“Before Ye Seek for Riches”

Jacob taught that God would not condemn the wealthy for their riches, but for their pride in being rich (see Jacob 2:13–14). The people of Nephi had made money, rather than God, the center of their life. Their search for wealth had become a means of persecuting their brethren rather than a means for doing good (see vv. 18–19). Jacob 2:12–19 and other related scriptures (see 1 Timothy 6:3–12, 17–19, James 5:1–6, Mosiah 4:16–26, Doctrine and Covenants 56:16–20, 104:13–18) teach the following about the accumulation of wealth:

Our first priority should be seeking for and building up the kingdom of God.
Money is a medium of exchange and is of itself neutral. Our attitude toward material and spiritual things shifts wealth out of its neutral position.
Two basic relationships help determine our attitude toward spiritual and material things—

Our relationship with God. If we turn our hearts away from God, the things of the world become our top priority. This is why Paul called covetousness “idolatry” (see Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3:5).
Our relationship with our fellowmen. If we lose sight of the brotherhood of men, our desire for material wealth can lead us to such sins as dishonesty, covetousness, and neglect of the poor.

President David O. McKay counseled:

“What seek ye first? What do you cherish as the dominant, the uppermost thought in your mind? What this is will largely determine your destiny. Notwithstanding the complexity of human society, we can encompass all purposes by two great important ones.
First, the world of material gain.
Second, the world of happiness consisting of love and the power to do good. If it is your purpose to get worldly gain, you may obtain it. You may win in this world almost anything for which you strive. If you work for wealth, you can get it, but before you make it an end in itself, take a look at those men who have sacrificed all to the accomplishment of this purpose, at those who have desired wealth for the sake of wealth itself. Gold does not corrupt man; it is in the motive of acquiring that gold that corruption occurs”
(Treasures of Life, pp. 174–75).

Book of Mormon Student Manual (1996 Edition)

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