Envy is Complicated

Even though envy is a fundamental attribute of the natural man, can you completely separate envy from pride, greed, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth--the Seven Deadlies? Perhaps not. However, envy appears to be the sin pushing the prideful, greedy, wrathful, lustful, gluttonous, and slothful, over the edge. 

Envy precedes, and is the engine of, jealousy. Envy is always comparing. Comparisons between Father's children can easily slide into the miserable abyss of envy and lust for the honors of men and their material goods. 

Paul warns:

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number*, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (LDS 2 Cor 10:12; RE 2 Cor 1:34) 

*(Strong’s #1469; i.e., Don’t sit at the cool kid’s table.)

In the quest for righteousness, our Lord has the answer to perhaps, the most critical question ever asked:

"...why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men..." (LDS D&C 121:34-35; RE T&C 139:5)

George Hinkle didn't understand any of this when he made his deal with Colonel Lucas to deliver Joseph Smith for arrest and prosecution, on the pretense of a negotiating pow-wow. The ruse used on Joseph was to enlist his help in bringing peace between the Mormons and the Missourians.

Hinkle’s betrayal of Joseph's trust condemned Joseph, and his comrades, to Liberty Jail for the cold months of 1838. It was more like a medieval dungeon. It is doubtful that there was room in George Hinkle's heart for much of anything but envy.

A favorite movie, (People Will Talk, 1951), more poetically teaches the point. 

A short, envious, stiff-collared, hard-hearted, bureaucratic, university professor attempts to discredit a creative, compassionate, fair-minded, and financially more successful colleague. 

The attempt failed, embarrassingly. The following was said to the envious failure:

"Professor Elwell, you're a little man. It's not that you're short. You're...little, in the mind and in the heart. Tonight, you tried to make a man little whose boots you couldn't touch if you stood on tiptoe on top of the highest mountain in the world. And as it turned out...you're even littler than you were before."

Such are my feelings about George Hinkle, Sampson Avard, and all the rest who bore false witness against Joseph Smith in the early days, and those who continue to deny historical and scriptural facts and order the lighthouse* to change course 10 degrees. *(Reference to the “lighthouse” story in Steven R. Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 1989.)