“Purity of Motivation Is Essential”

The Book of Mormon says, “Priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the Welfare of Zion… . But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish” (2 Nephi 26:29, 31). Inherent in this definition is the concern that Church leaders must labor to build Zion into the hearts of the people, and not for their personal aggrandizement or reward. When leaders “make merchandise” of men’s souls (2 Peter 2:3), they turn religion into a business, and pride, materialism, and unrighteous dominion follow.

Both in scripture and in literature priestcraft is condemned. Peter cursed Simon the sorcerer, who wanted to purchase the priesthood for money (Acts 8:14–24). Dante’s Peter castigates several popes and priests for not serving freely and for making a sewer of the sepulchre of Peter by selling priesthood appointment (Paradiso 27:22–57). Chaucer observed that greed for personal gain and glory often replaced genuine priesthood service (“General Prologue” and “Introduction to the Pardoner’s Tale,” Canterbury Tales). Milton’s lines from Lycidas condemning a clergy who “for their bellies’ sake, / Creep and intrude, and climb into the fold” (ll. 114–15) sum up the evil of priestcraft: “The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed, / But swoln with wind and the rank mist they draw, / Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread” (ll. 125–27). (Charles D. Tate Jr., Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1–4 vols., ed. Daniel H. Ludlow [New York: Macmillan, 1992], 1133)