Within hours of a devastating earthquake hitting the poverty-ravaged nation of Haiti, generous people worldwide were sacrificing time, energy and resources to help the victims.

And just as quickly, scam artists were busy at work, trying to find ways to lure generous people to give them money instead, using false promises and outright lies. Typical among these was a Web site pretending to belong to the Red Cross of the United Kingdom. People were urged to click on a link that would send them to a site telling them where to wire money. But the money never would go to Haiti or to relieve any sort of suffering. It would go to line the pockets of someone interested only in personal gain.

Experts say disasters always bring out this dark side of humanity. In truth, the practice goes back to the very beginning of the human race. Cain killed Abel because Satan had taught him this was a way to obtain worldly wealth without any legitimate work. When the Lord confronted Cain and asked, "Where is Abel thy brother?" Cain answered with a lie, "I know not." Then he asked a question of his own. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

That question is as relative today as it was then. The answer we give defines whose side we are on. The Lord always has made it clear that we have a responsibility to look out for the welfare of our neighbors. Satan teaches the opposite. The prophet Nephi saw our day and described it this way:

"And there shall also be many which shall say; Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God — he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this. …"(2 Nephi 28:8).

This, Nephi says, is a "false, vain and foolish [doctrine]." Those who practice it risk the condemnation of God. (See 2 Nephi 28:10).

There may also be some who are slow to help because they say many of the sufferers brought upon themselves many of their problems, such as those that existed in Haiti before the earthquake.

Joseph of the Old Testament demonstrated that the Lord requires no litmus test for those who are to be considered our brothers. Joseph's own brothers treated him about as poorly as could be imagined. They plotted to kill him and then changed their minds only when they found the opportunity to get gain, 20 pieces of silver, by selling him.

Years later, when a famine gripped the land, Joseph found himself in a position of power, with the ability to decide how precious food was to be distributed. His brothers came to him, not knowing who he was. Joseph was in a position to deal harshly, and yet he chose to act kindly. His concern was to be his brothers' keeper, regardless of how they had treated him.

He said: "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life" (Genesis 45:5).

The decision whether to become our brothers' keepers can at times be simple and uncomplicated, such as when a natural or man-made disaster leads to suffering and immediate need. Sometimes, it can be complicated and subtle, such as when we have to decide whether to deal fairly and ethically in the business world, even though no one would know if we were to gain just a little more from doing otherwise.

Even in the smallest of cases, dishonesty hurts someone else. It can also deaden our spiritual senses, making it more difficult for us to see the needs that exist everywhere.

President Thomas S. Monson said, "We have no way of knowing when our privilege to extend a helping hand will unfold before us. The road to Jericho each of us travels bears no name, and the weary traveler who needs our help may be one unknown. Altogether too frequently, the recipient of kindness shown fails to express his feelings, and we are deprived of a glimpse of greatness and a touch of tenderness that motivates us to go and do likewise" ("My Brother's Keeper," April 1990 general conference).

Cain's insolent question still hangs in the air. It presents itself to us every day in many different ways. We need to be aware of how we are answering.