Stewardship

I'm going to be speaking on the topic, "Teaching Children Stewardship" in a mini-conference on "Building a Zion Education." I'll be posting portions of this talk in a series of posts.

As members of the LDS church, one of our responsibilities is to actively be building up Zion. One of the 6 principles of building Zion is stewardship. A stewardship is a sacred spiritual or temporal trust for which there is accountability.

In the article, “Becoming a Zion Society: Six Principles” by R. Quinn Gardner in the Feb 1979 Ensign, it says:
“The assignment of stewardship is usually thought of as growing out of the formal law of consecration. (Since the law of consecration is founded on the truth that all things belong to the Lord, under it we consecrate to the Lord all that we have. The Lord thereafter appoints each man as a steward over a portion of property sufficient for himself and his family. Each steward is accountable to the Lord for how he manages his stewardship. [See D&C 42.]) But the principle of stewardship also applies under our presently binding covenants of baptism and consecration.”

We’ve all heard this before, but often we may forget that we are to be living the principle of stewardship now. And we must teach our children this principle as well. It is not just something that we use in our church callings.

Luckily, teaching your children stewardship is not another thing to add to your to-do list, you are probably already trying to teach your children these things. However, I’ve found it very helpful to change my perspective in child-training to a “stewardship” perspective - not only that my children are my stewardship but they each have stewardship responsibilities as well. If I feel frustrated that I'm putting one kid in a time out all morning long and I am not getting anything done, it helps to have the perspective that I am teaching this child stewardship of self, the morning is not wasted.

D&C 93:40 says “But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.” and then Frederick G. Williams is chastised in verse 42 - 43. “You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction.” Not teaching our children truth is a cause of our affliction! Verse 43 says “And now a commandment I give unto you—if you will be delivered you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house.” Frederick Williams needs to take his stewardships seriously, and so do we!

We know that we don’t own anything, and that everything we do have has been given to us by the Lord. He has entrusted us with our bodies, minds, time, talents, families and properties. These things are our under our stewardship. We will be accountable to the Lord as to how we have managed our stewardship.

A faithful steward is one who exercises righteous dominion, cares for his own and looks to the poor and needy. Practicing the principle of stewardship is a means for us to improve ourselves and serve others.