Today in sacrament meeting, a comment was made to “how blessed we are with riches of the world because of our membership in the Church.” Another comment was made by our Elders quorum president later in priesthood, saying, “I am going to be honest with you, I want to be rich” even at the expense of spirituality. These comments have left me a bit disillusioned with who these saints think they really are. I have heard these comments several times before and they have always hit me as arrogant, self-righteous, and somewhat conceited. I understand that many members may not quite understand what they are saying or that it has been a socially learned idea of the “protestant work ethic and capitalism.” The idea that riches of this world go to the most righteous and most deserving is quite a flawed theory that circulates within Christianity (If this were true, Christ himself would have had every earthly pleasure and riches that were possible). And yet, those who bear the name of the Savior himself, blasphemously say “WE THANK THEE GOD THAT WE ARE MORE BLESSED THAN OUR BROTHERN, AND THIS BECAUSE OF OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Is not this Zion, where every man thinketh of his brethren as himself? Where there are no rich, nor poor? Where equality reigneth both in spiritual and temporal affairs? Does not God trustingly give all of his children the riches of the world to be shared equally. Or is God not just? For He maketh the sun to rise both on the righteous and the wicked. And he is no respecter of persons, but all are alike unto him. Is He not the just father that dresses both his sons in a new cloak? Then, what of the inequality? Who has produced such inequality and injustice, if not God? I fear that such inventions are born within the hearts of even the saints of God. That Babylon, even the great, doth find place with in the walls of the saints of God. Where some still say, Is not this Zion?
Is Not This Zion?
Advertisement
