Hi there, my wire religion friends, Professor Anthony Sweat here from BYU Church History

and Doctor and welcome to another great episode of the wire religion podcast.

In the October 2019 General Conference of the Church, President Russell M. Nelson spoke

about poverty and other humanitarian concerns, saying this.

As members of the Church, we feel a kinship to those who suffer in any way.

As sons and daughters of God, we are all brothers and sisters.

We heed an Old Testament admonition.

Now shout open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor and to thy needy.

President Nelson's linking of Old Testament law with modern social concerns highlights

the continued relevancy of the Old Testament for confronting modern challenges, including

challenges of poverty and the world's growing refugee crisis.

Dr. George Pearce of BYU's Department of Ancient Scripture helped to edit the 2021

Sydney B.Sperry Symposium book, titled Covenant of Compassion, caring for the marginalized

and disadvantaged in the Old Testament, including his own chapter called the Experience of

Israelite Refugees.

In this chapter, he details how King Hezekiah deliberately implemented certain initiatives

to include displaced refugees from the northern kingdom of Israel as part of the southern

kingdom of Judah.

And so in all these ways, providing fortification, providing water and employment, incorporating

them into the administration, having a Passover that would unify the North and South, and naming

his son, Manasseh.

He's worked to make them feel like they're part of the community.

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