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Social Welfare
Man's Social Responsibility. The many men and women on earth, constituting society, bring about many conditions and responsibilities.
Individuals live in communities, and perforce must accept corresponding obligations. In some respects it is more difficult to secure full happines in a community than under isolation, for community environment is necessarily more complex. On the other hand, humanity is naturally gregarious and social, and many of the keenest joys of life are won from association with others. Isolation is always dreary and retards progress. The hermit misses much happiness. Since, then, humanity lives and should live together, the method of making such living successful assumes great importance. The Church, recognizing this, attempts to provide means for the social welfare of its members.
According to the doctrine of the Latter-day Saints, all men are brothers. They have a common origin, sons of God in the spiritual world; they have the same purpose and destiny, to approach eternally the likeness of the Lord; they are brothers in every sense.
The Lord loves all alike, and desires for each of His children the highest possible destiny. To Him, the value of a human soul is very great, for it is the soul of His child. Throughout time and eternity He will reach out in help for every one of His children. The plan of salvation can not be fully completed until all the children of the Lord have had truth presented to them, and have had full opportunity to accept it. The mercy of the Lord is everlasting.
The Gospel is really a cooperative enterprise between man and the Lord, for, while the Lord has formulated the plan of salvation, man must accept it. Every man on earth is, therefore, as it were, in partnership with the Lord to carry out the plan of salvation. From that point of view, every man is his brother's keeper. The obligation to assist and cherish, to bless and love every man is every man's responsibility and privilege.
Interdependence of Men. All men are sharers in the plan of salvation. There are many men upon earth who meet and mingle. To a certain extent each man affects all other men. Every act of a man may touch the lives of others. Besides, spiritual forces issue from every man to affect others. An evil-minded man affects his companions adversely even if he says not a word. Directly and indirectly men affect one another. That places on every person a new responsibility for his actions. Inequalities among men must also be recognized in this connection. Men begin to develop certain traits early in life, due to their varying gifts and opportunities. Gifts may be inborn or the result of social environment. These differences exist, though they may not always be explained. Our responsibility may therefore be greater or different towards one person than another. That must always be kept in mind.
Yet, a test of equality may be applied to all men, irrespective of their gifts or attainments. If a man use his powers, with all his might, for his own and others' good, he is the equal of every other man of like effort. No more can be asked of any man. A fair judgment of a man is by the degree to which he gives himself to the labors imposed upon him as an individual member of society.