Some things can't be measured in monetary terms, because they will outlast money itself. Jesus refused to worship Satan in exchange for all the kingdoms of the earth. On a smaller scale, Amulek refused to deny God in exchange for six onties of silver.
Without Money
The gift of eternal salvation is priceless. It can't be bought. No amount of time, effort, or money would match its value. Perhaps that's why Isaiah emphasizes twice that money is not required to receive it: Thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. Isaiah 52:3 Ho, every one that thirsteth,... Continue Reading →
Gehazi and Gifts
In the book Predictably Irrational, Dan Ariely discusses the problems that come from mixing social norms with market norms. As humans, he said, we make some decisions in purely financial terms—How much is this activity worth? Does the benefit justify the cost?—but we make other decisions in terms of relationships. Applying a market lens to... Continue Reading →
“Seek Diligently to Take Away Incumbrances”
When the Lord invited John Johnson to participate in the United Firm in 1833, He coupled that invitation with an assignment: He shall seek diligently to take away incumbrances that are upon the house named among you, Doctrine and Covenants 96:9 An encumbrance (or incumbrance) is a burden or an impediment to progress. As a legal term, it... Continue Reading →
Equal
In 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation instructing church leaders to organize themselves more fully to ensure that the needs of all church members could be met. In that revelation, the Lord taught the following principle: If ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;Doctrine and Covenants 78:6 What does... Continue Reading →
The Riches of Eternity
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.Proverbs 13:7 The prophet Jacob counseled his people to prioritize heavenly blessings over earthly ones: "Before ye seek for riches," he said, "seek ye for the kingdom of God" (Jacob 2:18). The Savior urged us all not to spend time and energy accumulating "treasures upon earth, where moth... Continue Reading →
Rich and Poor
How much wealth we accumulate doesn't matter very much in the end, but our attitude toward wealth and the resulting actions matter very much. The prophet Jacob gave the following warning: Wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and... Continue Reading →
The Storehouse
When Hezekiah became king of Judah at the age of 25, he implemented a number of reforms to turn his people's hearts back to God. He repaired the temple. He organized the priests and Levites and reminded them of their duties. He reinstituted religious practices which had been neglected. And he gathered the people for... Continue Reading →
Family Financial Management and Section 48
As I studied section 48 of the Doctrine and Covenants today, I noticed that the Lord instructed members of the church to do three things in relation to their assets: give generously, save aggressively, and buy carefully. Joseph Smith received this revelation after asking the Lord what to do about the influx of members of... Continue Reading →
“Whosoever…Borroweth” – Mosiah 4:28
I wrote a few days ago that temporal things have spiritual impacts. One of those temporal things is our financial well-being. After teaching his people to give generously to those in need, King Benjamin reminded them to do all things "in wisdom and in order." Then, perhaps as an example of the kind of "order"... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 