They Began to Be Exceedingly Rich – Alma 1:29-31

29 And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need–an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth.
30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.
31 And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.
(Alma 1:29-31)

Today, I’ve been learning from this description of the prosperity enjoyed by members of the church:
They were rich because of their steadiness. I think this means that they were dependable and self-disciplined. They were capable of making commitments, even long-term ones, and following through.
They prospered even more because they were generous. Their generosity was not determined by age, social class, gender, or membership in the church. Their only criterion was need. If a person was in need, they were willing to help.
Mormon goes on in the following verse to explain that the people who didn’t belong to the church were anything but steady and generous. Their lifestyle, which included idleness, contention, and dishonesty, was not conducive to the accumulation of wealth. Thus, even though they received assistance when they were in need, they were not able to convert that assistance into sustainable prosperity.
Today I will follow the example of the members of the church in this passage. I will share with those in need regardless of who they may be. I will also strive for steadiness in my life, recognizing that self-discipline and integrity are fundamental to my success and happiness.