The Law of Consecration Holding your Soul in Your Own Hands

D&C 42 The Lord reveals the Law of Consecration In February 1831, soon after the Saints began to gather in Kirtland, Ohio, the Lord revealed that they should begin to live the law of consecration (D&C 42:30).D&C 42:30

Consecrate to set apart or dedicate something to the service of the Lord

What is the law of consecration? An organized way in which individuals consecrate their time, talents, and possessions to the Church to build the Lord’s kingdom and serve His children

What are the purposes of the law of consecration? D&C 42:30To care for the poor and needy D&C 42:35To purchase lands, build houses of worship and build the New Jerusalem D&C 42:40To help the Lord’s people overcome pride D&C 42:42To help the Lord’s people be industrious and avoid idleness

What are the purposes of the law of consecration? D&C 51:3,9To help the Lord’s people be one D&C 78:3-7To make the Lord’s people equal (XD&C 51:3) in earthly things and help them receive a place in the celestial kingdom D&C 78:14To help the Church “stand independent above all other creatures” D&C 82:17-19To help the Lord’s people to prove their talents for the good of all, seek the interest of their neighbor and do all things with an eye single to God’s glory

D&C 29:34-35 The Law of Consecration Temporal or Economic Program Spiritual Law that helps members grow spiritually and prepare for eternal life

The Law of Consecration General Principles of Law of Consecration Have not changed Specific Application of the principles of Law of Consecration Have changed from time to time

The law of consecration is an eternal law. Moses 7:18Moses 7:18. The people of Enoch Acts 4:32, Acts 4:34–35.Acts 4:32Acts 4:34–35 The Saints after the Savior’s Resurrection 4 Nephi 1:1–34 Nephi 1:1–3, 4 Nephi 1:12– 13, 4 Nephi 1:15.4 Nephi 1:12– 134 Nephi 1:15 The Nephites after the Savior’s visit to them

BISHOP RESIDUE Kept in Bishop’s Storehouse D&C 42:34 STEWARD We give surplus D&C 42:33 Needs and wants amply supplied. D&C 42:33 Help poor and needy D&C 42:34 Finance church and establish Zion D&C 42:35 How the early saints applied the Law of consecration D&C 42

The Lord’s storehouse today D&C 42:34; 78:3;83:5-6 “The Lord’s storehouse receives, holds in trust, and dispenses consecrated offerings of the Saints. The storehouse may be as simple or sophisticated as circumstances require. It may be a list of available services, money in an account, food in a pantry, or commodities in a building. A storehouse is established when faithful members consecrate to the bishop their time, talents, skills, compassion, materials, and financial means in caring for the poor and in building up the kingdom of God on the earth.

How can each of us contribute to the resources of the Lord’s storehouse in our ward? “The Lord’s storehouse, therefore, exists in each ward. The bishop is the agent of the storehouse. Guided by inspiration from the Lord, he distributes the Saints’ offerings to the poor and needy. He is assisted by priesthood quorums and the Relief Society. He is instructed and supported in his responsibilities by stake and area leaders” (Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 256).

Babylon and Zion Two beautiful women Consecrate all our time, talents, possessions to the building up of the kingdom of God Enjoy all the dainty, delicious, delicacies Babylon has to offer; Rev 3,7,14 Steward Rev 18:3-14 Babylon D&C 82:14 Zion We receive EVERYTHING from GOD More Buy Consume Captive Build up Prepare Store Work How do we decide? Today See Michael Wilcox, Don’t Leap with the Sheep, 202

Count the cost The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run. Henry David Thoreau, Walden and Other Writings, 27-28

In what ways can we live the law of consecration in our lives today?

D&C 64:34 “We tend to think of consecration only in terms of property and money. But there are so many ways of keeping back part” Neal A Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 1992, 66 How do we keep back part?

Psalm 24:1; D&C 104:13-14 Realize that everything we have belongs to the Lord It’s My Stuff

My Van Hauling youth, Camp, activities, conferences, temple trips, Relief Society decorations and food “For a while I was frustrated with this, until the Lord gently reminded me that it was not my van but His. I don’t mind a bit putting miles on the Lord’s van. When the Lord’s van wears out, He’ll see that there are means to replace it.” Michael Wilcox, Don’t Leap with the sheep, 205 The Lord’s Van

Unwilling to completely submit to the Lord’s will “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we ‘give’ … are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!” Neal A Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 1995, 24

2 Timothy 1:9 An architect’s consecration We are willing to serve… in the way that WE have planned or designed We… offer what a friend of mine calls the “architect’s prayer” – where we pray for the blueprint and ask God to be the general contractor. Rather, instead of doing our work in His name, we must consecrate ourselves to be used by Him, whether or not we will ever know fully how we were used. Indeed, we may never know. James S Jardine, Learning in the Light of Faith, 69

On the flyleaf it read, “Donated to the Harvard law School Library by John A Widtsoe, 1894”. In that moment I felt a flood of brotherhood, of shared suffering and of common belief. A light shone in on my spirit by an act of Elder Widtsoe’s done decades earlier when he was a college student at Harvard. I doubt he ever imagined that a beneficiary of his act would be another young Latter-day Saint so many years later. But he consecrated that gift without knowing, or needing to know, how God would use his offering. James Jardine, Learning in the Light of Faith, 70

Underwhelmed Consecration I was called to be “choir spy!” It was a time of being underwhelmed, of being underused, or at least of having “more to offer…than (was) being used.” Jerry Wilson, The Great Plan of Happiness, 78

Overwhelmed? 2 Nephi 32:9 On my office wall is a quote from Anne Morrow Lindbergh: “My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds.” For me, it is a needed reminder. Neal A. Maxwell, “Wisdom and Order,” Ensign, June 1994, 41

D&C 19:26 What warning did the Lord give to Martin Harris in this verse? Why must we overcome covetousness if we are to consecrate our lives to the Lord? How can we overcome covetous feelings? President Brigham Young said: “I am more afraid of covetousness in our Elders than I am of the hordes of hell. … All our enemies … in the world, and all hell with them marshalled against us, could not do us the injury that covetousness in the hearts of this people could do us; for it is idolatry” (in Journal of Discourses, 5:353).

D&C 107: Serve willingly in the Church Fulfill Callings Share the Gospel Temple work Strengthen others testimonies

Serve as a full-time missionary “Going on a mission teaches you to live the law of consecration. It may be the only time in your life when you can give to the Lord all your time, talents, and resources. In return, the Lord will bless you with His Spirit to be with you. He will be close to you and strengthen you” Robert D Hales, Ensign, May 1996, 36

Make the sacrifices the Lord requires now How can we consecrate our time, talents, and possessions to help build the kingdom of God today?

“What prohibits us from giving as much in fast offerings as we would have given in surpluses under the United Order? Nothing but our own limitations” - Marion G. Romney, CR, Apr. 1966, 100; or Improvement Era, June 1966, 537

Develop Christlike love for others How are we to show our love for others? D&C 82:19Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God. Jacob 2:17Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

Unwilling to give up selfish things An unwillingness to give up selfish things, such as “our roles, our time, our preeminence, and our possessions” Letting hobbies and preoccupations with less important things become too consuming. Giving commendable civic service but remaining “a comparative stranger to Jesus’ holy temples and His holy scriptures” Neal A Maxwell, Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 27).

Being dutiful in family responsibilities but not emulating Jesus’ example of gentleness with some family members. Building up ourselves first rather than the kingdom of God. Sharing talents publicly while privately retaining a particular pride. Accepting a Church calling while having a heart more set on maintaining a certain role in the world. (See Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 88–92; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 65–67; and Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 27–30; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 22–24.)

Next Week

What do you think would be some of the blessings of living in a community where people lived the law of consecration?

Bishop Victor L. Brown, former Presiding Bishop of the Church, said that until we “feel in total harmony” with the principle that everything we have belongs to the Lord, “it will be difficult, if not impossible, for us to accept the law of consecration. As we prepare to live this law, we will look forward with great anticipation to the day when the call will come. If, on the other hand, we hope it can be delayed so we can have the pleasure of accumulating material things, we are on the wrong path” (“The Law of Consecration,” 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1977], 439).

What does the Lord promise as we are faithful stewards over what He has given us? Promises to faithful stewards D&C 51:19enter into the joy of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life. D&C 78:22shall inherit all things