“Certainly.  A master mechanic is steward over this factory, and he renders an account of all its doings to the Bishop, who is the Lord’s representative.  In this building, as you have seen, are many departments, and these are also stewardships, given to those in whose charge they are.  Likewise, each workman has a stewardship for which he is responsible and accountable to the Lord.”

They came to the wood-carving department where beautiful designs were being drawn and executed.

“Each man, as far as possible, does the kind of work best suited to his tastes and abilities.  Here, for instance, those who are skilled carvers of wood find employment for their talent, and they turn out some fine articles of furniture.  Of course, we have machines that stamp and carve wood; but the pleasure derived from the use of the skilled hand is not to be denied the well-trained mechanic and artist.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean by stewardships,” said Remand as they passed into a rest room.

“Let us sit down here,” replied Paulus, “and I shall try to explain further.  You must know that all this order, beauty, peace, and plenty has been attained by an observance of celestial law.  And the celestial law as pertaining to temporal things is that no man shall have more than is required for his and his family’s support.  In this respect all men are equal according to their needs.  In olden times, this law was called the order of Enoch, because we are informed that Enoch and his city attained to a high degree of righteousness through its observance.  Later it was called the United Order.  It has been revealed to and tried by men in various periods of the earth’s history, but never has it had such a chance to redeem the world as it is having now.  According to this law, no man can accumulate unto himself the wealth created by the work of others, as was the case in former times with us, and still prevails to some extent among other nations.  All surplus which a worker accumulates beyond his needs is turned into the general storehouse of the Lord.  Thus each man becomes equal in temporal things as well as in spiritual things.  There is no rich or poor:  each man obtains what he requires, and no more.”

“What is the extent of this surplus?” asked the King.  “Is it large?”

“Yes; because of the nearly perfect condition of our industrial system, a great amount of wealth flows into the general storehouse.  You will understand, of course, that all public institutions receive their support from this fund, so that the old order of taxes is done away with.  You have noticed our beautiful city.  You have not seen palaces of the rich and hovels of the poor, but you have seen magnificent public buildings, parks, and thoroughfares.  These institutions that are for all alike have been built and are sustained by the surplus; and this city does not represent all of what the people of the Lord are doing.  The Lord’s work is being extended throughout this land and to lands beyond the sea.  Not the least of our duties is the building of temples and the performing of the work for our dead in them.  So you see, we have need of much wealth to carry on our work.”