In another post I discussed being Zion-minded over being greedy and materialistic. Here I will cover the other perspective on the matter of money (or riches).
What I will show here is that in Mormon Scripture it is not holy and righteous to be voluntarily poor from being idle while envying the rich. It is actually good to obtain riches (wealth) in order to alleviate the suffering of others and increase their well-being and abundance of your family and your people.
Note: Words in bold and in brackets are my own for emphasis and explication. I have also modified the wording into plain English in certain places.
God Himself Empowers His People to be Wealthy:
Mosiah 27: 7:
And the Lord did visit them and prosper them, and they became a large and wealthy people.
Share your Knowledge of Wealth Building & Seek Riches to Do Good:
Jacob 2: 17-19:
Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. But before you seek for riches, seek for the kingdom of God. And after you have obtained a hope in Christ you shall obtain riches, if you seek them; and you 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.
The Sin of Being Idle and Not Earning Riches (Wealth) in order to Do Good:
D&C 42: 42
Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments [clothes] of the laborer [hard worker].
D&C 56:
16 Wo unto [future troubles and misfortune is coming to] you rich men, that will not give [share] your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation [sorrow and regret] in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest [material abundance] is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!
17 Wo unto [future troubles and misfortune is coming to] you poor men, whose hearts are not broken [humble], whose spirits are not contrite [remorseful], and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!
18 But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken [humble], and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the fatness of the earth shall be theirs.
D&C 75:
2 Hearken, O ye who have given your names to go forth to proclaim my gospel, and to prune my vineyard.
3 Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry [delay/wait], neither be idle but labor [work] with your might—
4 Lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, proclaiming the truth according to the revelations and commandments which I have given you.
5 And thus, if you are faithful [loyal to effort] you shall be laden with [you will earn] many sheaves [bundles of grain symbolic of converts to Christianity], and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life.
... 29 Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the church [ekklesia / Body of Christ], except he repent [re-choose a different mindset] and mend his ways.
