The Book of Mormon provides a unique outlook on the subject of wealth and prosperity.  Prosperity, according to the Book of Mormon, is inseparably connected to righteousness.  This is one of the themes that runs throughout the book.  The Lord's oft-repeated statement about prosperity is introduced as early as the second chapter (1 Ne. 2:20).   The statement is this:

"Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land;

 but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my

 presence.   (2 Ne. 1:20).

This particular statement, or variations thereof, is repeated 23 times in the Book of Mormon.  When the Lord, through His prophets, repeats something, He does so to give the principle emphasis.  Since He saw fit to repeat this particular principle 23 times, it behooves us to pay attention and give heed.

(The 23 references are:  1 Ne. 2:20, 1 Ne. 4:14, 1 Ne. 13:20, 2 Ne. 1:9, 2 Ne. 1:20,

2 Ne. 1:31, 2 Ne. 4:4, 2 Ne. 5:10-11, Jarom 1:9, Omni 1:6, Mos. 1:7, Mos. 2:22, Mos. 2:31, Mos. 7:29, Alma 9:13-14, Alma 36:1, Alma 36:30, Alma 38:1, Alma 45:6-8, Alma 48:15, Alma 48:25, Alma 50:20, Hel. 3:20).

The Lord wants His people to be prosperous.  He actually wants to give them riches; but they must want them for the right reasons, and be willing to use the riches to actively help others.

"Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free

with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

     "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—to clothe the naked, and

to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick

and the afflicted."  (Jacob 2:17-19).

Righteousness brings riches; but all too frequently, riches bring pride.  Pride brings destruction.  Riches come from God.  If men would remember that one fact, and use their riches to bless the lives of others, they would retain their riches, and be blessed forever.  A recurring cycle is demonstrated in the Book of Mormon wherein a righteous people become prideful, begin to wear costly clothing, consider themselves better than their less wealthy fellows, become scornful, withhold their help from the poor, persecute those who are trying to keep the commandments, bring upon themselves the wrath of God, and lose both their riches and their lives.

The cycle of righteousness and riches, to wickedness and destruction, sometimes happened very quickly in the Book of Mormon.  For instance, twenty-one years after the birth of Christ the Nephites repented and were able to gain a great and final victory over the Gadianton robbers.  It was written:

     "And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the

Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who

had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled.

     "And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ had come, because

of the many signs which had been given, according to the words of the prophets;

and because of the things which had come to pass already they knew that it

must needs be that all things should come to pass according to that which had

been spoken.

     "Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their

whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night."  (3 Ne. 5:1-3).

That was in the twenty first year.  For eight years there was "great order in the land," (3 Ne. 6:4), "great peace in the land," (3 Ne. 6:6), and great prosperity and progress

(3 Ne. 6:7-8).

"But it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year there began to be some

disputings among the people; and some were lifted up unto pride and boastings

because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions;

     "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.

     "Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did

return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and

all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble

and penitent before God.

     "And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the

church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church

was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites..." 

(3 Ne. 6:10, 12-14).

Four years thereafter the wicked were destroyed in the massive destruction that took place at the time of the crucifixion of Christ.  This was only a twelve-year cycle.  That cycle was followed by one that lasted almost 200 years.  Of that cycle it was written:

     "And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the

love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

     "And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor

lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could

not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the

hand of God…

     "And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich

and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the

heavenly gift…

     "…(And) ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they

were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly

rich, because of their prosperity in Christ."  (4 Ne. 1: 15-16, 3, 23).

We tend to be astounded as we look back at the shortsightedness and stupidity of these people.  We'd like to think that we're smarter, stronger, and more steadfast—that we could handle wealth and prosperity.  Possibly we could, but the scriptures are replete with examples of those to whom the blessing of riches became a curse.  They were not able to successfully handle wealth.

For example there was the man who asked the Savior, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus answered:

"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill,

Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

     "And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

     "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou

one thing:  sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou

shalt have treasure in heaven:  and come, follow me."

(Jesus' invitation to "come, follow me" is the same invitation issued to those who later became His apostles.  What might this man's future have held had his riches not gotten in the way?)

"And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful:  for he was very rich.

     "And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly

shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

     "For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich

man to enter into the kingdom of God.

     "And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

     "And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

(Luke 18:20-27).

The Joseph Smith Translation of this last verse is instructive:

"And he said unto them, It is impossible for them who trust in riches, to enter

into the kingdom of God; but he who forsaketh the things which are of this world,

it is possible with God, that he should enter in."

 

James E. Talmage explained that this young man "yearned for the kingdom of God, yet more devotedly he loved his great possessions.  To give up wealth, social position, and official distinction, was too great a sacrifice…"  (Jesus the Christ, pg. 477).

Elder Talmage further explained that "while wealth is a means of temptation to which many succumb, it is no insuperable obstacle, no insurmountable barrier, in the way of entrance to the kingdom."  (Ibid, pg. 478).  The term "needle's eye" was probably applied to a small door "set in or alongside the great gates in the walls of cities."  (Ibid, pg. 485).  A loaded and harnessed camel could not pass through such a small door unless first relieved of its load.  So it is with men, who must first be divested of their worldly burdens before they can enter the narrow way that leads to the kingdom of God.

Jesus himself rejected all the kingdoms of the world when the adversary offered them to Him.  (Luke 4:5-8).  Peter, Andrew, James and John "forsook all" when invited to follow Jesus.  (Luke 5:11).  Levi (Matthew) "left the receipt of custom," (a lucrative job) when given the same invitation.  (Luke 5:27).  These spent the rest of their lives in service to the Master, and presumably obtained the inheritance that outweighs anything that earth could possibly offer.  Such "receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him."  (D&C 84:38 and Luke 12:32).

It should not be assumed that we need to give away all of our possessions in order to receive the blessings of eternal life.  That's not what the Lord asks.  What He asks is that we love Him more than riches.  We must be willing to use our wealth to help others.  We must recognize that our riches are a gift from the Lord.  We must be willing to give.  If we wisely and generously use our wealth, the Lord entrusts us with more as Jesus demonstrated in His parable of the pounds.  (Luke 19:12-25).  Those who are generous with their means qualify themselves for this very wonderful and descriptive blessing:

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and

shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For

with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." 

    (Luke 6:38).

Wealth is a very real concern to all humanity.  We aren't able to live without means to procure food, clothing and shelter.  The Lord recognizes that fact, and spoke much about