But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; For if they labor for money they shall perish. (2Nephi 26:31) And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift. . . . There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of ‘ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. (Book of Mormon, 4Nephi 1:3,17) ...the same messenger... added a caution to me,
telling me that Satan would try to tempt me (in consequence of the
indigent circumstances of my father’s family), to get the plates for the
purpose of getting rich. This he forbade me, saying that I must have no
other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God...
--Joseph Smith
But wo unto the rich,
who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures:
wherefore, their treasure is their God.
And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also. (2Nephi 9:29) But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.
(Doctrine and Covenants 49:20)
For there were many merchants in the land, and also many lawyers, and many officers. And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning, yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches. Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God. And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord. Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this -- Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world. (3 Nephi 6:10-18) Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them
with all manner of words,
and this because of their humility;
because they were not proud
in their own eyes,
and because they did impart
the word of God, one with another,
without money and without price.
(Alma 1:20) And now, if God,
who has created you,
on whom you are dependent
for your lives
and for all that ye have and are,
doth grant unto you
whatsoever ye ask that is right,
in faith
believing that ye shall receive,
O then, how ye ought to impart
of the substance that ye have
one to another.
And if ye judge the man
who putteth up his petition to you
for your substance
that he perish not,
and condemn him
how much more
will be your condemnation
for withholding your substance,
which doth not belong to you
but to God,
to whom also your life belongeth;
and yet ye put up no petition,
nor repent of the thing
which thou hast done.
I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance
shall perish with him;
and now, I say unto those
who are rich
as pertaining to the things of this world.
(Mosiah 4:21-23)
And it came
to pass...
(The Holy Mantra of the book of Mormon. What appears most common, most silly, contains the keys to enlightenment.)
...great and marvelous
were the prophecies of Ether;
but they esteemed him as naught,
and cast him out;
and he hid himself
in the cavity of a rock by day,
and by night he went forth
viewing the things which should come upon the people.
And as he dwelt in the cavity of a rock
he made the remainder
of this record,
viewing the destructions
which came upon the people,
by night.
(Ether 13:13-14)
The people in this age... are like the man who found a lump of gold which weighed 100 pounds. The last that was heard of him was, he was sitting upon it, offering a great price to the passers-by for something to eat, and swearing that, if he had to starve to death, he would stick by the gold, and die a rich man.
(Brigham Young, The Essential Brigham Young, p. 69-70) If your neighbor or your brother should sue you at the law for your coat, give it to him, and your cloak also, and not turn around and say, "It is my right; are you going to rob me?" The instructions of the Savior of the world... are right; and I could prove it by philosophical reasoning, and make you believe it, and you would be satisfied it is the best course you could pursue. I will give you the key to it, which is this--it gives you an influence you never can obtain by contending for your rights. You say, "Take it, it is no matter whether it is my right or not." If a man asks you to go with him one mile, go two, and then you can say, "You only asked me to go one mile, but I have gone two." That is the counsel Jesus Christ gave. If you sit down and calmly reason the case, you cannot but discover that it gives you an influence over that man, which you could not gain by contending with him in anger. All the power which is gained by contending with people is usurped power. The power which belongs to the True Riches is gained by pursuing a righteous course, by maintaining an upright deportment towards all men, and especially towards the household of faith, yielding to each other, giving freely of that which the Lord has given to you. Thus you can secure to yourselves eternal riches and gain influence and power over all your friends, as well as your enemies. "If you want anything I have, here, take it, and I will have influence and poser over you." This is a key word to gain the True Riches; that is the amount of it.
(Brigham Young, The Essential Brigham Young, p. 69-70) The idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer has always meant that the idle rich shall not eat the bread of the laboring poor, as they always have.
– Hugh Nibley All my life I have shied away from these disturbing and highly unpopular—even offensive—themes. But I cannot do so any longer, because in my old age I have taken to reading the scriptures and there have had it forced upon my reluctant attention that, from the time of Adam to the present day, Zion has been pitted against Babylon, and the name of the game has always been money—"power and gain."
--Hugh Nibley ("What is Zion?" CWHN 9:58)
Babylon and Zion cannot mix in any degree. A Zion that makes concessions is no longer Zion.
--Hugh Nibley ("What is Zion?" CWHN 9:58)
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