I've recently been thinking a lot about the Law of Consecration. Basically, that we give all our time, talents, and possessions to the Lord for His work. The law makes complete sense to me, but some parts of it are easier to live than others.
For example, the dedication of all possessions--I've never had a problem with tithing (giving 10% of my income to the Church) or with Fast Offerings (giving money to help the needy). In something I read, after we dedicate all we have to the Lord, He makes us stewards over our possessions. I pondered about why we needed to give up everything only to have it given back and came up with two theories.
First, when we are owners we don't answer to anyone for our actions with our possessions. However, when we are stewards we are responsible to the actual owner and we work harder to keep the commandments the Lord has given us--godhood by training wheels. Secondly, if we are owners we need to spend our own money to buy additional property. However, God is in actuality the owner of all things, and if we are wise stewards with what He gives us responsibility over, then He will give us more--in fact, all that He has. Someone has called it the "best return rate we will ever get" because we give God everything we have, and in return He gives us everything He has: everything.
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This is very insightful, Camilla.
I find it interesting that although we will eventually be expected to live the law of consecration, we only live a preparatory law--the law of tithing. There was a time when the prophet tried to implement the law of consecration, but the people weren't ready for it. It sounds an awful lot like the children of Israel to me. Moses was ready to teach them the fulness of the gospel, but they were only ready for the preparatory gospel.
It makes me wonder what other laws and ordinances we are not ready for as a people. It is a testament to what God has taught us in Nephi about learning line upon line and precept upon precept. We won't be able to progress until we learn to do what we have already been commanded. It's like how everyone in the church would be excited to get new scripture, but then you ask who is reading the scriptures they already have and there are a lot fewer people in the second category. I guess that's a reason why we have the law of tithing for now. For sure, it makes me want to never falter in obeying this commandment!
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