Sunday Thoughts

The following Sunday Thoughts are generated through my preparations to teach Gospel Doctine class. The focus of study this year is the Book of Mormon, A Second Witness of Christ. I have made every attempt to support the doctrinal statements made through the scriptures and through a search of the reference library found on www.lds.org. The primary purpose of these mini-sermons is for the benefit of my immediate family that I might fulfil my responsibility to teach correct principles and the doctrines of salvation to my children.

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Avoiding Pride that Comes Through Riches

Jacob, the brother of Nephi was commanded by Nephi to write on the small plates a few things that he considered to be most precious. To Jacob, precious meant any of his sacred preaching, great revelation or prophesying should be included on these plates for Christ's sake and the sake of his people (Jacob 1:1-4).

In his second chapter, Jacob denounces the love of riches, pride and unchastity. He speaks to the people of Nephi with great grief of soul over their growing wickedness of heart or yearnings to sin in specific ways. He does so reluctantly because of the tender feelings of wives and children present but he is contrained to admonish them because of their spiritual "crimes".

Jacob reminds the people of Nephi that the hand of providence hath smiled on them most pleasantly. They have sought for and accumulated wealth. In the process, some have accumulated more wealth than others and have been lifted up in pride. In other words, they have esteemed themselves superior than those who have accumulated less (Jacob 2:12-13). Jacob indicates that this thought process and behavior is an abomination, an act that so vile that it destroys souls (v.16)!

The prideful people of Nephi are reminded that their brethren, who have accumulated less, are like unto themselves. The Lord does not esteem the man with greater wealth over the man with lessor wealth. Those with more are asked to be free with their excess so that all are rich (v.17).

This is difficult to do unless the church member has a hope in Christ. This hope in Christ is a belief that through the atonement of Christ that sins can be forgiven and that the Holy Ghost will guide their lives to do good. When under the influence of the Holy Ghost, the member will seek to do good - to clothe the naked and to feed the hungry, to liberate the captive and administer relief to the sick and afflicted (v. 18-19). It is not aquiring the wealth that injures the soul but rather the dependence on the wealth for status, happiness and meaning. The love of the money is the root of the problem (1 Timothy, chapter 6).

It is possible for the wealthy and educated to afflict and persecute their neighbor (Jac 20-21). How is this possible? Here is an excerpt from an April 1975 article by Gary L. Bunker called Mocking our Brother.

"And the people began to be distinguished by ranks according to their riches and their chances for learning, yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.” (3 Ne. 6:12.)

These scriptures illustrate several principles. First, wealth and learning are sometimes used in the service of pride to demean. The scriptures are, of course, just as clear that riches and learning may be used in the service of goodness to bless. However, it is perhaps generally true, at least in our day, that the former use is more common than the latter. It is also the case that mockery is a two-edged sword. The poor and unlearned need to guard against succumbing to the temptation of mocking their brother because of his riches or learning.

Second, Church members are not immune from falling into the trap of interpersonal scorn based upon inequality of material possessions. Indeed, it was this lamentable condition in the church that led Alma to resign his office of chief judge to devote his time to the redemptive mission of bearing down in pure testimony against them.” (Alma 4:19.)

Orson Pratt wrote: “When do you see a rich man among the Latter-day Saints who, when he makes a great feast, invites the poor and the lame, the halt and the blind, and those who are in destitute circumstances? Such events are few and far between. The Savior has strictly commanded us that when we make our feasts, instead of inviting those who have abundance and roll in the good things and luxuries of life, we should invite the poorest among us, the lame, blind and infirm, and those who perhaps have not enough to eat.” (Journal of Discourses 15:355.)

Third, wealth and learning may interact to increase and perpetuate class distinction. George Q. Cannon elaborated on the dynamics of the interaction: “When wealth multiplies the people get lifted up in the pride of their hearts, and they look down on their poor brethren and despise them, because they are better educated, have better manners, and speak better language—in a word, because they have advantages which their poor brethren and sisters have not. There is sin in this, and God is angry with a people who take this course. He wants us to be equal in earthly things, as we are in heavenly. He wants no poor among his people; he does not want the cry of the oppressed to ascend from the midst of the Latter-day Saints, and God forbid that it ever should!” (Journal of Discourses 15:156.)

We are not yet “equal in earthly things” and, therefore, we are more prone to live below the standard of the gospel. Nevertheless, each Latter-day Saint is enjoined to abide by an interpersonal standard capable of eliminating mocking behavior due to economic or educational disparities; namely, “Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God?” (D&C 82:19.)

I interpret this excerpt to mean that we need to be careful to not elevate ourselves above others through our purchases or access to other worldly advantages; to give up more of our wealth and use our intellect to raise up the poor and those that have less advantage. This is hard to do in our modern society that worships at the alter of consumerism and which falls prey to market forces that manipulate demand for products and services. In a market that rewards individual achievement and profitable growth it is unthinkable to discourage purchasing in favor of raising up the poor.

I came across an interesting blog, promoted by marketing professors, which was devoted to the theory of marketing. One of the comments in response to a question about creating demand raised my eyebrows:

"As an avid consumer, and to answer your direct question I find that 'demand' is related to DESIRE. I may know about it (attention) and want it (interest), but if I don't need it I won't buy it -- UNLESS I CRAVE it (deeper down the psych chain), then I will buy it regardless of need and rationalize or invent a reason/use. But to CREATE demand for your product or service, consider how to appeal to the buyer's EGO. Either teach them that they'll gain from it (status, popularity, respect, promotion, secret knowledge, investment, etc.) -- -- or make them feel incomplete without it (peer pressure, business envy, curiousity, self-doubt, standard upgrade, etc.) Help the buyer see that they would be nuts to buy/use any other product/service besides you, no matter the price. Create demand by showing that it's more expensive NOT to buy from you... "

Jacob seems harsh in his chastisement of the people of Nephi but his words are as applicable today as they were in his day. The quote above is a reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same - human nature has not changed in the ensuing centuries since Jacob's writing. The pride cycle today is remarkably similar in origin and it ability to gain hold upon a people.

Might we take note of Jacob's warnings and check ourselves against pride. "But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good..." (Jac 2:18-19).