Paid Ministers
The book of Mormon says do not labor for money, but labor for zion. How does this compare to the verse that says you cannot serve God and Mammon? And then the BoM says if you serve your fellow man you are serving God…
There is no command in the Book of Mormon to not labor for money. In fact, it teaches that if you have a hope in Christ, you will seek riches so that you can help the poor and afflicted! It is a matter of priorities.
Jacob 2
18. But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
19. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good--to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
The verse you seem to be citing is covering the priestcrafts that had arisen due to removal of the plain and precious parts of the Gospel of the Lamb. Apparently, there were folks preaching with the sole purpose of gaining power, money and the vain things of the world yet didn’t really care about the welfare of Zion (the people of the Lord):
2 Nephi 26
20. And the Gentiles....have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.
21. And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.
25. ….he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
27. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
29. He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
30. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
31. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.
When Alma set up the church at the Waters of Mormon (can I say that), he divided the congregations into groups of fifty. He placed a priest in each group. He commanded that these priests should labor with their own hands for their support..The priests were not to depend upon the people for their support, but for their labors they were to receive power and authority from God.
And so the pattern of the ministry was set.
Alma 1
26. And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.
27. And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted;
That is where Book of Mormon “authority” comes from, by the way. But that is another subject.
I would imagine that some of the priests were more successful in labor than others. We all know how that goes. Some can be sickly or old or just have bad crops or debilitating injury or in some way afflicted. That is where the “if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish”. Saints should then kick in and help this kind of priest out when he finds himself in need.
However, if a priest decides to turn preaching into a money making career to get riches or power, that is where the priest becomes a dissenter.
This is not to say ministers must not receive material recompense for their labors. Although Paul didn’t take advantage of receiving material recompense, he clearly taught that it would have been just fine.
1 Corinthians 9
6. ….have not we power to forbear working?
7. Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8. Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9. For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10. Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12. If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter?
14. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
And he tells Timothy:
1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
So, in conclusion, it all comes down to intention when it comes to teaching the Gospel. What is the motive?
Alma 30
32. Now Alma said unto him: Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people; for behold I have labored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now, with mine own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto my people.
33. And notwithstanding the many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment-seat; and then we have received only according to law for our time.
34. And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the joy of our brethren?