On Celestial Principlesof Family Finances

D. Calvin Andrus, BishopSterling Park Ward

31 October 2004acadac@aol.com

31 October 20042

Discuss Four Principles Today

But before we do. . .

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You simply send a copy of this letter to six other church members in various other stakes that are unhappy with their bishop.  Then you bundle up your bishop and send him to the ward at the bottom of the list.  In one week you will receive 16,536 bishops.  One of them should be a dandy and just what you've always wanted. 

You must exercise faith in this letter and be sure that you do not break the chain.  One good brother broke the chain and got his old bishop back. Another poor soul broke the chain and was called to be a bishop. One bishop preached against the chain and was not released for another 7 years!

Please help yourself and others by completing this chain today!

http://www.shields-research.org/Humor/Jokes.htm

31 October 20043

Principle One of Four

31 October 20044

Pharaoh's Attitude Problem

Pharaoh's problem was that he thought he owned the slaves, and thus he could do with them what he wanted.

Moreover, he thought he owned all of Egypt. The soil, the water, the crops, the herds, the buildings, etc.

31 October 20045

The Purpose of the Plagues

Exodus 9:29 -- And Moses

said unto him, As soon as

I am gone out of the city, I

will spread abroad my

hands unto the LORD; and

the thunder shall cease,

neither shall there be any

more hail; that thou

mayest know how that

the earth is the

LORD‘s. (Cross reference

Psalms 24:1 and 1 Cor

10.26)

“The Ten Commandments” © 1956 Paramount Studios

31 October 20046

Who Owns Our Stuff?

Do we suffer from Pharaoh’s attitude? Do we think we own our car, house, clothes,

toys, and paycheck? DC 104:14

– I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.

The whole earth is His--everything in it, on it, under it, over it, through it, and around it.

31 October 20047

What About Stuff I Make?

Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in

his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

It is by the grace of God that we have life, health, strength, intellect, energy, inspiration, and motivation. – Without these we could do nothing with the resources

of the earth. – So human beings, powered by God, take God's

resources to make things that belong to Him.

Michelangelo (1511-1512), “The Creation of Man,” Sistine Chapel, Rome

31 October 20048

The 1st Principle

The first Celestial Principle of Family Financing is that nothing in your possession belongs to you. It all belongs to the Lord.

31 October 20049

#1 - It’s Not Mine . . .

LEVEL ATTITUDE

Telestial What's yours is mine

Terrestrial What's mine is mine

Celestial None of it is mine, it is the Lord's

. . . It’s the Lord’s

31 October 200410

Principle Two of Four

31 October 200411

What the Lord Gives Us

When the Lord placed Adam and Eve into the

Garden, he gave them something. What was that?

Genesis 1:28– And God blessed them, and God

said unto them, Be fruitful, and

multiply, and replenish the earth,

and subdue it: and have dominion

over the fish of the sea, and over

the fowl of the air, and over every

living thing that moveth upon the earth.

He did NOT GIVE them the earth, he commanded

them to have DOMINION OVER the earth.

Bassano, Jacopo (1570-73); “Garden of Eden”Oil on canvas, 77 x 109 cm;

Galleria Doria-Pamphili, Rome

31 October 200412

Dominion equals Stewardship

DC 104:12-13– That every man may give an account unto me of the

stewardship which is appointed unto him. For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.

We, then, are the Lord's stewards over the resources of the earth. We will be held accountable at judgment day for how we manage the portion of the Lord's resources that have been assigned to us.

31 October 200413

Which Master Do We Serve?

Luke 16:10-13 – He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in

much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

We cannot be good stewards of the Lord's resources if we think those resources belong to us.– We cannot serve both God and

ourselves at the same time. – We cannot serve God if our aim is

the accumulation of wealth.

31 October 200414

Rules for Good Stewardship

If we are the caretakers of the Lord's resources and he will judge us in our management of these resources, it would be a good idea if He were to give us some guidelines.

Well, today is our lucky day, because we do have prophets who have given usthose guidelines. Let me take a detour and just mention one of the guidelines now.

31 October 200415

Pres. Hinckley has said . . .

So many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings. . .

I urge you, brethren, to look to the condition of your finances. I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.

This is a part of the temporal gospel in which we believe. May the Lord bless you, my beloved brethren, to set your houses in order. If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts. That’s all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable.

31 October 200416

Elder Wirthlin has said . . .

Some debt—such as for a modest home, expenses for education, perhaps for a needed first car—may be necessary. But never should we enter into financial bondage through consumer debt without carefully weighing the costs.

31 October 200417

Debt is Unfaithful Stewardship

If we have borrowed money and are now– house-rich and cash-poor, or– car-rich and cash-poor, or– investment-rich and cash-poor, or– vacation-rich and cash-poor, or– consumer goods-rich and cash-poor– etc.

we are unfaithful stewards. Every loan we take out is a mortgage or lien

on the Lord's storehouse. It binds up the Lord's resources so they are unavailable for use by the Lord to build His kingdom.

31 October 200418

Interest and Late Fees

Debt is made of of principal and interest. I have just been talking about principle portion of debt. When we start talking about the interest portion of debt, the commandment is clear.

2 Nephi 9:51 – Wherefore, do not spend money for

that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.

Spending money on interest and late fees is spending money on that which is of no worth and laboring for that which cannot satisfy.

31 October 200419

On Late Fees

The 8th Temple recommend question asks if we are honest in our dealing with our fellow men.

A late fee is a penalty for breaking an agreement to pay a debt on time. Breaking agreements is dishonest. – Late penalties are evidence that

we are not being honest with our fellow men.

ww

w.valpo.edu/student/honor/

31 October 200420

What Debt Does to Us

Even more insidious is the effect debt has on our attitude

toward life. The Savior said,

Matt. 6:21 -- For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

It is true that the more debt our

families have, and the more

interest we pay, the more we

will spend our emotional and

spiritual energy on finances,

rather than on building our

family and the Kingdom of God

31 October 200421

Before Getting Back on Track

Avoiding debt is just one of the rules with which a faithful steward must abide.– Another is tithing– Another is fast offering– Another is having a reserve

Food and money

– Another is being modest in consuming goods and services

– Another is getting training and education

31 October 200422

The 2nd Principle

The second Celestial Principle of Family Financing is that financial management is a test of stewardship—to see if we can manage the Lord’s resources according to the Lord’s will.

31 October 200423

# 2 - It’s Not About the Money . . .

. . . It’s about being a good steward

LEVEL ATTITUDE

Telestial It is about the money

Terrestrial It is about what the money can do

Celestial It is about being a good steward

31 October 200424

Principle Three of Four

31 October 200425

Sweat of Thy Face

When we read about Adam and Eve being kicked out of the Garden of Eden, we think the Lord gave Adam a curse when he said that, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground." (Genesis 3:19).

31 October 200426

Work to Eat

Moses 5:1 – AND it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had

driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth,

and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field,

and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as

I the Lord had commanded him. And Eve, also, his

wife, did labor with him.

It was not a curse to be avoided, but a

commandment to be kept. Think about what

that difference means to us in our lives.

31 October 200427

Six Days Shalt Thou Labor

This commandment was repeated to Moses.– Exodus 20:9

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

The commandment was repeated to Joseph Smith– DC 42:42

Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.

31 October 200428

Extending Self-Reliance

The commandment for us to work to provide for our needs is the foundation of another commandment.

DC 104:15-18 – And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things

are mine. But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low. For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves. Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.

31 October 200429

Charity Required for Repentance

If, as stewards, we accumulate from the abundance which the Lord has placed on the earth, we are commanded, as stewards, to impart from this accumulation to the poor and needy. This is not a new commandment. King Benjamin taught:

Mosiah 4:16 – And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of

your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

Mosiah 4:26 – And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto

you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

31 October 200430

Free and Good Desires

Mosiah 18:27-28 – And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of

their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given. And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.

The twist is that good stewards share the Lord's abundance because they have good desires toward God and impart of stewardship freely, with no hesitation or regret.

31 October 200431

The 3rd Principle

The third Celestial Principle of Family Financing is that we all work all the days of our lives so that we all can provide for each other.

31 October 200432

#3 - It’s Not About Dependency . . .

. . . It’s about working to take care of each other

LEVEL ATTITUDE

Telestial You take care of me

Terrestrial I work to take care of my own

Celestial We all work to take care of each other

31 October 200433

Principle Four of Four

31 October 200434

Surprise!

Picture a scene in the 1950's, when a husband comes home from work, asks his wife to close her eyes, and brings her outside to surprise her with a new car.

BAD, BAD, BAD. The vehicle's title

was probably in only his name. The title of the house was probably only in his name.

BAD. BAD. BAD.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

31 October 200435

Be One in Financial Stewardship

D&C 38: 27 – Behold, this I have given unto you as a

parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

Large surprises are BAD. – Large purchases must never, ever be a

surprise to those with whom we share a financial stewardship.

Every substantial purchase must be jointly decided and agreed upon in advance.

31 October 200436

Commingle Assets

Still, if couples can't share their money in

a checking account, it's probably a signal

that something's wrong in the relationship.

"Of couples I have counseled, the greatest

success, both in marital happinss and

sustainablity, occurs when assets are

commingled upon marriage,” says Sharon

Durling, author A Girl and Her Money.

Pat Curry (10 June 2003) "Love, honor, and

share a bank account." www.bankrate.com

31 October 200437

Financial Infidelity

From hidden agendas to private

accounts, undisclosed debt to

unstated resentment, couples

increasingly lead covert

financial lives. This secrecy

creates a new form of infidelity

—one that’s more dangerous

than sexual betrayal.

Loftus, Mary (December 2004). “Till Debt Do

Us Part.” Psychology Today. Vol. 37 No. 6.

31 October 200438

Budget, Discuss, and Agree

For usual expenses, like groceries and clothes, a family needs to agree on a budget in advance and if purchases will exceed the budget, a discussion must occur prior to the purchase.

Every non-usual purchase must be discussed and agreed upon in advance.– For non-routine purchases, a critical component of the

discussion is to identify the money that already exists in a savings account that will cover the purchase. If the money does not exist in savings, then we have our answer. We don't buy.

31 October 200439

Total Financial Unity

The principle of unity extends beyond just day-to-day purchases. It applies to all the family's assets.

Both partners must have visual access to and spend authority on all of the financial assets of the family. – To have "secret funds" or accounts in only one name is

contrary to Celestial principles. The 8th Temple recommend question asks if we

are honest in our dealing with our fellow men. This includes being honest with our spouses about family finances.

31 October 200440

Getting the Spirit

Oliver Cowdery's experience in trying to translate the Book of Mormon teaches us how we become one with the Spirit in trying to make decisions.

– DC 9:8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

– DC 8:2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

31 October 200441

Becoming One

1. Every time we make a decision, we must make a list of the half dozen or so most important things we could spend our money on (vacation, computer, extra mortgage payment, savings, etc.).

2. For each we should discuss the pros and cons. 3. When both spouses agree on what and how much,

then we must pray. 4. If the expenditure makes sense to our minds and

we feel calm without reservations in our hearts, then we can make the purchase.

5. If not, then wait and go through the process again.

31 October 200442

United in Prayer

I testify that great spiritual strength comes to a couple when—

– united in purpose,

– on their knees, and

– holding hands

they pray to make sure that buying a new sofa is approved by our Father in Heaven.

Our confidence will wax strong in the presence of the Lord (D&C 121: 45) when the Spirit confirms we are executing our financial stewardship in accordance with our Heavenly Father's plan.

31 October 200443

The 4th Principle

The fourth Celestial Principle of Family Financing is that we become one with each other and the Holy Ghost about our financial stewardship decisions.

31 October 200444

#4 - It’s Not About Me . . .

. . . It’s about ‘we’

LEVEL ATTITUDE

Telestial I decide what to do with my money

Terrestrial We decide together what to do with our money

Celestial We are one with the Holy Ghost about what to do with the Lord's money

31 October 200445

Summary

PRINCIPLE / LEVEL TELESTIAL TERRESTRIAL CELESTIAL

"It's not mine" What's yours is mine What's mine is mine None of it is mine, it is the Lord's

"It's not about the money" It is about the money It is about what the

money can doIt is about being a faithful steward

"It's not about dependency" You take care of me I work to take care of

my ownWe all work to take care of each other

"It's not about me" I decide what to do with my money

We decide together what to do with our money

It's about we. We are one with the Holy Ghost about what to do with the Lord's money

31 October 200446

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, Luke asked the question:

Luke 16:11 - If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Answer: Nobody. Unless we manage our financial stewardship in strict accordance with Celestial Principles, we cannot hope to be admitted into the Celestial Kingdom.

Exercising faith, and trusting in the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we can become good and faithful servants, worthy to enter into our Father’s kingdom.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The End

D. Calvin Andrus, BishopSterling Park Ward

31 October 2004

On Celestial Principlesof Family Finances

http://members.aol.com/acadac/talks