This is a review of the slides we used This is a review of the slides we used while discussing . . .while discussing . . .

“All Things in Common”“All Things in Common” 4 Nephi4 Nephi

““We ought to have the We ought to have the building up of building up of ZionZion as our as our greatest objectgreatest object” (” (Teachings of the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph SmithProphet Joseph Smith, p.161)., p.161).

““Only a Zion people can bring in a Zion Only a Zion people can bring in a Zion societysociety. . And as the Zion people increase, so And as the Zion people increase, so we will be able to incorporate more of the we will be able to incorporate more of the principles of Zion until we have a people principles of Zion until we have a people prepared to receive the Lord” (Ezra Taft prepared to receive the Lord” (Ezra Taft Benson, New Era, May 1975, p. 18).Benson, New Era, May 1975, p. 18).

““Partakers of the Heavenly Gift”Partakers of the Heavenly Gift”4 Nephi 1:3 + Ether 12:3-4, 8-114 Nephi 1:3 + Ether 12:3-4, 8-11

““Faith . . . Is the moving cause of all action.”Faith . . . Is the moving cause of all action.”

(Joseph Smith, (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith #1Lectures on Faith #1, p. 7) , p. 7)

Faith in ChristFaith in Christ

RepentanceRepentance

BaptismBaptism

Holy GhostHoly Ghost

11

22

33

44

Moroni 7-8Moroni 7-8

Faith in ChristFaith in Christ

THE GIFTTHE GIFT

HOPEHOPE

FAITHFAITH

RepentanceRepentance

BaptismBaptism

Holy GhostHoly Ghost

11

22

33

44

Moroni 7-8Moroni 7-8

Evil oneEvil one

Sec. Comb.Sec. Comb.

Sin/iniquitySin/iniquity

DoubtDoubt

44

33

22

11

Moroni 9-10Moroni 9-10

Evil oneEvil one

DOUBTDOUBT

DESPAIRDESPAIR

FULNESS OF FULNESS OF INIQUITYINIQUITY

Sec. Comb.Sec. Comb.

Sin/iniquitySin/iniquity

DoubtDoubt

44

33

22

11

Moroni 9-10Moroni 9-10

““Where doubt and uncertainty are there faith is Where doubt and uncertainty are there faith is not, nor can it benot, nor can it be. For doubt and faith do not exist in . For doubt and faith do not exist in the same person at the same time; so that persons the same person at the same time; so that persons whose minds are under doubts and fears cannot whose minds are under doubts and fears cannot have unshaken confidence; and where unshaken have unshaken confidence; and where unshaken confidence is not there faith is weak; and confidence is not there faith is weak; and where faith where faith is weak the persons will not be able to contend against is weak the persons will not be able to contend against all the opposition, tribulations, and afflictions which all the opposition, tribulations, and afflictions which they will have to encounter in order to be heirs of God, they will have to encounter in order to be heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christand joint heirs with Jesus Christ;; and they will grow and they will grow weary in their minds, and the adversary will have weary in their minds, and the adversary will have power over them and destroy them” (Joseph Smith, power over them and destroy them” (Joseph Smith, LecturesLectures 6:12). 6:12).

Building ZionBuilding ZionD&C 78:5-7; 105:5 D&C 78:5-7; 105:5

Pillars of Consecration--Pillars of Consecration--Issues of the heartIssues of the heart

D&C 38:19 D&C 38:19

“‘“‘The longest journey that any of us The longest journey that any of us will ever take’will ever take’ —the journey from my head —the journey from my head to my heart” (Marie K. Hafen, to my heart” (Marie K. Hafen, Ricks College Ricks College DevotionalDevotional, October 3, 2000)., October 3, 2000).

““These comments are for the essentially These comments are for the essentially ‘honorable’ ‘honorable’ members who are skimming over the members who are skimming over the surface instead of surface instead of deepening their discipleshipdeepening their discipleship and who and who are casually engaged rather than are casually engaged rather than ‘anxiously engaged’ ‘anxiously engaged’ (D&C 76:75; 58:27). Though nominal in their (D&C 76:75; 58:27). Though nominal in their participation, their reservations and hesitations participation, their reservations and hesitations inevitably show through. inevitably show through. They may even pass through They may even pass through our holy temples, but, alas, they do not let the holy our holy temples, but, alas, they do not let the holy temples pass through themtemples pass through them” (Neal A. Maxwell, ” (Neal A. Maxwell, EnsignEnsign, , Nov. 1992, 65).Nov. 1992, 65).

“ “We ought to have the We ought to have the building up of Zionbuilding up of Zion as our as our greatest objectgreatest object.”.”

((Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Teachings of the Prophet Joseph SmithSmith, p.161), p.161)

• Unity - one heart & one Unity - one heart & one mindmind (Moses 7:18)(Moses 7:18)

• No poorNo poor (Moses 7:18)(Moses 7:18)• Labor with handsLabor with hands (Moses (Moses

7:19, 2 N. 26:29-31) 7:19, 2 N. 26:29-31) • Dwell in safetyDwell in safety (Moses (Moses

7:20)7:20)• Pure lovePure love (Moses 7:28-(Moses 7:28-

33)33)

RighteousnessRighteousness

(Moses 7:18; 69)(Moses 7:18; 69)

ZionZion The WorldThe World• Civil rights/equal rights Civil rights/equal rights

• WelfareWelfare• Wealth without laborWealth without labor

• Military mightMilitary might

• Free expression of loveFree expression of love

Cast out righteousnessCast out righteousness

(Prov. 14:34; Alma 10:22-(Prov. 14:34; Alma 10:22-23; Isa. 5:20, 24 )23; Isa. 5:20, 24 )

Pillars of ConsecrationPillars of ConsecrationD&C 38 D&C 38

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16) ” (v. 16) [D&C 19:2][D&C 19:2]

“ “Essentially, pride is a Essentially, pride is a ‘my will’ ‘my will’ rather rather than than ‘thy will’ ‘thy will’ approach to life.approach to life.

Pride is characterized by Pride is characterized by ‘What do I ‘What do I want out of life?’ want out of life?’ rather than by rather than by ‘What would ‘What would God have me do with my life?’God have me do with my life?’” ”

(Ezra Taft Benson, Saturday Morning (Ezra Taft Benson, Saturday Morning Session, CR, April 1986)Session, CR, April 1986)

“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace.” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 361)

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17) ” (v. 17) [D&C 104:17][D&C 104:17]

“ “I recently learned an interesting fact: I recently learned an interesting fact: If a man owns a million dollars worth of gold If a man owns a million dollars worth of gold at today’s prices, at today’s prices, he possesses approximately he possesses approximately one 27-billionth of all the gold that is present one 27-billionth of all the gold that is present in the earth’s thin crust alonein the earth’s thin crust alone” (Spencer W. ” (Spencer W. Kimball, Kimball, The False Gods We WorshipThe False Gods We Worship, , Ensign, June 1976, p. 5).Ensign, June 1976, p. 5).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24) (v. 24) [D&C 105:3-5; 82:19][D&C 105:3-5; 82:19]

“ “The first year that I came into this valley I had The first year that I came into this valley I had not flour enough to last my family until harvest . . . not flour enough to last my family until harvest . . . and persons were coming to my house every day for and persons were coming to my house every day for bread. I had the blues about it one day; I went down to bread. I had the blues about it one day; I went down to the old fort, and by the time I got back to my house I the old fort, and by the time I got back to my house I was completely cured. I said to my wife, was completely cured. I said to my wife, ‘Do not let a ‘Do not let a person come here for food and go away empty handed, person come here for food and go away empty handed, for if you do we shall suffer before harvest; but if you for if you do we shall suffer before harvest; but if you give to every individual that comes we shall have enough give to every individual that comes we shall have enough to last us through.’to last us through.’ I intend to keep doing so, that my I intend to keep doing so, that my bread may hold out, for if I do not I shall come short.bread may hold out, for if I do not I shall come short. Do you believe that principle? I know it is true, Do you believe that principle? I know it is true, because I have proven it so many times” (Brigham because I have proven it so many times” (Brigham Young,Young, in Journal of Discourses, in Journal of Discourses, 3:332-33).3:332-33).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24)(v. 24)

• ““riches of the earth are mine” riches of the earth are mine” (v. 39) (v. 39) [see D&C 104:14-15; Deut. 8:10-20][see D&C 104:14-15; Deut. 8:10-20]

“ “The Lord has given to me all I possess; The Lord has given to me all I possess; I have I have nothing in reality, not a single dime of it is minenothing in reality, not a single dime of it is mine.. You You may ask, 'Do you feel as you say?' Yes, I actually do. may ask, 'Do you feel as you say?' Yes, I actually do. The coat I have on my back is not mine, and never The coat I have on my back is not mine, and never was; the Lord put it in my possession honorably, and was; the Lord put it in my possession honorably, and I wear it; but if he wishes for it, and all there is under I wear it; but if he wishes for it, and all there is under it, he is welcome to the whole. I do not own a house, it, he is welcome to the whole. I do not own a house, or a single farm of land, a horse, mule, carriage, or or a single farm of land, a horse, mule, carriage, or wagon, or wife, nor child but what the Lord gave me, wagon, or wife, nor child but what the Lord gave me, and and if he wants them, he can take them at his pleasure, if he wants them, he can take them at his pleasure, whether he speaks for them, or takes them without whether he speaks for them, or takes them without speakingspeaking” (Brigham Young, JD 2:307).” (Brigham Young, JD 2:307).

“ “When my Bishop came to value my property, When my Bishop came to value my property, he wanted to know what he should take my tithing he wanted to know what he should take my tithing in. in. I told him to take anything I hadI told him to take anything I had, for I did not , for I did not set my heart upon any one thing; my horses, cows, set my heart upon any one thing; my horses, cows, hogs, or any other thing he might take; hogs, or any other thing he might take; my heart is my heart is set upon the work of my God, upon the public good set upon the work of my God, upon the public good of his great Kingdomof his great Kingdom” (Brigham Young, JD 1:376).” (Brigham Young, JD 1:376).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24)(v. 24)

• ““riches of the earth are mine” riches of the earth are mine” (v. 39)(v. 39)

• ““labor of his hands” labor of his hands” (v. 40)(v. 40)

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24)(v. 24)

• ““riches of the earth are mine” riches of the earth are mine” (v. 39)(v. 39)

• ““labor of his hands” labor of his hands” (v. 40)(v. 40)

• ““preaching. . .warning voice” preaching. . .warning voice” (v. 41) (v. 41) [see [see D&C 105:38-39]D&C 105:38-39]

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24)(v. 24)

• ““riches of the earth are mine” riches of the earth are mine” (v. 39)(v. 39)

• ““labor of his hands” labor of his hands” (v. 40)(v. 40)

• ““preaching. . .warning voice” preaching. . .warning voice” (v. 41)(v. 41)

• ““go ye out from among wicked”go ye out from among wicked” (v. 42) (v. 42)

The LawThe LawD&C 42D&C 42

““Many of the Many of the underlying principles underlying principles which which were part of the law of consecration. . .have were part of the law of consecration. . .have been been retainedretained and are and are still binding still binding upon the upon the Church” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Church” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 158).Doctrine, 158).

““There is a common axiom among us There is a common axiom among us which states: which states: A religion that cannot save a man A religion that cannot save a man temporally does not have power to save him temporally does not have power to save him spirituallyspiritually.. If we cannot care for our temporal If we cannot care for our temporal needs in this world, how can we ever succeed in needs in this world, how can we ever succeed in spiritual things in the world to come?” (Bruce spiritual things in the world to come?” (Bruce R. McConkie, in Conference Report, Apr. 1979, R. McConkie, in Conference Report, Apr. 1979, 131; or 131; or EnsignEnsign, May 1979, 92)., May 1979, 92).

3 Principles to the “Law”3 Principles to the “Law”

• ConsecrationConsecration

• StewardshipStewardship

• SufficiencySufficiency

““The fundamental principle of this system The fundamental principle of this system was was the private ownership of propertythe private ownership of property.. Each man Each man owned his portion, or inheritance, or owned his portion, or inheritance, or stewardshipstewardship, , with an absolute title, which he could alienate, or with an absolute title, which he could alienate, or hypothecate, or hypothecate, or otherwise treat as his own. otherwise treat as his own. The The Church did not own all of the propertyChurch did not own all of the property,, and the life and the life under the United Order was not a communal life, under the United Order was not a communal life, as the Prophet Joseph, himself said, (History of as the Prophet Joseph, himself said, (History of the Church, Volume III, p. 28). the Church, Volume III, p. 28). The United Order The United Order is an individualistic system, not a communal is an individualistic system, not a communal systemsystem”” (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Conference Report, (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Conference Report, October 1942, p. 57)October 1942, p. 57)

“ “On February 9, 1831, the Lord revealed to the On February 9, 1831, the Lord revealed to the Prophet what His way was. (See D&C 42.) In His way Prophet what His way was. (See D&C 42.) In His way there were two cardinal principles: (1) consecration, and there were two cardinal principles: (1) consecration, and (2) stewardship.(2) stewardship.

To enter the United Order one consecrated all his To enter the United Order one consecrated all his possessions to the Church by a "covenant and deed which" possessions to the Church by a "covenant and deed which" could "not be broken." That is, could "not be broken." That is, he completely divested he completely divested himself of all of his property by conveying it to the Church. himself of all of his property by conveying it to the Church. Having thus voluntarily divested himself of title to all his Having thus voluntarily divested himself of title to all his property, the consecrator received from the Church property, the consecrator received from the Church a a stewardship stewardship by a like conveyanceby a like conveyance.. This stewardship could This stewardship could be more or less than his original consecration the object be more or less than his original consecration the object being to make being to make "every man equal according to his family, "every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs." according to his circumstances and his wants and needs." (D&C 51:3.)(D&C 51:3.)

This procedure preserved in every man the right This procedure preserved in every man the right to private ownership and management of his property. to private ownership and management of his property. At his own option he could alienate it or keep and At his own option he could alienate it or keep and operate it and pass it on to his heirs. operate it and pass it on to his heirs.

The intent was, however, for him to so operate his The intent was, however, for him to so operate his property as to produce a living for himself and his property as to produce a living for himself and his dependents. So long as he remained in the Order dependents. So long as he remained in the Order he he consecrated to the Church the surplus he produced above consecrated to the Church the surplus he produced above the needs and wants of his family.the needs and wants of his family. This surplus went into This surplus went into a storehouse, from which stewardships were given to a storehouse, from which stewardships were given to others, and from which the needs of the poor were others, and from which the needs of the poor were supplied”supplied” (Marion G. Romney, Improvement Era, June (Marion G. Romney, Improvement Era, June 1966, p. 535; Saturday, April 6, 1966 Conference, 1966, p. 535; Saturday, April 6, 1966 Conference, Priesthood Session).Priesthood Session).

Socialism Socialism is notis not the United the United

OrderOrder

““Sufficient” Sufficient” D&C 51:3 + John 21:21-23D&C 51:3 + John 21:21-23

• FamilyFamily • Circumstances Circumstances

• Wants Wants (D&C 82:17-19)(D&C 82:17-19)

• NeedsNeeds

YouYou

LordLord

BishopBishop

“ “Another temptation to Another temptation to detour usdetour us is placing is placing improper emphasis on the obtaining of material improper emphasis on the obtaining of material possessionspossessions. For example, we may build a . For example, we may build a beautiful, spacious home that is beautiful, spacious home that is far larger than far larger than we need. we need. We may spend far too much to decorate, We may spend far too much to decorate, furnishfurnish, and landscape it. And , and landscape it. And even if even if we are we are blessed enough to afford such luxury, we blessed enough to afford such luxury, we may bemay be misdirecting resourcesmisdirecting resources that could be better used that could be better used to build the kingdom of God or to feed and to build the kingdom of God or to feed and clothe our needy brothers and sisters” (Joseph B. clothe our needy brothers and sisters” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, Wirthlin, EnsignEnsign, Nov. 1990, 65)., Nov. 1990, 65).

““Pride is the great stumbling block to Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion. Zion. I repeat:I repeat: Pride is the great stumbling Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion” (President Ezra Taft Benson, block to Zion” (President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1989, p.4). Ensign, May 1989, p.4).

The End . . .The End . . .