– “If we are to build that Zion of which the prophets have spoken and of which the Lord has given mighty promise, we must set aside our consuming selfishness. We must rise above our love for comfort and ease, and in the very process of effort and struggle, even in our extremity, we shall become better acquainted with our God.
Let us never forget that we have a marvelous heritage received from great and courageous people who endured unimaginable suffering and demonstrated unbelievable courage for the cause they loved. You and I know what we should do. God help us to do it when it needs to be done, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/our-mission-of-saving?lang=eng President Hinckley, Conf. Report Oct. 1991 Our Mission of Saving)
-The focus is honest focus on the gospel and all that entails.
-study as guided by the Lord (even if he tells you to be a finance major etc.)
-continuing education in the highest form may be outside of the official school’s; this is not to discourage those with opportunity for these degrees, but we live in a special day when the boy who pushes the plow may know more from books than the doctors and scholars.
-be willing to live a humble life.
-Zion can’t be until we leave selfishness President Hinckley says.
-people need to be helped spiritually as much as temporally
-Zion is (very) often referred to as the poor. We can, at least, be poor in heart, not having our heart on riches, regardless of how much riches we have.
-people get to where they are struggling to provide for family and hence not in politics (and other important social or religious or family issues) much, but the worst is when we are working for recreational vehicles etc. and using that as the reason why we aren’t involved. Heaven forbid!
-Dan E Christensen, in his book “The birth of the Kingdom of God The destruction of America” he speaks of how we are obsessed with planning our retirement etc. and use Sabbaths to worship the God of NFL and other sporting leagues.
-we should work 6 days a week like God’s commanded (“six days shalt thou labor”) and not worry about getting out of it!
-Joseph Smith is one of the greatest men who ever lived (D&C 135:3). Jewish texts suggest that the 7 heads of dispensations are the 7 archangels, and the 7 angels whom will pour out the plagues of God upon the earth at the last days. That great archangel dispensation head Joseph Smith worked only enough to eke out a meager living, then spent the rest of his time studying languages ancient texts re-discovering history etc. to help his people and find his way to God. We can be like him and not be afraid but trust in God.
-by and large, those who serve God are delivered from the trials of the last days, not necessarily those with the most money. “The summer is past, and my soul is not saved” they will may say.
-President Monson our prophet has on several occasions quoted Shakespeare in King Henry the VIII,
“O Cromwell, Cromwell!
Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies. “
-while retirement may be alright from our occupations, we must continue to work for God. “Now, a word to us seasoned brethren: retirement is not part of the Lord’s plan of happiness. There is no sabbatical or retirement program from priesthood responsibilities—regardless of age or physical capacity. While the phrase “been there, done that” may work as an excuse to avoid skateboarding, decline the invitation for a motorbike ride, or bypass the spicy curry at the buffet, it is not an acceptable excuse for avoiding covenant responsibilities to consecrate our time, talents, and resources in the work of the kingdom of God.” (President Uchtdorf, “Two Principals for any Economy” Gen Conf. Oct. 2009 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/two-principles-for-any-economy?lang=eng).
-Don’t be obsessed about having a house of your own. “And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20).
-when it comes to finances, we should not put our lusts in higher priority than what the Holy Ghost tells us what to do. What’s right for one person financially could be wrong for another. Some things are more solid like avoiding debt, but other things are more flexible like what a person does for their career (though they must provide for their family or they are worse than infidels and deny the faith (1 Tim. 5:8)
-prophets have taught that if we don’t find time for 30-60 minutes of scripture study a day, we have our priorities wrong and need to humble ourselves and re-prioritize.
