Liberation Theology

Liberation theology preaches that it is not enough for the church to simply empathise and care for the poor. Instead, the church needed to be a vehicle to push for fundamental political and structural changes that would eradicate poverty, even supporting armed struggle against oppressors.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints rejects liberation theology.  It is the primary responsibility of religion to care for the poor (pure religion).  Government welfare enables the poor by the redistribution of income without accountability.  But the Kingdom of God will end poverty by the power of covenant and morality and not the sword (keep himself unspotted from the world).  The policies with regard to poverty that need to change are not political ones but religious. When religions begin to do their job, the poor will no longer need to rely on government. (see James 1:27)