Riches of Eternity

From The Encyclopedia of Mormonism

See this page in the original 1992 publication.

Author: Parry, Catherine Corman

Eternal riches come from God and are associated with wisdom and eternal life: "Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich" (D&C 11:7). Latter-day Saints believe that the "voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life" is one of the voices used by Jesus to gather his people (D&C 43:25) and that God adversely judges those who fail to seek earnestly the riches of eternity (D&C 68:31).

Although the phrase "the riches of eternity" occurs in scripture only in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 38:39;67:2;68:31;78:18), the distinction between earthly and heavenly rewards is also biblical. The Psalms, for example, point out: "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked" (Ps. 37:16). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus admonished his followers to "lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:19-20). In this life and in the world to come, the richest spiritual blessings come only from the eternal God.

These spiritual blessings include tangible as well as intangible gifts, for in the Lord's eyes "all things" are spiritual (D&C 29:34). As Orson Pratt stated, "Heavenly riches and earthly riches are of the same nature, only one is glorified and made immortal, while the other is in a fallen, unglorified state. If we are not willing to be governed by the law of equality in regard to that which is of the least value, who shall entrust us with all the riches of eternity?" (pp. 596-97).

Obtaining eternal riches can be equated with receiving and enjoying eternal life. "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. The ransom of a man's life are his riches" (Prov. 13:7-8). The word "ransom" (Hebrew kofer ) refers to a payment made to redeem a person, suggesting to Latter-day Saints and other Christians that genuine riches are found in Christ's atoning redemption. Thus, Paul relates the winning of God's riches with repentance and eternal reward (Rom. 2:4-11), as well as with wisdom and knowledge (Rom. 11:33; Eph. 1:17-19). In Ephesians, Paul links them specifically to Christ: "Unto me…is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8).