I recently wrote about Living the Law of Consecration (which is dear to my heart.) Below, I'll share some favorite messages about what that really means.
"If . . . we were spiritually ready for the law of
consecration, there would be no poor among us. (D&C 49:20.) No wonder the
Church stresses the law of tithing, a law to prepare us for something higher.
The world looks at the principle of tithing and sees a system of revenue; we
look at it and see also a system of salvation, an anticipation of consecration"
(Neal A. Maxwell, The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book [1997], 348).
"If . . . we were spiritually ready for the law of
consecration, there would be no poor among us. (D&C 49:20.) No wonder the
Church stresses the law of tithing, a law to prepare us for something higher.
The world looks at the principle of tithing and sees a system of revenue; we
look at it and see also a system of salvation, an anticipation of consecration"
(Neal A. Maxwell, The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book [1997], 348).
"Consecration is the only surrender which is also a
victory. It brings release from the raucous, overpopulated cell block of
selfishness and emancipation from the dark prison of pride" (Neal A.
Maxwell, "Settle This in Your Hearts," Ensign, Nov. 1992, 66).
"We tend to think of consecration only as yielding up,
when divinely directed, our material possessions. But ultimate consecration is
the yielding up of oneself to God. Heart,
soul, and mind were the
encompassing words of Christ in describing the first commandment, which is
constantly, not periodically, operative (see Matt. 22:37). If kept, then our
performances will, in turn, be fully consecrated for the lasting welfare of our
souls (see 2 Ne. 32:9)" (Neal A. Maxwell, "Consecrate Thy
Performance," Ensign, May 2002,
36).
"For now, consecration may not require giving up
worldly possessions so much as being less possessed by them" (Neal A.
Maxwell, "Settle This in Your Hearts," Ensign, Nov. 1992, 67).
"Welfare principles are eternal. The welfare program is
built upon the principles of the law of consecration. . . . It is to prepare us
to become like Christ. If you will think of the most holy, sacred place you
have ever been, you will remember that the final thing we are all to do is to
be able and willing to consecrate all that we have to the building up of the
kingdom of God—which includes caring for our fellowmen" (Marion G. Romney,
"Living Welfare Principles," Ensign,
Nov. 1981, 93).
"Consecration is the giving of one's time, talents, and
means to care for those in need—whether spiritually or temporally—and in
building the Lord's kingdom. In Welfare Services, members consecrate as they
labor on production projects, donate materials to Deseret Industries, share
their professional talents, give a generous fast offering, and respond to ward
and quorum service projects. They consecrate their time in their home or
visiting teaching. We consecrate when we give of ourselves" (Spencer W.
Kimball, in Conference Report, Oct. 1977, 124).
"For Zion can only be built up by the law that God
revealed for that purpose, which is the law of consecration—not the law of
tithing. . . . If the law of consecration were observed, the Lord would have
plenty in His storehouse and could accomplish a vast deal more, and none would
lack. All the energies and power of the people would be concentrated in the
direction He chose, the people giving all their labor, talent and possessions, if
required, for the accomplishment of the purposes of God" (Joseph F. Smith,
Millennial Star, June 18, 1894, 386).
