Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith

Section Six (1843-1844) | Temporal Economy--Care of the Poor

1The temporal economy of this people should be to establish and encourage manufactures, and not to take usury for their money. I do not want to bind the poor here to starve. Go out into the country and into the neighboring cities, and get food, and gird up your loins, and be sober. When you get food, return, if you have a mind to. Some say it is better to give to the poor than build the Temple.

2The building of the Temple has sustained the poor who were driven from Missouri, and kept them from starving; and it has been the best means for this object which could be devised. Oh, all ye rich men of the Latter-day Saints from abroad, I would invite you bring up some of your money--your gold, your silver, and your precious things, and give to the Temple. We want iron, steel, spades, and quarrying and mechanical tools.

3It would be a good plan to get up a forge to manufacture iron, and bring in raw materials of every variety, and erect manufacturing establishments of all kinds, and surround the rapids with mills and machinery. I never stole the value of a pin's head, or a picayune in my life; and when you are hungry don't steal. Come to me, and I will feed you. The secret of Masonry is to keep a secret. It is good economy to entertain strangers--to entertain sectarians.

4Come up to Nauvoo, ye sectarian priests of the everlasting Gospel, as they call it, and you shall have my pulpit all day. Woe to ye rich men, who refuse to give to the poor, and then come and ask me for bread. Away with all your meanness, and be liberal. We need purging, purifying and cleansing. You that have little faith in your Elders when you are sick, get some little simple remedy in the first stages. If you send for a doctor at all, send in the first stages.

5All ye doctors who are fools, not well read, and do not understand the human constitution, stop your practice. And all ye lawyers who have no business, only as you hatch it up, would to God you would go to work or run away! (Oct. 15, 1843.) DHC 6:56-59.