046 Consecration and the Beginning of Church Finances
Jan 16, 2024
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Dive into the intriguing history of church finances and the crucial concept of consecration. Discover how this guiding principle has shaped the financial practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from its early days. Learn about Joseph Smith's role in establishing community guidelines and the evolution of communal living. The podcast also contrasts scarcity versus abundance while emphasizing unity and voluntary participation. Personal stories enrich the discussion on how these principles continue to support marginalized members.
The financial journey of the Church illustrates a profound evolution from struggling with resources to developing a robust financial reserve through historical challenges.
Consecration, a foundational principle, underscores the church's financial practices by promoting resource sharing for community benefit rather than mere monetary giving.
Historical lessons from early church attempts to practice consecration highlight the need for structured guidelines to ensure effective communal resource management.
Deep dives
The Financial History of the Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has garnered significant financial reserves over time, but its financial history reveals a journey through challenging times. Initially struggling, the church has developed a financial system rooted in the principles established in early revelations. Understanding this history is crucial for grasping the church's current financial practices, especially in light of recent media scrutiny regarding its finances. This discussion emphasizes that the church's financial approaches cannot be separated from their historical development.
Understanding Consecration
Consecration is highlighted as a fundamental principle underlying the financial success of the church, intertwined with its mission and service. This law, often misunderstood, has remained a guiding principle since the church's inception. Unlike merely giving, consecration involves a commitment to use resources for the benefit of the community and those in need. It serves as a continuous practice rather than a relic of the past, pushing church members towards active engagement in supporting each other and the church's mission.
Historical Context and Evolution of Consecration
The early church faced various challenges as they strived to practice consecration, leading to the establishment of structured approaches to manage shared resources effectively. Initial efforts to live communally often resulted in confusion without proper guidelines, demonstrated by early attempts in Kirtland. The introduction of Section 42 provided necessary structure and aimed to prevent the misinterpretation of communal living. This evolved understanding of consecration emphasized both accountability and mutual consent between members and church leaders.
Principles Behind the Law of Consecration
Central to the law of consecration are principles that emphasize caring for the poor and needy while supporting the growth of the church. Early church revelations outlined the responsibilities of church members to consecrate their resources for the common good. Modern equivalents of these early practices can be found in church welfare programs, such as bishop's storehouses, aiming to meet not just basic needs but also the wants of community members. This approach reflects a commitment to abundant living rather than living in scarcity.
Challenges and Lessons from Consecration
The concept of consecration illustrates the importance of individual agency and commitment within the church community. Notable historical figures, like Lehman Copley, showcase the challenges of maintaining these ideals when faced with personal uncertainties or community dynamics. Such stories reinforce the necessity of unity and integrity in practicing consecration. The commitment to consecration is seen as an expression of faith and reliance on community, ultimately shaping the church's approach to both its spiritual and temporal concerns.
In the last few years the finances of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been in the media spotlight—and not always in positive ways. It’s no secret that the Church today has amassed an impressive financial reserve to ensure the accomplishment of its purposes. But it was not always so. There have been some narrow straits through which the Church has had to pass to get to where it is financially today. It is quite compelling history actually—which is why we wanted to dedicate a whole series to exploring this fascinating and important topic.
In this episode of Church History Matters, Casey and Scott go back to the beginning of Church finances to explore the undergirding principles in the original revelations that have gotten us to where we are today. And among them all there is one particular principle that looms larger and is more responsible for the Church’s financial success than any of the others, and that is consecration—a law shrouded with some degree of mystery and confusion in the minds of many. So, we want to at least begin dissecting what it is and what it isn’t in this episode.