Jacob 2:18-19 is a couple of good versus to read about being rich. Personally, I believe the Lord wants to bless us, and if we keep the commandments, He does. You will notice that the Apostles and Prophets are quite well off. There are many other members of the Church that are rich, and seem very Christ Like. If you have wealth, make sure you pay your tithing, pay a very generous fast offering, and help the poor and the needy as often as you can. To me it seems that most of the LDS’s in Salt Lake City, Bountiful, and many other places are rich. I think many of them keep the commandments, and pay their tithes and offerings, and help out the poor. I believe that the Book of Mormon and the D & C can give you some good advice if you are rich. Von

Liz,
I think he did answer your question, just not in the way you wanted it to be said. In my studies I believe that, no, being wealthy is not incompatible with scripture. However, we are not called upon to determine how wealthy people are to use their money. We do not know what they actually do. All we see are the externals of their lives. They may be helping poor people, we just don’t see it because they do not advertise it. Jesus said that the poor will always be with us. So what am I doing to help them? That is what I need to be concerned with.

However, I also agree with the comments here so far. I think Liz was asking what is the general principle and teaching of the gospel regarding wealth. I think it is very clear in the scriptures that this is a vital question for disciples. And the answer that I read in the scriptures is that we should be very generous in helping other people, with whatever excess we have above our bare essential needs.

Most members of the church, in America at least, are very, very blessed materially compared with the rest of the people in the world. And even in America there are many people who go hungry, all around us, even though we may not see them in our normal social circles.

I think if you had an extra $10 you didn’t “need” and someone else could benefit from it then you will be held accountable. Rich people just have more that they are capable of doing.

We are all accountable for our own actions. If we have extra abilities or possibilities because of our money then we have extra things we will be accountable for. It is really that simple.