D&C 68

The Lord said to the saints -

"And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord.
31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.
32 These things ought not to be, and must be done away from among them..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 68:30 - 32)

Is is apparent that the Lord expects and commands that man is not to be idle in industry or spiritual matters. In our day, we see more and more government handouts, unearned compensation, and welfare. Even in a recent election, much of the discussion was on socialist type issues where the government should be more involved in re-distribution of wealth. The Lord has always allowed agency and required man to care for the poor and the needy - but not necessarily, idlers. Elder David B. Haight taught some 30 years ago -

"What has this monstrous thing called government welfare done to the people? Today we have second- and third-generation welfare recipients. Millions have learned how to live off the government. Children are growing up without knowing the value and the dignity of work. The government has succeeded in doing what the Church welfare program seeks to prevent. . . .

But Church members are not immune to the perils of the government dole. There is evidence that some of our people are receiving something for nothing from the government. The fact that this condition exists in the Church highlights the need of our members to be knowledgeable about Church welfare principles. President Kimball has stated: ‘No true Latter-day Saint, while physically or emotionally able, will voluntarily shift the burden of his own or his family’s well-being to someone else’ (Ensign, May 1978, p. 79." (In Conference Report, Oct. 1978, p. 86; or Ensign, Nov. 1978, p. 86.)

The will of the Lord seems to be in direct conflict to some modern-day political philosophies of men.