Latter-day Counsel

Spiritual fruits are choked out by the deceitfulness of riches. A person who covets the wealth of another will suffer spiritually. A person who has walth and then loses it and becomes embittered and hateful is also a victim of the deceitfulness of riches. Another victim of the deceitfulness of riches is the person who feels guilt at having failed to acquire the property or prominence the world credits as one of the signs of success. The possession of wealth or the acquisition of significant income is not a mark of heavenly favor, and their absence is not evidence of heavenly disfavor. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, The Pure In Heart

The rich cannot be saved without charity. Joseph Smith

The worth of money is in doing good for others with it. Joseph Fielding Smith

Poor in spirit? To the rich it is that he must possess his wealth as if he possessed it not. President Harold B. Lee

It is very true that the poor pay their tithing better than the rich do. The poor are faithful and prompt in paying their tithing, but the rich can hardly afford to pay theirs--they have too much. If he has only ten dollars he can pay one; if he has only one dollar he can pay ten cents; it does not hurt him al all. If he has a hundred dollars he can possibly pay ten. If he has a thousand dollars he looks over it a little and says, "I guess I will pay it; it ought to be paid anyhow;" and he manages to pay his ten dollars or his hundred dollars. But suppose a man is walthy enought to pay ten thousand, he looks that over a good many times and says, "I guess I will wait until I get a little more, and then I will pay a good deal." And they wait and wait. President Brigham Young, Discources of Brigham Young, pg. 175

Alcohol, drugs, salacious entertainment, pornography, and accumulation of material things clog the arteries of faith; and fear, guilt, bitterness, and resentment can choke faith. Yes, Satan throws up many obstacles. He doesn't want us to have faith. Elder John K. Carmack, Apr Conf 1993

"We may foolishly bring unhappiness and trouble, even suffering upon ourselves. These are not always to be regarded as penalties imposed by a displeased Creator. They are part of the lessons of life, part of the test. Some are tested by poor health, some by a body that is deformed or homely. Others are tested by handsome and healthy bodies; some by the passion of youth; others by the erosions of age. Some suffer disappointment in marriage, family problems; others live in poverty and obscurity. Some (perhaps this is the hardest test) find ease and luxury. All are part of the test, and there is more equality in this testing than sometimes we suspect. It is possible to be both rich and famous and at the same time succeed spiritually. But the Lord warned of the difficulty of it when He talked of camels and needles." Elder Boyd K. Packer, Oct Conf 1980

"Do we have more of these good things than our faith can stand? Many people spend most of their time working in the service of a self-image that includes sufficient money, stocks, bonds, investment portfolios, property, credit cards, furnishings, automobiles, and the like to guarantee carnal security throughout, it is hoped, a long and happy life. Forgotten is the fact that our assignment is to use these many resources in our families and quorums to build up the kingdom of God--to further the missionary effort and the genealogical and temple work; to raise our children up as fruitful servants unto the Lord; to bless others in every way, that they may also be fruitful. Instead, we expend these blessings on our own desires, and as Moroni said, 'Ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass you, and notice them not.'" President Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, May 1976

That was what Jacob in the Book of Mormon had taught--that "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. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Apr Conf 1996

Satan does rage in the hearts of some; many he will lull away into carnal security, others he flattereth or he says there is no hell. He has lured and enlisted many followers with enticements of fame, riches, and power. He forges a Rembrandt quality representation by calling evil good and good evil. He has confused many people, even nations and leaders, to the point of an immoral approach to moral issues. Elder Durrel A. Woolsey, Oct Conf 1995

I have learned to admire, respect, and love the good people from every race, culture, and nation that I have been privileged to visit. In my experience, no race or class seems superior to any other in spirituality and faithfulness. Those who seem less caring spiritually are those individuals--regardless of race, culture, or nationality--spoken of by the Savior in the parable of the sower who are "choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Elder James E. Faust, Apr Conf 1995