This is a review of the slides we used while This is a review of the slides we used while discussing . . .discussing . . .

Pillars of ConsecrationPillars of Consecration D&C 38D&C 38

The Establishment The Establishment of Zionof Zion

We ought to have the We ought to have the building up of building up of Zion Zion as our as our greatest objectgreatest object ( (Teachings of the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph SmithProphet Joseph Smith, Section Four 1839–, Section Four 1839–42, p.161).42, p.161).

When we awake and are When we awake and are born of Godborn of God, a , a new day will break and new day will break and Zion will be RedeemedZion will be Redeemed (President Ezra Taft Benson, (President Ezra Taft Benson, EnsignEnsign, Nov. , Nov. 1985, 5). 1985, 5).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of ConsecrationSection 38Section 38

These comments are for the essentially These comments are for the essentially ‘honorable’ ‘honorable’ members who are skimming over the members who are skimming over the surface instead of surface instead of deepening their discipleshipdeepening their discipleship and who and who are casually engaged rather than are casually engaged rather than ‘anxiously engaged’ ‘anxiously engaged’ (D&C 76:75; 58:27). Though nominal in their (D&C 76:75; 58:27). Though nominal in their participation, their reservations and hesitations participation, their reservations and hesitations inevitably show through. inevitably show through. They may even pass through They may even pass through our holy temples, but, alas, our holy temples, but, alas, they do not let the holy they do not let the holy temples pass through themtemples pass through them (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 1992, 65).Nov. 1992, 65).

The longest journey that any of us will The longest journey that any of us will ever take’ever take’ —the journey from my head to my —the journey from my head to my heart (Marie K. Hafen, heart (Marie K. Hafen, Ricks College Ricks College DevotionalDevotional, October 3, 2000)., October 3, 2000).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16) ” (v. 16) [“[“I am I am

owned by God”owned by God” - see D&C 19:2] - see D&C 19:2]

Pride does not look up to God and care about what Pride does not look up to God and care about what is right. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right. is right. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right. Pride is manifest in the spirit of contention.Pride is manifest in the spirit of contention.

Was it not through pride that the devil became the Was it not through pride that the devil became the devil? Christ wanted to serve. The devil wanted to rule. devil? Christ wanted to serve. The devil wanted to rule. Christ wanted to bring men to where He was. The devil Christ wanted to bring men to where He was. The devil wanted to be above men.wanted to be above men.

Christ removed self as the force in His perfect life. It Christ removed self as the force in His perfect life. It was not my will, but thine be done. was not my will, but thine be done. Pride is Pride is characterized by characterized by "What do I want out of life?" "What do I want out of life?" rather rather than by than by "What would God have me do with my life?""What would God have me do with my life?" It is It is self-will as opposed to God's will. It is the fear of man self-will as opposed to God's will. It is the fear of man over the fear of God (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, April, over the fear of God (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, April, 1989, p. 4). 1989, p. 4).

Pride is Pride is the great stumbling blockthe great stumbling block to Zion. to Zion. I I repeat:repeat: Pride is Pride is the great stumbling blockthe great stumbling block to Zion to Zion (President Ezra Taft Benson, Saturday Morning (President Ezra Taft Benson, Saturday Morning Session, CR, 1 April, 1989). Session, CR, 1 April, 1989).

Conceit[Pride] is the strangest disease known to man. It makes every one else sick, but he who has it.

-Unknown

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17) ” (v. 17) [D&C 104:17][D&C 104:17]

I recently learned an interesting fact: I recently learned an interesting fact: If a man owns a million dollars worth of gold If a man owns a million dollars worth of gold at today’s prices, at today’s prices, he possesses approximately he possesses approximately one 27-billionth of all the gold that is present one 27-billionth of all the gold that is present in the earth’s thin crust alone in the earth’s thin crust alone (Spencer W. (Spencer W. Kimball, Kimball, The False Gods We WorshipThe False Gods We Worship, , Ensign, June 1976, p. 5).Ensign, June 1976, p. 5).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24) (v. 24) [D&C 82:19][D&C 82:19]

The first year that I came into this valley I had not The first year that I came into this valley I had not flour enough to last my family until harvest . . . and flour enough to last my family until harvest . . . and persons were coming to my house every day for bread. persons were coming to my house every day for bread. I had the blues about one day; I went down to the old I had the blues about one day; I went down to the old fort, and by the time I got back to my house I was fort, and by the time I got back to my house I was completely cured. I said to my wife, completely cured. I said to my wife, ‘‘Do not let a Do not let a person come here for food and go away empty handed, person come here for food and go away empty handed, for if you do we shall suffer before harvest; but if you for if you do we shall suffer before harvest; but if you give to every individual that comes we shall have enough give to every individual that comes we shall have enough to last us through.’ to last us through.’ I intend to keep doing so, that my I intend to keep doing so, that my bread may hold out, for if I do not I shall come short.bread may hold out, for if I do not I shall come short. Do you believe that principle? I know it is true, Do you believe that principle? I know it is true, because I have proven it so many times (Brigham because I have proven it so many times (Brigham Young,Young, in Journal of Discourses, in Journal of Discourses, 3:332-33).3:332-33).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24)(v. 24)

• ““riches of the earth are mine” riches of the earth are mine” (v. 39) (v. 39) [see Deut. 8:10-20][see Deut. 8:10-20]

The Lord has given to me all I possess; The Lord has given to me all I possess; I have I have nothing in reality, not a single dime of it is mine.nothing in reality, not a single dime of it is mine. You You may ask, 'Do you feel as you say?' Yes, I actually do. may ask, 'Do you feel as you say?' Yes, I actually do. The coat I have on my back is not mine, and never The coat I have on my back is not mine, and never was; the Lord put it in my possession honorably, and was; the Lord put it in my possession honorably, and I wear it; but if he wishes for it, and all there is under I wear it; but if he wishes for it, and all there is under it, he is welcome to the whole. I do not own a house, it, he is welcome to the whole. I do not own a house, or a single farm of land, a horse, mule, carriage, or or a single farm of land, a horse, mule, carriage, or wagon, or wife, nor child but what the Lord gave me, wagon, or wife, nor child but what the Lord gave me, and and if he wants them, he can take them at his pleasure, if he wants them, he can take them at his pleasure, whether he speaks for them, or takes them without whether he speaks for them, or takes them without speaking speaking (Brigham Young, JD 2:307).(Brigham Young, JD 2:307).

When my Bishop came to value my When my Bishop came to value my property, he wanted to know what he should take property, he wanted to know what he should take my tithing in. my tithing in. I told him to take anything I hadI told him to take anything I had, for , for I did not set my heart upon any one thing; my I did not set my heart upon any one thing; my horses, cows, hogs, or any other thing he might horses, cows, hogs, or any other thing he might take; take; my heart is set upon the work of my God, my heart is set upon the work of my God, upon the public good of his great Kingdomupon the public good of his great Kingdom (Brigham Young, JD 1:376).(Brigham Young, JD 1:376).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24)(v. 24)

• ““riches of the earth are mine” riches of the earth are mine” (v. 39)(v. 39)

• ““labor of his hands” labor of his hands” (v. 40)(v. 40)

Neither in public relief nor in private charity is Neither in public relief nor in private charity is any duty, restraint, or inhibition placed upon the any duty, restraint, or inhibition placed upon the needy recipient of help. He may take and take, and needy recipient of help. He may take and take, and grasp for more. grasp for more. It is quite otherwise in the Church.It is quite otherwise in the Church. The The Lord has said to the unworthy poor: Wo unto you Lord has said to the unworthy poor: Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands! (D&C 56:17.) (Marion G. Romney, hands! (D&C 56:17.) (Marion G. Romney, EnsignEnsign, , Nov. 1977, 81).Nov. 1977, 81).

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24)(v. 24)

• ““riches of the earth are mine” riches of the earth are mine” (v. 39)(v. 39)

• ““labor of his hands” labor of his hands” (v. 40)(v. 40)

• ““preaching. . .warning voice” preaching. . .warning voice” (v. 41)(v. 41)

““Pillars” of ConsecrationPillars” of Consecration• ““all flesh is mineall flesh is mine” (v. 16)” (v. 16)

• ““I have made the earth richI have made the earth rich” (v. 17)” (v. 17)

• ““esteem his brother as self”esteem his brother as self”(v. 24)(v. 24)

• ““riches of the earth are mine” riches of the earth are mine” (v. 39)(v. 39)

• ““labor of his hands” labor of his hands” (v. 40)(v. 40)

• ““preaching. . .warning voice” preaching. . .warning voice” (v. 41)(v. 41)

• ““go ye out from among wicked”go ye out from among wicked” (v. 42) (v. 42)

The End . . .The End . . .