 Elder Tad R. Callister, Area President
About 30 years ago, while an attorney, I reviewed the financial statements of one of my clients. He was extremely wealthy. I gazed at his balance sheet with some interest – he owned real properties, stocks, partnership interests, large bank accounts, a restaurant and even oil royalties. My eyes then dropped to the bottom line which read, “Net worth – 9 million dollars”. In today’s money that might be 30 million US dollars, or more. This man was rich—or was he?
The Savior said: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt 6:19-21).
As rich as my client was, none of his assets will escape to the other side. There will be no bank accounts in heaven, no ATM machines, no stock certificates, no partnership interests or oil royalties. Death, with all its crushing power, will claim ownership of all those assets. As Shakespeare said: “Death doth unload thee.”
Are there any assets that can escape the almighty grasp of death and make it to the other side? Fortunately there are. We can take with us our character - our integrity and love and righteousness. We can take with us our wife and children who are sealed to us in the Temple. And we can take with us the knowledge we acquire in this life. That is why the Savior said: “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” (D&C 130:18-19).
The scriptures declare that: “The glory of God is intelligence.” (D&C 93:36). Furthermore they instruct us on multiple occasions to “seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (D&C 88:18). The Lord wants us to be educated so that we can become more like him and have the same intelligence he has. That is why education and academic excellence are not just secular pursuits but religious pursuits.
The Pacific Area Presidency is encouraging every child and youth to attend and complete primary and secondary school, and then for every young single adult to attend either vocational or tertiary school – to do all within their power to advance their education. If there is a problem with finances then speak to your Priesthood leaders, as well as Seminary and Institute personnel, as there are many scholarships available that simply go unused. We have too many who drop out and give up before completing vocational or tertiary school. We need parents and Priesthood leaders who have the vision that education is important—both in this life and in the life to come. We need more parents who teach their children the value of reading in the home—particularly the scriptures, who take an interest in their schooling and assist them in their homework whenever possible.
I have found in life that if I have righteous desires, and do all within my power to make them come to pass that the Lord then opens the necessary doors. The doors for education will open to the youth of the Pacific if they will beat a trail to that door by hard work and parental support. This will make them better children, better leaders, better parents and better candidates for Godhood. Then when they go to the other side they will take with them their treasure of education and character and families, and then they will be spiritual millionaires forever and ever. |
