I See... Alma the Socialist

Was the great prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon a socialist? Scriptural accounts note that he favored redistribution of wealth:

“And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.” (Mosiah 18: 27)

This injunction to level the playing field by imparting of our substance, in secular terminology, sounds suspiciously like the mission statements of various radical, progressive socialist and communist ideologues since FDR's New Deal days, including the recently resigned Van Jones, formerly President Obama's “Special Advisor” (or is it Czar?) promoting the creation of green jobs. Furthermore, the verb “command” in Mormon theology transmits a clear and direct message to members of the church- at a minimum, there will be undesirable consequences for not completing the action directed by the command.

So, if we are to liken the scriptures unto ourselves, and since this commandment was directed to members of the church, why do so many of us find today's political calls for redistribution of wealth so irresponsible and offensive?

The answer lies in freedom, specifically in the freedom discussed in ten pivotal words in the next verse:

“And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.” (Mosiah 18: 28)

Those of us who believe that a War in Heaven was fought between the Savior and the Adversary on the exercise of free agency before the foundations of the earth were formed, and that it is still raging today, understand that there is more to this commandment than just the “haves” turning over the fruit of their industrious labors to the “have nots.” In essence, we are commanded to impart of our substance in the proper way and motivation: “of our own free will and good desires towards God.”

The Mormon Third Eye sees neither free will and nor good desires towards God in federal fiscal policies dictating higher mandatory taxes and ballooning deficit spending designed to funnel our substance to the poor and needy. Do you?