Jacob taught that riches should be the Second Quest if Sought at all

The Lord designed this life as a test.  Only those who, in the judgement of the Judge, have passed the test are worthy candidates for celestial evaluation.  For instance, the Lord gave us the appetite of sexual love, but only those who adequately control it and put it in proper prospective will continue to enjoy the power of procreation in the eternal worlds.

Again, the Lord has put us into a mortal world where we must seek food, clothing, and shelter to survive.  This results in cupidity covetousness, theft, greed, and other vices.  it also results in virtues that are the opposite of those vices.  Jacob, the brother of Nephi, tells us that only those who seek wealth "to do good- to clothe the naked, and feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, administer relief to the sick and the afflicted" will be justified in their pursuit of wealth (Jacob 2:18).

There are also such test as maintaining charity for one's spouse and for all members of the Church when we see their faults show up close.  However, the purpose of this section is to get you to think about this problem of the need to seek wealth and yet not to let this quest destroy you.

Take of Passage:  

Jacob 2: 17-19

Other Passages:

2 Nephi 9:30, 42, 51; Mosiah 4:14-27; Alma 1:29-32, 7:6, 39:4, 45:24; Helaman 6:1-13; 3 Nephi 6:10-15; 4 Nephi 23, 34; Ester 8:15-26; Doctrine and Covenants 38:39; 56:16-17, 134:2

Study Questions:

1.  What are some important things that are required of a family man that money can buy?

2.  What financial policies and programs does the Church follow that would be important for a family to adopt?

3.  What are at least two sides of the story of people and riches as written about in the Book of Mormon?

4.  Why would the Lord want you to find the true kingdom and get a hope in Christ before seeking riches?

5.  Why would it be impractical for a group of poor people to "pool their poverty" and try to establish Zion?  In other words, why will it be necessary for righteous wealthy people to be involved?  Why would it be impossible to establish the United Order if the government owned or controlled the means of production?

6.  Why is it uncommon for bachelors to become wealthy unless they inherit their wealth?  In other words, what is the place of wives and mothers in the accumulation of righteous wealth?  What have women done to the place and purpose of men when they succeed in what is called the "liberation" of women?  How does this tend to place enmity between men and women?

7.  Who are the poor whom we must feed, clothe and house in most cases?  Why are they our first obligation?

8.  What is the common excuse for not helping the "beggars" especially if they are members of our families?  Why is this excuse wrong?  Why will the damn us if we do not help our own?

9.  Why would the Lord (section 134) say that a nation cannot exist in peace if the right to own and control private property is destroyed?

10.  Why did free enterprise prevail when the Nephites were righteous and prosperous?

(Building Faith with the Book of Mormon, by Glenn L Pearson and Reid E Bankhead)