What is the LDS Church's instruction concerning debt?
Upvote:7
The Church's Stance on Debt
The official stance of the LDS Church regarding debt is summarized in the following statement from the Church's website:
Since the early days of the Church, the Lord's prophets have repeatedly warned against the bondage of debt.... When it is necessary to incur debt, such as a reasonable amount to purchase a modest home or to complete one's education, the debt should be repaid as quickly as possible.
There are no caveats or exceptions for Church officers or other leadership.
Concerning the Verses in Doctrine and Covenants
I can't find any specific, authoritative statements regarding the meaning of the verses referenced from Section 64. Here is how I read it as a member of the LDS Church.
First we have to back up a little bit and read the preceding verse:
26 And it is not meet that my servants, Newel K. Whitney and Sidney Gilbert, should sell their store and their possessions here; for this is not wisdom until the residue of the church, which remaineth in this place, shall go up unto the land of Zion.
The Lord is speaking to two specific members of the Church in these verses: Newel K Whitney and Sidney Gilbert, both of whom ran some small businesses on the behalf of the Church. The three verses quoted in the question are actually three separate but related statements directed at the two businessmen:
27 Behold, it is said in my laws, or forbidden, to get in debt to thine enemies;
28 But behold, it is not said at any time that the Lord should not take when he please, and pay as seemeth him good.
29 Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord’s errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord’s business.
Verse 27 is a clear denunciation of debt, which is still taught in the Church today. This may have been an important reminder for the two businessmen.
Verse 28 is, I believe, an almost parenthetical reminder to the two men of their own position before the Lord; a rephrasing of the Lord's proclamation, "My ways [are] higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8). After all, He has given men everything, and men are eternally indebted to Him; therefore, anything man does for Him does not require recompense (though He may give it anyway in His love and mercy). He is effectually saying, "Remember who is in charge here."
Verse 29 is similar to verse 28 in that it reminds the businessmen that they are working under the direction of the Lord. It also emphasizes that they are His agents doing His business, as long as they follow His will.
Each verse conveys a distinct idea. The Lord instructs these two men to: 1) avoid debt; 2) remember that the Lord is God; and 3) remember that you are an agent of the Lord, and that you should follow His will.
I do not read in these verses that the Lord is giving permission to his officers to refuse paying their debts. To my knowledge, Church officers have never refused to pay their debts by referencing these verses, and I don't see any reason to believe that the Church interprets these verses in that way.
More post
- 📝 Rules Which Govern the Excommunication of Catholic Bishops
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the historicity of the Bible?
- 📝 Do Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit still speaks specific messages or instructions to Christians today?
- 📝 What did the Early Church (ante-Nicene period) believe about Gehenna and the Second Death?
- 📝 Recognition of Previous Marriage by the Roman Catholic Church
- 📝 What was Martin Luther's perspective on the early Christian church?
- 📝 Is "Christ" a title of Jesus, or a name?
- 📝 Is there any biblical support for copyright law?
- 📝 How do you answer the unanswerable questions?
- 📝 According to Young Earth Creationism, how did carnivores come into existence?
- 📝 Are Catholics allowed to celebrate the Reformation?
- 📝 Did Jesus' parables have different meanings to the different Gospel writer's congregations?
- 📝 Does "no part of this world" mean no involvement in politics?
- 📝 How are Christians expected to live up to the standards of following Christ?
- 📝 Why is denial of the primacy of the bishop of Rome considered a Schism, not a Heresy?
- 📝 Theology of self-realisation of God?
- 📝 Why do we explicitly need to ask for help through prayer?
- 📝 Are Catholics allowed to drink coconut water during the hour before they take communion?
- 📝 Is there any evidence to support the claim that the Apostle St. Peter founded the Church in Antioch and, if so, what are the implications?
- 📝 How did the early Christians and Apostles Get into the temple? Shouldn't they have been stoned by the Jews for preaching Jesus as God?
- 📝 Are there any denominations opposed to organ transplant donation or receipt?
- 📝 Why was Jesus afraid/agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane if the Spirit of God isn't one of fear but of power?
- 📝 According to Reformed Theology how can we saved by Grace 'Alone' and Faith 'Alone'?
- 📝 Why is Jesus often depicted with long hair if 1 Corinthians 11:14 says it is disgraceful?
- 📝 What's the source of the "new world religion" memorandum signed in Strasbourg?
- 📝 Why did Jesus have to leave for the Holy Spirit to come?
- 📝 Were the councils of the 4th and 5th centuries primarily to deal with Apocryphal writings?
- 📝 Did Jesus celebrate the Eucharist on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24?
- 📝 Understanding Jesus counter argument against the Pharisees (Luke 11:19 )
- 📝 In Catholic understanding when there is more than one Pope, who decides which Pope is real and by what criteria?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What is the LDS Church's instruction concerning debt?
- 📝 What is the reason for the absence of the Cross as a symbol in the LDS Church?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church (Mormon) teach about marriage and polygamy in the afterlife?
- 📝 What has the LDS Church (Mormons) historically taught about the Curse of Cain and dark skin?
- 📝 What works do the LDS Church recognize as Scripture?
- 📝 What is the significance of the inverted pentagram symbols on the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City?
- 📝 What is the basis of the LDS (Mormon) belief that the Apostle John never died?
- 📝 According to the LDS Church (Mormons), what role do secret handshakes and passwords play into a person's entrance into heaven?
- 📝 How does the LDS Church decide what is included in their scriptural canon?
- 📝 According to LDS (Mormon) teaching, what is the relationship between Jesus and Lucifer?
- 📝 What actions does the LDS church (Mormon) take when a member does not pay tithing?
- 📝 To what degree could a person be "pro-polygamy" yet still obey the LDS church?
- 📝 What is the Plan of Salvation in LDS theology?
- 📝 What is the LDS Church's position on spiritual gifts
- 📝 What specific foods and drinks are forbidden by the LDS (Mormon) Church?
- 📝 What is the LDS Church's affiliation with the Boy Scouts?
- 📝 What is the basis for the LDS belief that religious truth is confirmed by what you feel?
- 📝 What misconceptions about the LDS church are a product of Mark Hofmann's forgeries?
- 📝 What evidence does the LDS Church offer regarding claims of degradation of Biblical texts?
- 📝 In LDS (Mormon) theology, what is the Aaronic Priesthood and to whom is it conferred?
- 📝 In what manner does the LDS believe we may become like God?
- 📝 What is the relationship between international branches of the LDS Church?
- 📝 What is the LDS (Mormon) position on eschatology?
- 📝 What is the LDS position on changing doctrine
- 📝 What does the LDS Church teach about Jesus being married, having children, and His position on polygamy?
- 📝 What evidence does the LDS church forward for the claim that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri?
- 📝 What is the distinction between ordinance types in the LDS church?
- 📝 What does the LDS church teach about what men and women did or do in the pre-existence?
- 📝 In the LDS church what is the process of calling a new prophet?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church teach about the pre-existence of each person prior to conception?
