The Truth Behind the Church’s $100 Billion+ Fund E0027

Key Concepts

• Law of Consecration: Dedicating one's properties, time, and talents to God and the service of others, especially the poor.
• Tithing: Giving 10% of one's increase to the Church, considered a subset of the Law of Consecration.
• Zion: A society of people who are "of one heart and one mind" and dwell in righteousness, with no poor among them.
• Stewardship: The responsibility to care for and manage resources that belong to God.
• Agency: The freedom to choose and act, including the willingness to consecrate.
• Holistic Living: Integrating spiritual and temporal aspects of life, recognizing their interconnectedness.
• Temple Covenants: Commitments made in temples, including obedience, sacrifice, chastity, the Gospel, and consecration.
• Humanitarian Work: Organized efforts to alleviate suffering and improve the well-being of others.
• Lay Clergy: Unpaid local leaders in the Church.
• General Officers: Full-time leaders of the Church who receive a stipend.

Church Finances and the Law of Consecration

• Misconceptions about Church Finances: People often question why the Church has large financial reserves and why it builds temples instead of directly feeding the poor.
• The Purpose of Church Finances: The Church uses business tools to maximize the good it can do with its resources, which are finite even with a large reserve.
• Financial Success as a Means, Not an End: The goal is not to be the most financially successful organization but the most consecrated, using finances to help people.
• The Law of Consecration Today: Members commit to live the Law of Consecration in the temple, alongside other covenants. It's not just a past ideal.
• Tithing as a Subset of Consecration: Tithing is a financial aspect of consecration, while consecration is holistic, involving time, talents, and resources.
• Historical Context: The Law of Consecration was revealed in 1831 in a barter economy. Its application has been adjusted over time.
• Section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants: Contains the Law of Consecration, emphasizing remembering the poor and consecrating properties.
• Systematic Approach to Poverty: The Law of Consecration suggests an organized system to address poverty, pooling resources for a greater impact.
• Community Commitment: Temple covenants are not just individual commitments but societal ones, fostering a sense of community.

Principles and Practices of Consecration

• Remembering the Poor: A commandment to remember the poor and consecrate resources for their support.
• Consecrating Properties: Recognizing that everything belongs to God and dedicating it to His purposes.
• Covenant and Deed: Entering into a binding agreement to help with problems and contribute resources.
• Bishop's Role: Bishops and Relief Society presidents direct the work of consecration, assessing needs and allocating resources.
• Holistic Approach: Consecration is not just financial but involves time, talents, and service.
• Ample Supply: The ideal is that everyone is amply supplied, reflecting the unity and lack of poverty in Zion.
• Humble Leadership: Church leaders live in humble circumstances, dedicating their time to the Lord's work.
• No Corruption: There is no evidence of leaders skimming off the top or getting rich from Church finances.
• Temples as Investments in People: Temples are built to encourage people to live the Law of Consecration and make a difference in the world.
• Examples of Church Initiatives: The Church operates schools in underserved areas like Kiribati, providing education and opportunities for upward mobility.
• Humanitarian Work: The Church engages in large-scale humanitarian efforts and trains members to be humanitarians.
• Independence and Self-Reliance: Humanitarian work balances providing assistance with promoting independence and self-reliance.
• Spiritual Foundation: All efforts start with the spiritual work of teaching correct principles and empowering people to do good.

Historical Examples and Adjustments

• Early Church Experiments: The early Church experimented with different forms of consecration, adjusting based on circumstances.
• United Orders: Two United Orders (Kirtland and Missouri) were consolidated into one due to persecution.
• Law of Tithing Initiation: Section 119 introduced tithing as a supplement to consecration.
• Brigham Young's Approach: Brigham Young encouraged settlements in Utah to implement consecration in ways that worked best for them.
• Brigham City Cooperative: A cooperative system with shared businesses lasted for 20-25 years.
• Winter Quarters: Even in times of hardship, the Saints were encouraged to cleave to their covenants of consecration.

The City of Zion

• Early Saints' Vision: The early Saints were inspired by the idea of building a New Jerusalem in America.
• Book of Mormon Influence: Passages in 3 Nephi and Ether about a New Jerusalem were frequently quoted.
• Enoch's City: The story of Enoch's city, which was taken up to heaven, served as a model.
• Diversity and Unity: Joseph Smith envisioned a consecrated community that was multi-racial and multi-ethnic.
• Missouri as a Difficult Location: Missouri was a challenging place to build Zion due to racial tensions and economic disparities.
• Opposition from Missourians: The Missourians opposed the Saints' progressive views on race and their unified economic system.
• Zion as a Place of Refuge: Zion was intended to be a place of refuge for all, not just a closed society.
• Section 97:21: Defines Zion as "the pure in heart," emphasizing that the people are the city.
• Building Zion Where You Are: The focus should be on becoming Zion, not just moving to a specific location.

The Importance of Consecration

• Light of Christ: Everyone is born with an intrinsic sense of right and wrong.
• Power in Unity: Consecration demonstrates the power of unity and unified resources to assist people.
• Sacrifice and Faith: Tithing and other acts of consecration are acts of faith that open the windows of heaven.
• Perspective Shift: Consecration changes our perspective of God and elevates what we see every day.
• Holistic Blessings: The blessings of tithing and consecration can be spiritual, emotional, and physical.
• Stewardship and Accountability: Consecration involves accountability to God, stewardship over resources, and willingness to serve.
• Balance and Mutual Consent: Consecration requires a balance of power between leaders and members, with mutual consent and understanding.
• Avoiding Idleness: Members are encouraged to be active and engaged in the work of consecration.
• The World's Need for Consecration: The world would be a different place if everyone lived the Law of Consecration.
• Covenant vs. Good Intentions: There is a difference between knowing what is right and entering into a covenant to do it.
• Inside-Out Transformation: Consecration involves an inside-out transformation, with individual changes leading to a desire for the good of others.
• God's Increase: God increases resources to accomplish His purposes.
• Becoming Like God: The goal is to become like God by doing the things He would do.
• God's Hands: Members are called to be God's hands in blessing and helping others.
• It is better to give than to receive: A consecrated viewpoint prioritizes giving and serving others.

Stipends for Church Leaders

• Historical Precedent: Some early Church leaders were paid for their full-time service.
• Sacrifice, Not Wealth: Leaders do not get rich in Church service and often make financial sacrifices.
• General Officers Only: Only general officers of the Church receive a stipend for full-time service.
• Lay Clergy: Local leaders serve without pay.
• Full-Time Commitment: General officers commit full-time to travel, ministry, and helping others.
• Modest Living: Leaders live consecrated lives of service and do not seek luxury.

The Polynesian Cultural Center Example

• Church-Owned Theme Park: The Church owns the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) in Hawaii.
• Welfare Project: The PCC is a welfare project that provides jobs for students at BYU Hawaii.
• Education and Opportunity: The PCC helps students from diverse nations get an education and return to their countries as leaders.

Conclusion

The Law of Consecration is a foundational principle that guides the Church's finances and mission. It emphasizes that everything belongs to God and should be used to bless others, especially the poor. It is not just a financial principle but a holistic way of life that involves dedicating time, talents, and resources to God and the service of others. The goal is not to accumulate wealth but to create a society of people who are "of one heart and one mind" and dwell in righteousness, with no poor among them. The Church's financial success is a result of its commitment to this principle, which inspires members to give generously and serve willingly. The ultimate goal is to help people become like God and achieve eternal life.