What the Scriptures Teach Us about Prosperity

by S. Michael Wilcox

I kept writing notes to myself about things I was learning and discussing different perspectives with my family and friends. This was a book to nibble around the edges slowly and think about and reflect on and then nibble on some more." - Association for Mormon Letters

Can you be rich and righteous? Worthy and wealthy? And if the answer is no, why do the scriptures teach that God wants us to "have in abundance" (D&C 49:19)?

Matters concerning money are an inescapable part of life, no matter what income level we are presently at or hope to achieve. Money can be a great motivator, but money problems are the number-one divider of family unity. Because money is such an important part of our mortal test, and because so much unhappiness and misery is caused by not using our resources properly, it is not at all surprising that the Lord has filled the scriptures with counsel on this important topic. By heeding His guidance and mastering His lessons, we can anticipate greater security and happiness in our financial endeavors as well as healthier family relationships. In this timely and insightful new book, author S. Michael Wilcox helps us discover what the Lord wants us to know about the role of money in our lives.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds Non Fiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published February 2, 2010

About the author

S. Michael Wilcox is an instructor at the institute of religion adjacent to the University of Utah. A frequent speaker at Brigham Young University Education Week, Michael also conducts tours of the Holy Land, Church history sites, Europe, China, and Central America. He received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Brigham Young University, a master’s in media from the University of Arizona, and his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in educational philosophy. He is the author of House of Glory and When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered.

Reviews

[Abby]

For a couple years between college and my first baby, I worked at a company where people made ridiculous amounts of money. Seriously, it was ridiculous. I worked in sales and I hit probably the best two year window I could have been there for, and I turned out to be one awesome salesgirl.

I quit the job and walked away from this astronomically high paycheck when Benjamin was born. Really, the further I get away from it, the more crazy it seems. We personally used the money I earned to buy rental properties, which I now manage and pay the mortgages on them with the rent money. Any other money I earned went into retirement accounts and savings and such. So while I made a lot of money for a couple years, I never actually changed my lifestyle or bought any expensive cars or built a giant house. My thought was, "This will not last forever. It would be irresponsible to buy a big house and then be chained to my income, or buy a fancy car that will drop in value when I could invest and have so much more later in life." And it all proved to be a smart choice, because I was able to walk away from my job and be a stay at home mom at the end, with no bad repercussions with the major drop in income.

I still live a happy middle class life, with the nice reassurance that our investments have a great head start from my two years with that company. I drive by the building on the freeway sometimes and look up at where my desk used to be and think, "I could've spent the last 4 years (since Benjamin was born) sitting in a cubicle in that building 10 hours a day." And then I think about all the great things I have done in the past four years, and I wouldn't have traded it for any amount of money in the world.

As I have been reading this book, I have felt (as I have before,) an incredible sense of relief that I made it out of that place okay. It's like I was barely missed by a poisionous arrow. Lots of us started there not having made a lot of money before, and almost everyone I know who made a lot of money with me is worse off for the experience. Several are divorced (all of which had children). Others bought expensive cars that are now worthless, or moved into huge houses that are now worth a fraction of what they paid and are now in foreclosure (nobody makes as much money there as they did a few years back). Another one shot his wife to death in a church parking lot right here in a Lehi, and is now in prison. They had two kids, a big house and expensive cars. That should have made them happy, right?

The further I get away from that place, the more scary it is to think I was ever there. I never realized quite so clearly how bad money and prosperity can be. THAT is why it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man go to heaven. It reminds me of people who want their kids to be in movies, even though every child star goes nuts before age 20. It sounds like a neat idea, but looking back the parents surely must think it was a bad idea. Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus... all those girls would have been much better off to have lived quiet, normal happy lives. Same deal with getting a lot of money. How many people look back and realize that getting wealthy was the beginning of the end for them? That with the greater income came greater temptations, and that they would have been better off and happier in the end if they had been poor?

It is possible to have money and go to heaven. It's just hard. This book is good. I actually am only halfway through it, it's just making me think a lot, like only S. Michael Wilcox and the scriptures can.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished this one....so much to learn it took a while to digest. Simply said, this book changed my perspective on prosperity and how we are to use all that we have been blessed with in our lives. Hard to sum up quickly, but the one phrase that has caught my eye and which I shall forever ask myself from now on when deciding where the money goes, "Can I buy this with the Lord's money?" Knowing that all we have belongs to the Lord, we take Him into consideration when making our choices. The normal question of "Can I afford this?" or the thought "I want this" becomes secondary. The primary question will always be, "Can I do this with YOUR money, Lord?" And to add to this: "Most debt, out of consideration for our Lord and our sense of stewardship over his gifts, would be eliminated...One cannot consecrate to the Lord what one does not own." Wow, powerful stuff. Enough said. Five stars definitely!

[Kyle Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always had this internal religious dilemma. Christ says to love one another, to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the sick and afflicted. But at the same time, a lot of Mormons are very successful, very financially stable. And the dilemma comes when you see wealthy people with two houses, big fancy cars, or boats, and the world still has poverty. But it can’t be everyone’s responsibility to take care of every poor person in the world, right? My Mom has always said that helping people is important, but if you make yourself poor in the process, you become a burden on others. Social entrepreneurship says the same thing, your solution can’t burn millions of dollars in the process, it has to be sustainable.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. Michael Wilcox's insight and deep dive into what the scriptures say about money and prosperity was very helpful for me personally. How I think about prosperity and money has changed since reading this book. I love this author and plan to read more books that he has written.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Michael Wilcox makes me think. This book about money and prosperity was very insightful and gave me some important things to ponder.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Interesting book. It took me 3+ years to read. I got some good insights.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely learned new ideas, particularly about scriptures I thought I already understood. Always keep the back door open to share your blessings.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book on building wealth, or self sufficiency. It does take time to digest because Wilcox takes almost all of his stories and illustrations directly from the scriptures. It's a whole lot of information and sometimes you just have to pause to assimilate it all.

It really changed the way I thought about prosperity. The title is about prosperity, not money, wealth, riches or anything like that. It changed how I thought about what it means to prosper, and our responsibilities when we do reach that point. Would be worth reading again every few years.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really puts in perspective money and what the scriptures tell us about money. Can we have wealth and use what we need then give the rest to those in need? Can we continue to do this throughout our lives. He shares in the scriptures where people did this for a while then became proud and loved their things more than God. Can we live modestly and be happy or do we think having much more will bring us happiness. This was really insightful.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me think a lot about my views on money and prosperity. Not an instructional book about finances. Generally covering the morals, ethics, and focus of a balanced pursuit of propersity and the possible dilemmas of wealth. I think that I would give it 4 stars, but need to think about the books main points more.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really made me think. Pretty much, the scriptures don't have a lot of good things to say about riches and wealth. Not that it's awful to have money. It just means you have a lot of responsibility and ability to help others meet their needs.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of exactly what is taught in the scriptures (including latter-day words) about wealth and what our attitude toward money should be. Most worthwhile in this time of turbulent economic trouble. Recommended.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Wilcox's books. He has a way of seeing details in the scriptures that I tend to miss. I think this is a great read--especially for Priesthood leaders who deal with welfare and other money issues--but also for all of us!

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book that I would highly recommend to anyone. Pride is the universal sin and is nearly impossible to avoid during times of prosperity. In this book S. Michael Wilcox uses the scriptures to explore what the Lord has said about wealth and finances.

[Josh Steimle · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this book marks a watershed moment. I had already reached a few of the conclusions the author included, but the book expanded my understanding far beyond what I had thought about. It was the right book at the right time for me.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I learned a lot about what the scriptures say about money. Brother Wilcox provides good explanations of the subject.

[Kristi Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the insights that Michael Wilcox gives about money. I especially loved how he showed so clearly the Lords way of sharing what you have. I would highly recommend this book to all!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to go buy my own copy so Dan and I could read it.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as awesome as every other of Brother Wilcox's books. It has refocused my priorities as I read the scriptures to help me with my schooling and career

[Fritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me to think differently about the temptation of wealth, which we need to take seriously. Also about the Lord's definition of happiness, compared to the world's definition.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good explanation of prosperity for Latter-day Saints. Well written and insightful.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I love the insights of Michael Wilcox! This book gave me alot to think about.

[Lauri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish before it was due back at the library.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a little slow to read, but it had some really good stuff. It really helped me to understand more about the scripture's viewpoint on prosperity.

[Jackie Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Really made me notice a pretty big gap in the way my generation and I tend to think and the way the scriptures tell us to be.

[Sally]

http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/...

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

good discussion on what the Lord expects us to do with our abundance.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective. Not just another book on budgeting.

[Laura Tripp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Made me think and was good at helping me feel guilty about not wisely using my money.