to their appointments on any given day, because they have no jobs. But they have iPhones. And they reek of cigarettes.
A couple of months ago, John performed a hysterectomy on a Medicaid patient. John is paid nothing for this surgery, and surprisingly, this woman knew that. A couple of weeks later, at her return appointment, she thanked John for helping her, and she offered him a gift. She happens to own a farm, and she sells shares of her farm to anyone who wants to buy them. Each week, the shareholders show up at her farm, and collect whatever fruit, vegetable or flower is in season that week. A normal share is several hundred dollars, and she was offering one to John for free. Or actually, she was offering it as payment.
John has only been collecting his share for two weeks now, but what a haul! There has been fresh bread (some of the best I've ever tasted), lettuce, spinach, onions and annuals. And this is when we still have freezing temperatures at night! It's been delicious, and I know that if we fell on hard times, we could almost feed our family on what John brings home. In other words, if I was to add up the amount of money we could save by not buying these things, over an entire summer, she has completely paid her medical bill.
And that's how the Law of Consecration should work, and our welfare system as well. Imagine if all those who are living the free life had to actually pay for what they are getting, either in goods or in labor. The country would be healthier, and the people would be happier.
That's so amazing! I actually happen to know a lot about the Law of COnsecration now thanks to Dr. Cope from last semester. :-) But man, I wish I was home for all that delicious food!
ReplyDeleteThe lettuce is the best I have ever had!
ReplyDeleteSo refreshing to hear a positive story about someone on Medicaid.
ReplyDelete