I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

[Adapted from Choose Generosity: Discovering Whole Life Stewardship, Herald House, 2019, p. 110]

God provides “enough and to spare” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:2f). God shares in abundance “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over” (Luke 6:38). The struggle in the world is not the lack of resources for everyone. The struggle is in how we distribute the resources of the world. Economic justice is about solving the distribution problem in ways that honor the worth of all.

Steve Veazey described the challenge: “The world is living a nightmare of pain and despair. God is calling for a massive exodus of people from poverty and related suffering. Will we be the prophets standing before crafty politicians and predatory hoarders of wealth, saying with conviction, ‘You had better let God’s people go’? God sees a church that doesn’t just speak and sing of Zion. God sees one that lives, loves, and shares as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed (inspired by Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a). The only way there will be no poor or oppressed is for the rest of us to change our ways. Zion is the divine vision that awakens our nobler natures and potential for sharing in community” (Steve Veazey, 2016 World Conference closing worship message: “Live, Love, Share…”).

As we seek to bring about God’s vision of shalom, whole-life stewardship means we must use our opportunities as citizens of our various nations to engage in the difficult questions of our time. God invites us to use our individual resources to bring about solutions that help provide economic justice. Jesus’ example motivates us to get involved. Jesus led the way in standing up for the peace and justice issues of his time and nation.

Prayer Phrase

“Happy are those who observe justice” (Psalm 106:3).

Healing and Reconciliation

Gather a small mound of stones. Meditate on the stones as symbols of differences and destructive acts that continue to separate and wound the human family. Name and anoint each “stone wound” with a drop of water or scented oil. Offer them to God in a prayer for healing and reconciliation.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.