"And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
"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."For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.
"Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, accord ing to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eye in hell, being in torment." (D&C 104:15-18.)
In the April 1979 general conference, President Marion G. Romney of the First Presidency explained the relationship between the Lord's ownership of all things and man's charge in caring for the poor saints in the Lord's way:
"The Lord claims the earth as His, that it is not yours and mine to own and manage independently of Him. No matter how many stocks and bonds or how much land and other properties we possess, they are not wholly ours. They are the Lord's.
"He further says that He owns and gives to us all the blessings we have and that He makes us stewards over them, responsible to Him. He makes it clear that it is His purpose to provide for His saints, but He requires that it be done in His way, which way, He explains, is for those who have to contribute to those who have not. Having made us stewards, He gives us our agency, however, and then lays down the condition that if we accept these blessings and refuse to contribute our share for the care of the poor, we shall go to - well, He tells us where we shall go."
