THE LORD’S FUND — SCRIPTURES ON THE POOR, THE NEEDY, AND THE BUILDING OF ZION

Across all scripture, the Lord repeatedly commands His people to lift the poor, defend the oppressed, care for the widow and fatherless, relieve suffering, and build societies where there are no poor among them.

This is not a side doctrine.
This is not “optional Christianity.”
This is the core of the Gospel and the defining mark of God’s covenant people.

If a church forgets the poor, it forgets Christ.
If a people reject the needy, they reject the Lord Himself.
And Zion—Heaven’s own pattern—cannot be established any other way.

PROPHETIC WARNINGS ABOUT OUR DAY — WHY ZION MUST BE BUILT NOW

The prophets saw our time with clarity, not vagueness. They warned what God’s people would look like when pride, wealth, and false security replaced humility and repentance.

Moroni Saw Our Day (Mormon 8)
Moroni describes churches that become polluted—leaders who love money more than the poor, people who spend lavishly while passing by the hungry, the sick, and the afflicted. Comfort replaces sacrifice. Appearances replace charity.

His piercing question remains unanswered by many:
“Why do ye adorn yourselves… and suffer the hungry to pass by you?”

This is not a description of atheists.
This is a description of religious people in the last days.

Nephi Saw Our Day (2 Nephi 26–30)
Nephi foresaw churches that would preach for gain, seek power and praise, love fine clothing and adorned sanctuaries, and teach flattering words—declaring, “All is well in Zion.”

But Nephi warns: All is not well.

He foresaw people lulled into a spiritual sleep, the poor neglected, the widow forgotten and the fatherless unaided. He foresaw people falsely secure within Babylon who could not see the pending judgments of God fast approaching.

King Noah’s System Has Returned (Mosiah 11)

Lavish building projects.
Heavy financial burdens on the people.
Religious leaders living in ease.
The poor pushed lower.
The people pacified by flattering religious speech.

This is not ancient history.
It is a spiritual mirror of modern religion.

WHAT THE LORD DECLARES COMES NEXT (D&C 45)

Judgments will be poured out on Babylon.
The proud will tremble.
Babylon’s systems will collapse.

But the righteous—those who refuse Babylon and build Zion—will be:
Armed with righteousness
Clothed in the glory of God
Sheltered by His power

Those who repent, gather, and build Zion according to Heaven’s law will stand when Babylon burns.

WHY THIS MATTERS

These scriptures expose the condition of our generation:

• Pride has replaced humility
• Wealth has replaced charity
• Policy has replaced compassion
• Corporations are masquerading as churches
• Babylon is the Mother of all corporations

The greatest danger today is not open wickedness, but secret wickedness with the appearance of righteousness—religion without depth, without love, without true repentance; wealth hoarded without charity or mercy; and worship performed without the heart.

This is why Zion must be built again.
This is why the poor must be lifted again.
This is why hearts must turn from Babylon back to Christ.
Because only Zion survives what is coming.

THE LORD’S DIRECT COMMANDMENTS TO CARE FOR THE POOR

• James 1:27 — Pure religion is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.
• D&C 44:6 — Visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief.
• Mosiah 4:16 — 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
• Alma 34:28 — If ye turn away the needy, your prayer is vain.
• Isaiah 58:6–7 — Deal thy bread to the hungry… bring the poor to thy house.
• D&C 52:40 — If you do not remember the poor, you are not the Lord’s disciple.
• D&C 38:27 — Be one; if ye are not one, ye are not mine.

WARNINGS AGAINST NEGLECTING THE POOR

• Isaiah 3:14–15 — The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
• Amos 5:11–12 — God rejects offerings offered while the poor are crushed.
• Matthew 23:14, 23 — Devouring widows’ houses while omitting mercy and faith.
• Mormon 8:37–39 — Adorning yourselves while the hungry pass by.
• D&C 104:18 — The Lord calls those who withhold from the poor and needy “wicked”.

WHAT A ZION PEOPLE LOOK LIKE

• Moses 7:18 — One heart, one mind, no poor among them.
• 4 Nephi 1:2–3 — No rich or poor among them.
• Acts 2:44–45 — All things common, distributed as needed.
• Acts 4:32–35 — One heart, one soul and none claimed possessions as their own.
• Mosiah 18:8–10 — Bear one another’s burdens, mourn with and comfort those that mourn.
• D&C 82:19 — Everyone seeking the interest of their neighbor.

THE LORD DWELLING WITH HIS ZION PEOPLE

• Revelation 21:2-3 — John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down from heaven, God will dwell with them, and they shall be his people
• Ether 13:7 — The Lord will come and dwell with His people.
• D&C 84:2 — The presence of the Lord shall be in New Jerusalem.
• 3 Nephi 21:25–26 — Zion will be built and the Lord will dwell in her.
• Moses 7:62–64 — The City of Enoch will return and unite with Zion on earth.

WHY ALL OF THIS MATTERS

Across scripture there are hundreds of direct commands to care for the poor and needy and condemn their neglect.
Why so many?
Because Zion cannot exist in any other condition.

Heaven’s system is:
• One heart
• One mind
• Pure love
• No poor among us

This is why Enoch’s people were taken into Heaven.
This is why Zion must be built again.
This is why the City of Enoch will return to dwell with Zion.
This is why Christ will reign personally among a people without poor during the Millennium.

The Lord’s pattern has never changed:
Lift the poor.
Break the chains of inequality.
Build Zion through charity.
Prepare a people God can dwell among.

This is the work of The Lord’s Fund.
This is the doctrine of Zion.
This is the law of the Kingdom of God.