Listening to Scriptures

Helaman 13-14

Samuel chastises the Nephites for not attributing their prosperity to the Lord where the credit is rightfully due.

So I wondered, If our prosperity comes from the Lord, then does our poverty also?  It seems like a logical derivative. 

However, this, of course, couldn't be true.  Then the wealthiest among us would also be the most righteous and the poorest the most wicked.  Nothing in life is as simple and clear-cut as that.  Not to mention, we all know frightfully wicked rich people and super-righteous poor people.  Our own experience leads us to easily discard such a notion.

So how does this really play out in life?  I have two thoughts.

1.  Prosperity, by the Lord's definition, is not wealth.  It may manifest itself in wealth sometimes, but not always.  I think it could be better defined as happiness and having enough.  This, I do have and I know my happiness comes from the Lord and by living His way.  And I know He helps us to have enough and I am so grateful.  That is not nothing.

2.  When I consider everyone in my not-at-all-affluent ward, I see no great gifts of worldly wealth.  However, I do not see anyone who does not have food.  Everyone has the basic necessities.  Prosperity, then?  Blessings from the Lord?  This fact, however, is only true because of fast offerings and the bishop's storehouse.  We help each other out.  Isn't that okay?  Can't that count as prosperity for our righteousness?  Absolutely!  How do we learn to care for one another if there is no one for whom to care?  In fact, the only time the Book of Mormon says, "There was no poor among them," it is because they shared their substance one with another.  This is, in fact, a definition of their righteousness.  Prosperity can come from the righteousness around us.