Spare Currency.

On Saturday night last week, I had the privilege of attending a Jazz game in Salt Lake City. I'm definitely not a city girl- and never have been. (i'm finding the truth in that more and more by living here) The part of the night that impacted me the most was walking back to the car---i saw like 6 homeless people holding up cardboard signs telling us why they need money. I can honestly say I've never seen that many in one setting, one lady didn't have a sign she just came up and asked if we had any 'spare currency.' I don't know how to explain how I felt- it broke my heart. I didn't give anyone any money because I've always heard that they are probably just normal people and they are just trying to get money the easiest way possible even if they have a job or what not. Every person we passed I wanted to give them something. I didn't actually have any cash, only my card so all I would've been able to give would have been spare change, but to one person that's just as important as any 'spare currency' right? I was really torn inside about this experience because I didn't think I'd done the right thing. Ironically enough, yesterday in my Institute class we read a scripture from the Book of Mormon,

Mosiah 4:16-25 "And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; 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, an dturn him out to perish. Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him or my food, nor impart of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just---But I say unto you, O man, whosever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold and for silver and for all riches which we have of every kind? And behold even at this time ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy." (that was only to vs 20 but i encourage all of you to read the last 5 verses of that little section)

I'm sorry this is such a long post with no pictures, but i just wanted to share with you what I learned, my teacher shared with us a good insight, and I'm not sure if he was quoting someone but its something to think about- What if 9 out of 10 of the people begging for money are doing it dishonestly? Should we continue to let them do that by giving them money? If we don't give them something though, what about the person who truly needed it? Do they miss out because of the unrighteousness of others? Here is what I found regarding the subject, John F. O'Donnel- President of the Guatemaula City temple said, "The church does much as an organization to help the needy. But what about the individuals who approach us? How do we know the difference between the truly needy, professional beggars, and the unnecessary begging that also exists...Based on scriptures and my experiences, I have decided that giving is a personal matter to be decided by each individual...In such situations, daily prayer for wisdom in all that we do can guide us to know in our hearts by the whisperings of the Spirit when and to whom we might give."
We can give through church programs, simply when we pay our tithing we can put a little extra in the Humanitarian Aid section, as much as we can. Times are hard for everyone right now, so if this post is making you feel guilty, it shouldn't. In vs 24 and 25 of chapter 4 in Mosiah it talks specifically to those who want to give but truly cannot. I just learned this weekend to put my heart in a better place- reach out to those who need it as much as possible and listen to the Spirit in order to do so. Even if all I give to someone is a little 'spare currency' it just might be the difference between that person having a meal that day or not.