Ammon was the son of a king, but after his conversion to Jesus Christ, neither he nor his brothers wanted to rule their people. (See Mosiah 29:2-3.) Instead, they chose to spend 14 years as missionaries among their enemies. (See Mosiah 28:1-5.) Arriving in that hostile foreign kingdom, Ammon told King Lamoni that he wanted to be a servant and that he was committed to stay for a long time, “perhaps until the day I die” (Alma 17:23, 25). His humble service led to miracles, powerful teaching moments, and great joy. (See Alma 26:28-29.)
We treat things differently when we see ourselves as caretakers instead of owners. If we become the kind of servants that Ammon was, fully committed to caring for things that don’t belong to us, then we will work harder and more humbly than we would if we saw ourselves as owners.
In April 1834, the Lord gave some guidance to church leaders in Kirtland, Ohio about how to manage property collectively owned by the Church. A fundamental principle he wanted them to understand is that nothing really belongs to us. “I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork,” He reminded them; “and all things therein are mine” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:14). Therefore, the rich have no right to withhold their possessions from those who need them more (Doctrine and Covenants 104:15-18). And therefore, we should approach our daily labors with a sense of accountability toward the true Owner. “If the properties are mine, then ye are stewards; otherwise ye are no stewards. But, verily I say unto you, I have appointed unto you to be stewards over mine house, even stewards indeed” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:56-57).
Bishop Gérald Caussé has taught:
The Creator has entrusted the earth’s resources and all forms of life to our care, but He retains full ownership. … All that is on the earth belongs to God, including our families, our physical bodies, and even our very lives.
“Our Earthly Stewardship,” October 2022 general conference
Today, I will approach my activities with the servant-heart of Ammon. I will remember that everything in my life—including my body and my mind—belong to my Creator, and I will strive to care for them as Ammon cared for the possessions of King Lamoni.
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