sgrGODSway

Islander It sounds like your income may be less, but it enough to control your time. Most people, who don't have a business of their own, don't have the ability to do what you do. I think you are doing exactly what you want to do and you do what makes you happy. That in my book is RICH. I also know that anyone can have as much money as they like WITHOUT it taking a lot of time and becoming an all-consuming obsession. You have become good at obeying some of the Laws...whether you do it consciously or not. An awareness of the Laws makes it easier to follow them and to teach others how to get results too. It's not so much what you do but how you think subconsciously that determines you outcomes. We have all observed someone trying to mimic the actions of another without getting the same results.

It's kind of funny but I think people assume that one must choose between having money and the Gospel. I also think that people feel it takes a lot of time and energy to make money. That may be true when you work for money but not when you co-create it with God's help. In fact co-creating money with God only happens if it is done HIS WAY. Yes, money can be made doing things in oposition to God's will...we all know this is true...but that is not what I am talking about. What I am saying is that anybody can prosper financially with God's help, and there are certain Laws that must be understood and applied, but once a person understands these Laws and how they work they can "become rich GOD's Way." Becoming rich any other way would not be following the Gospel plan. I share how this is done, in my book, and I am giving the book away for FREE so there is no reason for someone to not be able to afford it. My only wish is that if you like the book you share it with someone else.

It's kind of funny but I think people assume that one must choose between having money and the Gospel. I also think that people feel it takes a lot of time and energy to make money. That may be true when you work for money but not when you co-create it with God's help. In fact co-creating money with God only happens if it is done HIS WAY. Yes, money can be made doing things in oposition to God's will...we all know this is true...but that is not what I am talking about. What I am saying is that anybody can prosper financially with God's help, and there are certain Laws that must be understood and applied, but once a person understands these Laws and how they work they can "become rich GOD's Way." Becoming rich any other way would not be following the Gospel plan. I share how this is done, in my book, and I am giving the book away for FREE so there is no reason for someone to not be able to afford it. My only wish is that if you like the book you share it with someone else.

Leslie and I are good friends! In fact she encouraged me to write the book when I told her I felt like I should. Her books and seminars are great! Leslie and I talk frequently.

Apology accepted.

I don't mind changing the topic heading...and I am not selling my book. Anyone who would like to read it can have it for FREE. I wrote it after a lot of fasting and prayer. I felt inspired to write it. I have shared a lot of the concepts with members of my ward as well as with non-members and I have "watched a light go on in peoples' heads". The book has created some great "aha" moments for people. There is nothing written in the book that is out of harmony with Gospel teachings. Have you ever heard a talk or lesson that "quickened your understanding" because the Spirit was testifying Truth to you? In my book I am just sharing testimony of something that has become clear and profound for me. I apologize if anyone thinks my intention was to spam or sell anything. That wasn't/isn't my intent. I don't want the post in two places. I just feel that it belongs here instead of where it is. PS. - Moksha, I like your book title. I think you should write that book :-) !

Very true! I don't know that everyone should want to be like Marriot. I am just asking who decides if it is something they should do or not? BTW...does a persons environment determine what's rich and what's poor? Is it wrong for a good swimmer, who wants to be a great swimmer, to shoot for the olympics? Is it wrong for a good piano player, who wants to be a great piano player, to shoot for playing at a famous venue some day? It's seems we have some great singers in the Tabernacle Choir. Were they born that way or did they work at it? How about business people and entrepreneurs? Is it wrong for them to strive to be thier best too? Who is supposed to decide all of this? How much is it God's choice and how much is it our choice? Is God happy when we put a lot of time and energy into doing something we feel a strong desire to do?

There is a great discussion going on in another part of this forum that I feel really belongs here. It was originally posted here but got moved before anyone had joined the discussion. Now that there have been 21 responses to the post I think it is time it gets moved back here where more people will likely read it and share their point of view. Right now you can follow this link to the post http://www.lds.net/forums/lds-resources-information/19230-science-getting-rich-gods-way.html or you can find it by going to: LDS Mormon Forums...then to: Resources...then to: LDS Resources & Information...then to: The Science of Getting Rich GOD's Way. I'd like to see the discussion here but at least it you can join it now that I have told you how to find it. Thank you!

I like the CS Lewis quote about how much we should give to help others. Question. Who decides who is going to be "like a Marriot"...God, us, luck, or circumstances"

MikeUpton If you'd like to read it you can. I'd be happy to give it to anybody for FREE. Just go to my blog The Science of Getting Rich GOD's Way and you can get a FREE copy there.

You know what...maybe it is because I was blessed financially...from the gifts of others...that I have wanted to be able to do the same? I think these people started a good pattern, with me, without that being their intention. They never gave saying, "You have to do the same for someone else." but that is what I have wanted to do. Because of "asking" I have "received"...because of "seeking" I have "found", that there is a right way and wrong way to acquire money and things. I think many members avoid trying because of some mistaken belief that having more than enough for their personal needs is wrong. Some people think it's the other person's responsibility but not mine, to have more than enough to give to others. They are happy saying, "I would give if I had to give but since I don't have to give that's good enough". We only get what we want from life. God is here to support us in our righteous desires.

Is anybody willing to share stories of "rich" members who have done good things with their money? I know of a wealthy member in my area (I don't know who it is by name) who bought a piece of property, that the Church was trying to acquire for a Chapel...but the Church was having difficulty getting the original owner to sell it to the Church, and the wealthy member donated it to the Church. I know that Martin Harris gave the money needed to publish The Book of Mormon. I know years ago, when my family faced financial struggles, that an "unkown member" gave us the money for Christmas. I don't know if this was "surplus" or "sacrifice" for them. All I know is that it was a blessing to us. I also know that you can't give what you don't have to give.

I have a question that fits in with this discussion. I would like to know your thoughts and opinions about why Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. Not only did he produce wine (I am assuming it wasn't the alchoholic kind) but His wine was even better than the wine originally provided for the guests. Why did Jesus do this? Why did He provide the best when He did? It seems that Jesus provided a luxury. I think God wants the best for us and He wants us to be happy. I think Jesus did it "because He could". I think we struggle because we aren't obeying certain Laws that God has put in place from the foundation of the world. I also believe there is a "creative" way and a "competitive" way to make money. The creative way "builds up" and the comptetitive way "tears down". The creative way is done with thoughts of "there is more than enough for all" and the competitive way feels "the supply is limited" and "if I want more someone else must get less". I think the pride and selfishness surrounding money comes from a false belief that the supply of wealth is limited. I also think it comes from people who believe "they are the soul creators of their wealth." The truth is that money is just a form of "matter organized" like any other tangible item...and there is no limit to the original supply; "matter unorganized." Whether we deal with "riches" personally in this world, or in the world to come, we are still going to have to deal with the thoughts we harbor around the subject of "riches" BEFORE we "receive all that God has for us." "As A Man Thinketh In His Heart So Is He." If we think God-like thoughts we become God-like, and our actions are a reflection of those thoughts.

I want to pose a question. Can a person be trying to live a righteous life but struggle because of ignorance? "20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all cblessings are predicated— 21 And when we obtain any ablessing from God, it is by bobedience to that law upon which it is predicated. - D&C 130:20-21" I think we often struggle needlessly because we aren't obey "laws" that govern what we are trying to accomplish. I try to help people sort this out in my book.

I am grateful for the discussion. Yes...seek the Kingdom 1st...and then use your abundance to help others...including yourself and your family! Question? How much do you feel is enough and what do you think about wealthy members of the Church like Marriot and Huntsman?

I was wondering what people think about being LDS and living a financially abundant life? I have recently written a book titled The Science of Getting Rich GOD's Way. Although I am LDS I didn't write it strictly from an LDS perspective. I wrote it in a style that would appeal to ALL Christians...but you will see some definite "common beliefs" in what I have shared if you are LDS too (like I imagine you are if you are on this forum). I am giving my book away for FREE to anyone who'd like to read it. You can get it for FREE at The Science of Getting Rich GOD's Way I'd like to talk about abundant living, what you might consider to be an abundant life as an active member of the Church, and what you feel is a good use and/or a poor use for riches. I also thought I'd share the "preface" to my book with you here. I felt inspired to write it and I'd love your feedback! ---------------------- Preface to The Science of Getting Rich GOD's Way - Are you honest in heart and do you need direction and help in your life? If this describes you then you are the type of person we are looking to help. This book was written with you in mind. It is meant to be a tool you can use to create the type of life that is really worth living. God wants all of His children to live happy, productive, prosperous lives. He wants us to develop our talents and abilities, serve others, and to experience true joy. This book was written because God has blessed my life and because I think credit should be given where credit is due! God has placed a lot of good books, people, teachings, and experiences in my path so that I could learn how to co-create with Him, an amazing life! Over time I have internalized and applied this information and it has born good fruit in my life. Much of what I have written in this book has its origins in scripture and also from a book written over 100 years ago by a man named Wallace Wattles. That book is titled The Science of Getting Rich. What I have done is take that material and given it more of a Christian twist and perspective. I believe Mr. Wattles was a Christian, but he wrote the book from a perspective that was more scientific. Over the last few years a lot has come out concerning The Law of Attraction. The work that has made the biggest splash is a book and movie both titled The Secret. The Secret also has its origins in the book The Science of Getting Rich. The Secret teaches the Law of Attraction in more of a metaphysical new age sort of way. I think that book and movie have a lot of value, accept it really doesn't explain very well that God, our Father in Heaven, is the true source of power behind how the universe operates. What I am sharing with you in The Science of Getting Rich GOD's Way is a clear version of how things really work. In fact I could have given my book the title How To Create The Life You Really Want Using God's Help and that would have been very appropriate. I believe it is time for people who believe in God to become more prosperous. I honestly think that God can do more good with a prosperous, happy, trusting, faithful person to further His causes here on earth, than He can with a person who is only concerned about their personal day to day struggles for survival. Besides, that Laws that Govern the acquisition of money and things are just as much God's Laws as the Law of Gravity is. When we break either Law we suffer the consequences. When we obey either Law life is a lot better! We are living in a time when there is a lot of uncertainty in the world we live in. The economy in the United States where I live, as well as in other countries, has deteriorated. This has happened because people have broken God's Laws that relate to living a financially prosperous life. Some have done it on purpose, but most have done it in ignorance. Unfortunately like disobeying the Law of Gravity, the consequences have been disastrous! Here is the good news: You can co-create with God a very happy, peaceful, financially prosperous life, in this economy as well as in any other economy! When you learn HOW to obey God's Laws that create financial abundance, you will likely do so. You just need an explanation of what these Laws are and how you are supposed to follow them, and I believe the chances are great that as you practice doing so, you will see the results you are seeking. Most people just aren't aware of what the Laws are and how they are supposed to be followed. I have more good news: Once you start to obey these Laws as God would have you obey them, positive changes tend to come VERY RAPIDLY! It is my hope that you will read this book and become part of a growing community of people who are devoted to God, who are creating great financial abundance, so they can better serve their families as well as “their neighbors.” As you do this you will please God and become a greater instrument for good. This will happen because you will have more resources to work with. Keep your heart and mind single to His glory, and let Him be your guide. Most of all, trust that He will lead you in obtaining your righteous desires “GOD's Way.” Sincerely, Kevin Sparks – Author of The Science of Getting Rich GOD's Way