Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 83

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
         SECTION 83

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Independence, Missouri, Apirl 30, 1832. HC 1:269—270. This revelation was received as the Prophet sat in council with his brethren.

    1—4, Women and children have claim upon their husbands and fathers for their support;
    5—6, Widows and orphans have claim upon the Church for their support.
 1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord, in addition to the alaws of the church concerning women and children, those who belong to the church, who have blost their husbands or fathers:
 2 aWomen have bclaim on their husbands for the maintenance, until their chusbands are taken; and if they are not found transgressors they shall have fellowship in the church.
 3 And if they are not faithful they shall not have fellowship in the church; yet they may remain upon their inheritances according to the laws of the land.

 4 All achildren have claim upon their bparents for their cmaintenance until they are of age.
 5 And after that, they have aclaim upon the church, or in other words, upon the Lord's bstorehouse, if their parents have not wherewith to give them inheritancesa.
 6 And the storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the church; and awidows and orphans shall be provided for, as also the bpoor. Amen.

 5a if their parents have not wherewith to given them inheritances Though this convention is not practiced in this modern age, it seems that children were not just to be expelled from their home without some means and 'inheritance' given of their parents which would enable them to begin to sustain themselves. Parents who think that their responsibilities to their children end when the child reaches the age 'legal adulthood' do not understand the Plan of God nor the extent of the reaches of eternity and exaltation. The fact is 'Once a parent, always a parent'. This is the expectation of the eternal family. And though we who are of minimal means are not able to endow our children with inheritances of so sort of livelihood, we do still have obligation to them to provide for them as we are able to do so. We just do not expell them out into the world unprepared and uncared for. And in the eternal since, as their needs in this complex world of ups and downs play upon their well being and livelihoods, we still have an obligation to see to their needs through out as we are so able to aid and assist them.