Obtain in Righteousness

As the Saints were gathering to Kirtland, Joseph Smith learned from the Lord that eventually a city of Zion would need to be built elsewhere. This location would eventually be revealed to be centered in Independence, Missouri, but when section 48 was revealed this was not yet known. The Lord gave this interesting instruction to the Saints, though, in preparation for the coming forth of that city: “It must needs be necessary that ye save all the money that ye can, and that ye obtain all that ye can in righteousness, that in time ye may be enabled to purchase land for an inheritance, even the city” (v4). They were commanded to save their money and to obtain all the money they could in righteousness in preparation for purchasing land where the city New Jerusalem would be built. Brother Steven Harper in Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants commented about this section and this verse in particular: “It also answers common questions related to the law of consecration. Is saving contrary to consecration? What about ‘obtaining’ money? Section 48 clarifies that our motives matter very much when it comes to saving and obtaining. It commands the Saints to save all they can for righteous purposes. It commands them to earn all they can ‘in righteousness’ so they can build Zion (v. 4). It is a restatement of the Lord’s command to seek his kingdom first and foremost. Saving and earning to that end are not only justified but commanded.” To save money for future causes instead of giving it away immediately and to seek after money is not necessarily contrary to the law of consecration. What matters most is the purpose for which we do these things.

                This principle is also reflected in the teachings of Jacob to his people concerning riches. He taught those who had a problem with pride, “Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.” If we seek for wealth, it must be for the purpose of building up the kingdom of God. For Jacob’s people that meant seeing to “do good” with their money by caring for the poor and needy. This is in contrast to what Jacob was observing his people do: “Because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they” (Jacob 2:13, 17-19). If obtaining money is connected with pride in any way, then we are not doing it like the prophets have taught. It must be instead done “in righteousness” and with “the intent to do good” and never to elevate our own status above others. The most important thing we should seek is the kingdom of God, and if that includes obtaining and saving money to assist in the building up of Zion then we might seek secondarily for that. As the Savior instructed in another revelation: “Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:7). We must learn to seek for wisdom and the things of God, to seek eternal life for us and those around us. And if that leads us to find riches at the same time, we can use those for the building up of Zion and preparing the world for the second coming of the Lord.