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 →
“Do Not Spend Money for That Which Is of No Worth” – 2 Nephi 9:51
We all have limited resources, and we have countless ways to spend our time, money, and energy. Ironically, some of the most valuable things in life are relatively inexpensive, while many things which consume our resources have an extremely low ROI. That is the message of Isaiah in a passage which Jacob paraphrases in a... Continue Reading →
What Should I Do About Economic Inequality?
Earlier this week, I wrote about how wearing "costly apparel" can distract us from caring for the poor and the needy. Yesterday, we discussed the Lord's expectation that we be responsive to the needs of the people around us. The Book of Mormon also talks about these principles on a larger scale: social classes, wealth... Continue Reading →
Should We Always Give to Beggars?
What do you do when someone approaches you on the street and asks you for money? Because of the location where I work, I have that experience fairly regularly, and I must admit that my response is inconsistent. Sometimes, I give them money. Sometimes, I politely decline to give. And sometimes, I ignore them completely.... Continue Reading →
What’s Wrong with “Costly Apparel?”
People are more important than things. We all know that. But at times we are all tempted to prioritize things over people. Why is that? Here's one reason: We all want to be appreciated and respected. In our world, appearances matter. The things you own, including the clothes you wear, influence the way other people... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Finances?
Today, I'll share a few principles of financial management that are taught in the Book of Mormon. Over the next few days, I'll consider a few other questions about money, including the relationship between pride and wealth, the importance of caring for the poor, and the dangers of economic inequality. Here are some principles I... Continue Reading →