Doctrine and Covenants 104: 11-18, 78-83

 

✨ When you think about being a “steward over earthly blessings,” what does that look like in your life—and how do you see it shaping the way you use what God has entrusted to you?

"11 It is wisdom in me; therefore, a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall organize yourselves and appoint every man his stewardship;

12 That every man may give an account unto me of the stewardship which is appointed unto him.

13 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.

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

15 And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.

16 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.

17 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.

18 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.

78 And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts—behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts.

79 And it is my will that you shall humble yourselves before me, and obtain this blessing by your diligence and humility and the prayer of faith.

80 And inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance.

81 Therefore write speedily to New York and write according to that which shall be dictated by my Spirit; and I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, that it shall be taken away out of their minds to bring affliction upon you.

82 And inasmuch as ye are humble and faithful and call upon my name, behold, I will give you the victory.

83 I give unto you a promise, that you shall be delivered this once out of your bondage." (Doctrine and Covenants 104: 11-18, 78-83)

And here's the commentary entitled: "The Lord has made me a “steward over earthly blessings.” : 

"In addition to trials in Missouri, in 1834 the Church faced financial difficulties, including heavy debts and expenses. In section 104 the Lord gave counsel on the Church’s financial situation. How can you apply the principles in verses 11–18 and 78–83 to your own financial decisions?

See also “Treasure in Heaven: The John Tanner Story” and “The Labor of His Hands” (videos), Gospel Library."

Here are the principles I find in verses 11–18 and 78–83: 

• The Lord has made every one of us a "steward over earthly blessings"
• Every one of us is accountable to the Lord for our own stewardship
• All things are the Lord's and it's His purpose to provide for His saints
• Providing for the saints must be done in the Lord's way
• The earth is full and there is enough and to spare
• The Lord prepared all things and has given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves
• The Lord wants us to take of the abundance which he has made, and impart his portion, according to the law of his gospel, unto the poor and the needy
• It is the Lord's will that the Church shall pay all its debts. It is the Lord's will that the Church leaders shall humble themselves before him, and obtain this blessing by their diligence and humility and the prayer of faith. Inasmuch as they are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, the Lord will soften the hearts of those to whom the Church is in debt, until the Lord shall send means unto the Church for its deliverance
• The Lord wants the Church leaders to write speedily to New York and write speedily according to that which shall be dictated by his Spirit; and the Lord will soften the hearts of those to whom the Church is in debt, that it shall be taken away out of their minds to bring affliction upon the Church. And inasmuch as the Church leaders are humble and faithful and call upon his name, behold, the Lord will give me them victory. The Lord give unto the Church a promise, that the Church shall be delivered this once out of its bondage

I can apply these principles in my own financial decisions by:

• Taking responsibility being a "steward over my earthly blessings"
• Remembering that I am accountable to the Lord for my own stewardship
• Remembering that all things are the Lord's and it's His purpose to provide for His saints
• Remembering that the earth is full and there is enough and to spare
• Acting as agent unto myself
• Taking of the abundance which the Lord has made and impart according to the law of his gospel unto the poor and the needy by contributing my monthly fast offering consistently
• Paying all my debts
• Doing what is necessary speedily according to that which shall be dictated by his Spirit, being humble and faithful and calling upon his holy name, and the Lord will give me victory. The Lord gives unto me a promise, that I shall be delivered this once out of my financial bondage.

I am indeed doing what is necessary according to what the Spirit dictated me so I can be delivered out of my financial bondage. I know the Lord will give me victory as I continue to call upon his holy name while doing what I can. I am so grateful that I was inspired by the Lord through his Spirit to learn and develop my skillset to pave the way for me to increase my income so I could not only pay my debts but also earn more than I'm earning as my salary from my day job right now but also I could free up my time and energy and do more of what the Lord wants me to do with what he's giving me so I can have more joy, love, and peace in this earthly life. I am now in a journey heading to a place where I am debt free and also I am able to do more with my time and energy in serving the Lord, my family, and my fellowmen. This is how being a "steward over earthly blessings" shaping the way I use what has God entrusted to me.