Understanding Equality

The current popular trend toward promoting equity in society as defined by proponents of Critical Race Theory led me to focus on what God has said about equality. “Based on race equity and social justice principles, Critical Race Theory encourages the development of solutions that bridge gaps in health, housing, employment, and other factors that condition living.” Source Ford, Chandra L. “Critical Race Theory, Race Equity, and Public Health: Toward Antiracism Praxis.” NIH. 2010. web.

The Lord’s requirement of his people that they “be equal in the bonds of heavenly things” doesn’t ignore the fact that people are inherently unequal in their skills, abilities and talents. (D&C 78:5) My understanding of the word “bonds” is that it refers to the covenant that we make with God and each other to work together in the cooperative effort called Zion. (D&C 82:14-15) The Lord teaches us, “For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things. (D&C 78:6)

What does the Lord mean when he says we should be “equal”? I think it means that when everyone combines their talents to a common cause, the whole group benefits equally because they can now make an equal claim on the resulting profit. This conclusion comes from the verses in Doctrine and Covenants section 82.

17 And you are to be equal, or in other words, you are to have equal claims on the properties, for the benefit of managing the concerns of your stewardships, every man according to his wants and his needs, inasmuch as his wants are just—

18 And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church—

19 Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.

20 This order I have appointed to be an everlasting order unto you, and unto your successors, inasmuch as you sin not.

When this instruction was given the Saints were being taught the United Order. The United Order is defined as “An organization through which the Saints in the early days of the restored Church sought to live the law of consecration. Individuals shared property, goods, and profits, receiving these things according to their wants and needs.” Source: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website The United Order is the Lord’s way of providing for the poor. He says, “But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.” (D&C 104:16) “In spite of some notable successes, however, the United Order movement was relatively short-lived.” (Source: Israelson, L. Dwight. “United Orders.” BYU. 1992. web.)

Solutions that promote equity in health, housing and employment have been proposed for hundreds of years. Race consciousness, as a solution, does not quantitatively add opportunities for the disadvantaged in society. Cooperative effort seems more promising depending on how it is organized. One reason the cooperative efforts of the early Church of Jesus Christ failed was the influx of immigrants with no capital to contribute. If everyone in the group has a similar starting capital, sharing the profits is easier. If there is a wide disparity of starting capital, the outcome is less equitable.

The concept of Zion is more than just a socio-economic cooperative. It was also originally defined as a community of people who were of “one heart and mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” (Moses 7:18) When people have one heart and mind, they share the same goals and aspirations. They are also united in what solution they think will work. When I have an abundance mentality, I can seek the interest of my neighbor because I am not worried about my own survival. This abundance mentality is key to overcoming the disparities caused by racism, competition and enmity.