Presented are transcripts of radio broadcasts by R.L.D.S. President Frederick M. Smith in 1938 on pertinent topics that continue to be of considerable interest in this 21^st century.

VIII. Stewardship – A Partnership With God

      The improved social conditions of the early Christian community, developed as they had been by deep religious convictions and expressions, in turn tended to deepen spirituality, till in daily life, breaking bread at home or indulging their religious proclivities in the temple, they ate their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God. And it is further recorded that they “found favor with all the people,” and that the Lord daily “added to the church such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47)

      Such a splendid state of welfare and religious zeal as well as stability is quite worth working for. I have tried to point out and emphasize that Jesus always intended, and so taught, that his gospel should have a social application, and that, too, in the interests of deeper spirituality.

A Ministry of Power

      I desire to discuss a bit further some of the conditions developed by the apostles by their powerful presentation of the gospel after their Master had left them. That there was a strong emotional content to their message is quite probable. Especially are we wont to draw such conclusion if we read what happened about the time of Pentecost. We might even be justified in believing firmly that there was more than a little of the mystic in their appeals and in their interpretations of the Scriptures, as well as in presenting their own philosophy. But that there was also a practical side to their preaching is quite in evidence by the Scriptures which I have already discussed and by what I propose to discuss now.

     And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.—Acts 4:31-35

      The spiritual rapport they were able to establish with divine sources is at least indicated by the statement that when they had prayed, “the place was shaken” by the power accompanying their prayers and attesting the spiritual efficacy of their devotions. And they achieved one of the objectives of Christian living in that they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, the spirit and power of Deity.

      Note, too, that “they spoke the word of God with boldness.” This was in no way effrontery, but they, as all other persons will who have been thoroughly and whole-souledly converted when they are filled with the power of God, spoke with fearlessness, rebuking sin and calling all to repentance. Under such conditions, they did not fear persecution and would neither have been cowed by enemies nor thwarted in their righteous purposes by those who thought them wrong in their beliefs. Neither selfishness nor fear of loss of favor by any one or ones in positions of powers stopped them in their righteous work. That this fearlessness is not always present with the followers of the Master, witness the conduct of Peter, who when alone in the midst of those seeking to destroy Jesus, denied the Master.

      How do you feel and do under these conditions? Do you fear the criticism of men? And would you curry the favor of those who are in high places by condoning wrong, or refraining from denouncing wrongdoing? Do you fear adverse effects upon your business if you punctiliously cling to the higher standards of Christian living? Or do you, for conviviality’s sake, or for a good time, momentarily or otherwise step aside from the path of duty, and thus lend encouragement to those who would do evil?

A Basis of Stewardship

      Here again we find that those who believed were of one heart and mind—the oneness brought about by adherence to high ideals. And they were also one in spirit, or soul. With this nearness to God, unity of mind and soul, and filled with the Spirit of God, what was their attitude toward wealth, or goods, or property? Note again, “Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own.” This is somewhat of a paradox, for each had property, yet did own it; but none said his property was his own. That statement to me is one of the most important in the Scriptures, for it explains how each can have, yet what he has can belong to all. Each man held himself to be a steward over his property, and was willing not only to utilize it for the common good, but was willing at any time the need existed to give an accounting of his stewardship. Thus “they all had things common,” as I have read.

      In the midst of such conditions where social surroundings augmented spiritual values, and where spirituality in turn improved social conditions, it was little wonder that the apostles with great power gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus—the greatest victory of Christianity—victory over death and the grave.

      Under such conditions how else could it be but that great grace was upon them all. To be in Grace with Deity, to manifest the true graciousness of Christianity, is one of the great desiderata of Christian achievement. As I see it, the fine combination of spiritual and social righteousness attained by the believers under the apostles was and is just what men need—the grace of God.

      Because this acme of spiritual graciousness was reached, it could not be otherwise than that there was not “any man among them that lacked,” for those with surplus goods—more than they needed—consecrated the surplus for the purpose of removing poverty, or supplying need where it might exist. It is said that the possessors of surplus, the possessors of lands or houses, “sole them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet.”

      Now, we Latter Day Saints think we quite understand what went on when the people sold their possessions in lands and houses and brought the prices of the things sold, for in the financial law we observe, the payment of tithing, and ultimately the consecration of surplus, there is required the filing of inventories, so that the amount of tithing due and also the surplus can be determined. People pay according to their ability. And so we are disposed to think that something like this went on among the followers of the apostles, who had taught the believers the financial law as it applied to the church then.

      When these surpluses had been duly consecrated, by the records being brought to the apostles, the distribution was had again, as we noted on a previous occasion. But here again, the distribution was not a division of the accumulated surpluses into equal amounts according to the number of people in the group, but the distribution was according to the law of need previously mentioned, for the language of the Scripture is “and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” This law of need, always present in Divine economy, if faithfully lived up to by the church would eliminate poverty, and there would be no one who would be distressed from lack of that to supply needs.

Honesty With God and Men

      There is an interesting bit of history related in the Scriptures just following the verses I read from the fourth chapter of Acts, which it might be well for us to note in passing. After telling Joses, a Levite, turning in his surplus by selling land and bringing the money to the apostles, the story of Ananias and Sapphira is told, as follows:

     But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost; and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.—Acts 5:1-11

      Have you ever tried to deceive God by figuring him out of his just dues? You may not meet the fate of Ananias and Sapphira, but to try such deceit is devastating upon character.

A Partnership

      In observing our financial obligations to the church and to God, we Latter Day Saints like to think that at baptism, or when joining the church, we enter into a partnership with Deity—in our business as well as in our religion. He is our silent partner. What he has given us as wealth or goods, we look upon as being God’s, though in our possession. To administer it rightly we must make due accounting. There may be those who, Ananias-like, would juggle the books kept with the silent partner. But we feel that we owe to him a tenth of what we get—a tenth of our increase—and all our surplus over and above our needs. This is our sacred doctrine of stewardship, which is the contract we have with our great silent Partner. We would protect his interests while safeguarding our own.