The Gospel in Words: 'Order'

"And there was great order in the land." (3 Nephi 6:4)The word "order" is used numerous times and in numerous ways in the scriptures. Order often refers to a type of priesthood, as in "priests after the order of Melchizedek" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:57). However, in today's column we will talk about order in the sense of orderly or order in society.Order comes from the root meaning to fit together, to arrange, to join, a methodological arrangement. In the original sense, order came from the word to weave, that is fitting together threads into cloth ("The Roots of English"). One of the formal definitions of order is sequence, disposition or regulated condition. It is "the condition in which everything has its correct or appropriate place, and performs its proper functions; the force for harmony and regularity in the universe" (Oxford English Dictionary).The contrast between order and disorder is a significant theme in the scriptures. Paul teaches that all things should be done "decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). We are commanded to "organize ourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house ... of order" (D&C 88:119). The First Presidency has the "mission ... to ... set in order all the affairs of this church and kingdom" (D&C 90:16).Conversely, when Job was wondering why he had even been born and even why he was not dead, in his imagination he thought the worst place he could be was a place "without any order, and where the light is as darkness" (Job 10:22).Disorder is a consequence of transgression. The Nephites were promised that peace and order would lead to "prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression" (3 Nephi 6:5). And Mormon lamented to his son Moroni that he feared that the spirit of the Lord had "ceased striving with" the Nephites (Moroni 9:4). "O the depravity of mine people! They are without order and without mercy ... and I cannot any longer enforce my commands" (Moroni 9:18).On the other hand, there is a deep and significant connection between order and peace and prosperity. "And it came to pass that Alma did regulate (order) all the affairs of the church; and they began again to have peace and to prosper exceedingly" (Mosiah 26:37). In 3 Nephi, there was another time of peace and prosperity when "there was great order in the land; and they had formed their laws according to equity and justice" (3 Nephi 6:4). Mercy and charity are consequences of order and prosperity. "And they did impart of their substance ... to the poor, and the needy ... and in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any that were naked, or that were hungry" (Alma 1:26-31).