“Enough and to Spare”: Economic Data Vindicate Once-implausible Prophetic Statements

Abstract: Despite frequently lacking material abundance in his life and living at a time when Malthusian concepts were becoming popular among intellectuals, Joseph Smith made a daring prophecy in 1834. He stated that God had designed the earth with abundant resources such that “the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:17). While many in the world, and sometimes even in the Church, believe that the world is running out of many resources due to overpopulation, extensive economic data show that the opposite is true. Resources tend to become more abundant over time, as long as there is some degree of economic freedom. Here we examine those data, showing that our planet is not merely blessed with abundance, but with “superabundance.” The data suggest that Joseph’s daring prophecy has been vindicated. In fact, economic data further suggest that the most serious scarce resource the planet faces is arguably human beings who can create, innovate, and solve problems of scarcity, especially human beings who apply their agency for good. The teachings of the gospel can bring both spiritual and temporal abundance on this earth that is full, with enough and to spare.

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