I was at a worship service recently as a senior couple reported back after serving a full-time mission to some of the poorest among us. As they shared their experiences, they spoke of someone who was an example to them and described him as having “mercy in both pockets.”

I really love this imagery. I immediately thought of King Benjamin’s address to the people of Nephi:

“Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will [stop]¹ my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

“But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to [change];² and except he [changes] of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

“For behold, are we not all beggars?” (Mosiah 4:17-19).³

Mercy in both pockets. Not just one. Both. All in.

I have this image in my head of having coins in both of my pockets and always being ready to extend my hand rather than “stop” it. Then an image of my pockets, pulled inside out having given everything I have.

There is different imagery in the scriptures that strikes me as powerful on this subject. In 2 Nephi 13, we read:

“And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor; the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable” (v. 5).

“For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because their tongues and their doings have been against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

“The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it. Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves!” (v. 8-9).

“The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people and the princes thereof; for ye have eaten up the vineyard and the spoil of the poor in your houses.

“What mean ye? Ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor, saith the Lord God of Hosts” (v. 14-15).

Beating people to pieces and grinding the faces of the poor.

There’s a lot to unpack here, but what an image! It sounds horrible.

Quoting these same verses, Jeffrey R. Holland said:

“Down through history, poverty has been one of humankind’s greatest and most widespread challenges. Its obvious toll is usually physical, but the spiritual and emotional damage it can bring may be even more debilitating. In any case, the great Redeemer has issued no more persistent call than for us to join Him in lifting this burden from the people. As Jehovah, He said He would judge the house of Israel harshly because ‘the spoil of the [needy] is in your houses.’

“’What mean ye,’ He cried, ‘that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?'”⁴

We are to lift this burden not add to it.

We would be wise to remember the fate of Sodom . . . and the why of said fate:

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

“And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good” (Ezekial 16:49-50).

Clearly, neglect of the poor and needy, in combination with their pride and abundance, was a significant part of the downfall of Sodom.

In contrast, builders of Zion have the elimination of “poor among them” (Moses 7:18) as a major building block of their success.⁵ The covenant people have an obligation to be better because “unto whom much is given much is required” (Doctrine and Covenants 82:3).

Gordon B. Hinckley said:

“And there are still those, not a few, who without compassion ‘grind the faces of the poor’ . . . I commend most warmly those who with a compelling spirit of kindness reach out to those in distress, regardless of whom they might be, to help and assist, to feed and provide for, to nurture and to bless. As these extend mercy, I am confident that the God of heaven will bless them, and their posterity after them, with His own mercy. I am satisfied that these who impart so generously will not lack in their own store, but that there will be food on their tables and a roof over their heads. One cannot be merciful to others without receiving a harvest of mercy in return.”⁶

As we extend mercy, we will be extended mercy.

It has been said that “the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.”⁷

King Benjamin also taught us our role in such a civilization:

“And also, ye yourselves will [run to]⁸ those that stand in need of your [assistance]; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish” (Mosiah 4:16).

We are all beggars and yet we are all responsible for helping other beggars.

I can do better.

I don’t think I am actively breaking people to pieces and grinding their faces.

But am I somehow allowing it to happen by others?

Am I running to offer any assistance or relief?

Do I have mercy in both pockets?

Lead image from Pixabay

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1. I replaced the word ‘stay’ with ‘stop’ to emphasize the meaning here. See ‘Stay‘ in the online Webster’s Dictionary 1828.
2. I replaced the word ‘repent’ with ‘change’ to emphasize the meaning here. See ‘Repentance‘ in the Bible Dictionary.
3. See also “Are We Not All Beggars?“
4. Jeffrey R. Holland, “Are We Not All Beggars?”, General Conference, October 2014
5. See “Do You Consider Yourself a Builder of Zion?” and “God and Your Neighbor–It All Comes Down to That“
6. Gordon B. Hinckley, “Blessed Are the Merciful”, General Conference, April 1990
7. Pearl S. Buck (sorry, I can’t find the reference)
8. I replaced the word ‘succor’ with ‘run to’ and ‘assistance’ to emphasize the meaning here. See ‘Succor‘ in the online Webster’s Dictionary 1828.
9. See also D&C 82:14, 19; 2 Nephi 9:30; Isaiah 25:4; 2 Nephi 14:6