Repeatedly the Lord promises His people, both in first person and by His holy prophets, that obedience to His commandments and living lives of righteousness are the keys to prosperity. Some may falsely assume that this prosperity refers mostly to riches and fortune. Some references to prosperity may refer to material wealth, but being prosperous has many other important meanings we should take into consideration. For example, ‘prosperity’, ‘being prosperous’, and ‘to be prospered’ can also mean:
- Being wealthy in God’s Love (Rom. 5:5).
- Experiencing the richness of God’s mercy (Eph. 2:4).
- Being blessed with a wealth of good health (Matt. 8:16-17; 3 Jn. 1:2, D&C 89:18-21).
- Enjoying the rich blessings of increased spirituality and spiritual experiences – spiritual wealth (Eph. 1:3).
- Being rich in the secure knowledge of, and a relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ (4 Ne. 1:23).
- Experiencing prosperity because of increased conversions and growth in the Church, bringing souls to Christ (Hel. 3:24-26).
- Being rich within an umbrella of safety, the softening of the hearts of our enemies, and extended periods of peace in our lives and homes (2 Ne. 1:9, Alma 49:30, Hel. 12:1-2, 3 Ne. 22:17, Isa. 54:17, D&C 71:9, D&C 109:25).
- A wealth of growth in the wisdom and personal knowledge about our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ and an increased of testimony regarding spiritual things (1 Kings 10:7).
- Having the riches of success in temporal responsibilities, spiritual responsibilities, and ecclesiastical callings (Gen. 39:3; Duet. 29:9).
- Experiencing the richness of a fellowship with God (Alma 37:13, Alma 50:20).
- Having riches in the form of strength to resist and overcome temptation (D&C 9:13).
- A wealth of God’s eternal blessings through the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood and the ordinances of salvation (Abr. 2:9-11, D&C 84:38).
- The riches of performing and experiencing miracles around us (D&C 84:65-73).
Bishop Wm. Calvin Hughes
February 9, 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment