Latter Day Saint: Using Business for Social/Economic Change

[Optimistic907]

My fellow brothers and sisters,

My name is Marc, Latter-Day Saint residing in Anchorage, Alaska.  Before I continue further, I would first like to Thank Heavenly Father, for the opportunity to just ask a few questions amongst a diverse set of people.  Thank you Heavenly Father for creating each and one of us differently.  I will now stop and pray as I finish this sentence.

 

I'm in business with free agency, meaning no regulations, rules, or specific times to clock in, aka Entrepreneur.  My life journey consists of working in a hospital, in which I developed emotional intelligence and a real deep sense of empathy.  Some people say they love other people, and some people truly deeply love people because they understand exactly what their going through.  I'm extremely passionate when it comes to helping families and friends solve social and or economic issues/problems they may be facing.  I will search every high and every low to do my best for you and your family.  The Love fueling inside of me is how I came to Christ, or Christ came to me without knowing who he truly is and who Heavenly Father is.

I quote John 15

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other."

I bear testimony, that to love each other is a divine truth.  Not just to say 'I love you', but to truly, with utmost integrity, honestly, act and perform "love" in action and in truth.  I testify that as long as you love others, Jesus will choose you. Appoint you.  How do I know?  Through revelation, faith, and never giving up, because I too have suffered many afflictions with a past history that lived in darkness.  Essentially, I lived a opposite life of Riteousness and love.

But the opposite of love is not hate, the opposite of love is fear, fear to love.  During my deep struggle of afflictions, I built the courage to step over fear.  Henceforth, walked by faith, stepped in love, and never lost hope.

Long story short, Love, fulfills all commandments.

I believe in Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.  I know The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was restored through Joseph Smith through revelation, I know President Monson is the living prophet.  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Thank you Lord

Back to the topic.

I'm in business that is more focused on understanding and comprehension than it is 'recruitment'.

It is more focused on trust, appreciation, relationships, families, knowledge, and to truly make a difference.

I'd say it leans more towards becoming independent and self reliant, in which we teach, in church, and in 'business', principles of "success".  I boldly encourage spiritually maturity so I don't have to explain "success" is.  It is not the love of money. 

That being said, we solve social and economic problems occurring nationwide and hitting local families and individuals.

I only want to do it the Lord's way.

I believe teaching gospel principles will guide others to Jesus Christ, with or without them knowing who He is.

I am asking for mature opinions, and suggestions on how to be a entrepreneur as a latter day saint, that has solutions to solve problems using the 'business'  and incorporating principles from the gospel, and principles in economy, finances, sociology, and in business.

Honestly, without an intent to offend or judge or belittle, whether people believe in what I believe or they don't, I'm still going to help them using my business.

but saying that, I feel confused. I feel like I'm using business to "help" others, when in reality, Christ is the only way.  but not everyone believes in Christ.

but my eternal purpose is

"using business to help families and individuals secure and protect their futures, including their kids, and then their kids, and then their kids".

possibly help families secure and protect their whole ancestry line, whether they believe or do not believe.

Suggestions?
I don't even know if I'm asking my questions or stating my purpose correctly, thank god this is a discussion.

 

Ask, seek, knock.

 

any questions to help unravel my thoughts and confusion? thank you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[anatess2]

Hi optimistic...  Hello!

Okay, this is my 2 cents.

You're in Alaska - so that's the USA.  Heavily Regulated Market Capitalist.

The only reason why you would go into business is if you intend to work towards some profit.  Otherwise, you are better off doing what you want to do outside of business.  Business requires lots of legalities and regulations and taxation, etc. etc. that you will have to deal with to perform whatever it is you want to perform.  This is well and good if you use business for its intent - profit - in the execution of your desired service.  Without profit, you're going to run yourself to the ground and possibly have lots of legal repercussions along the way, especially since your intended business has to do with personal interactions with people... who has the means to sue you in court.

So, if you plan to make a profit out of your service, then yes, a business is your avenue.  Note that there is nothing unChristian-like about profit - or money.  What makes it unChristianlike is HOW you made the profit and HOW you spent the profit.  As long as both of those are aligned with Christ, you're pleasing to God.

Good luck.

[mordorbund]

You may want to look into the Grameen Bank (that's the institution that popularized micro-loans) and "social business". You can read about it in Building a World without Poverty.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Optimistic907 said:

1) I feel like I'm using business to "help" others, when in reality, Christ is the only way.  but not everyone believes in Christ.

2) but my eternal purpose is "using business to help families and individuals secure and protect their futures, including their kids, and then their kids, and then their kids".

1) The best way we can serve others is to do so in a way that we can devote our full time to it.  If this is during a full-time mission, or during retirement, or in our free time, that can be done for free.  At other times, we have to make a living doing it.

2) This is not your eternal purpose.  Business is only for this life.  So, let your divine earthly mission include this endeavor, but don't think it is your eternal purpose.  Your eternal purpose lies in obtaining the Celestial Kingdom.

See Jacob 2:19.

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19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

If you're going to go into business, you may try your luck with the financial rules of the world, or you can try it the Lord's way.

• Pray about it and get the Lord's blessing on your endeavors.
• Go into business knowing that it is a business and you have to make a profit to keep it going.
• Go into business, not with the intent to become rich, but with the hope of helping others obtain their needs and wants.

Matt 6:33 &  3Ne 13:33.

Quote

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Do it the Lord's way.  But don't be a fool.  Be smart enough to actually run a business well.  Don't expect that just because you're helping people that you're going to be successful.  You have to do it smart and do all that you need to be a good businessman.  Then the Lord will bless you as long as you're in business to help people.  Just because you make a profit doesn't mean your motivation isn't altruistic.  There's no reason you can't strive for both.