{"chapter_no":"42","chapter_title":"Righteous Kings of Zion","book_id":"3","book_name":"Springville","subchapter_no":"0","page_no":"586","page_number":"1","verses_count":0,"total_pages":5,"page_content":"

 <\/p>

Chapter 42<\/p>

Righteous Kings of Zion<\/h1><\/p>

 <\/p>

The Hunters look for ways to consecrate their wealth to bless the lives of others<\/i>—<\/i>Following the
example of Scrooge enables a rich man to reach heaven—<\/i>A righteous king labors with his own han<\/i>ds for
his support and loves the<\/i> people<\/i> he serves<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

More at peace now with the marriage situation of their two daughters, Leonard and
Carina Hunter were free to focus more on their own lives. They had significant financial
resources to offer to the stake, but they weren’t sure how best to go about it. To come up with
ideas and think all of this through required that they put both of their minds to work. Having
stewardship over a large amount of money, they wanted to extend it in the gospel as far as it
could go. But one thing was sure––the money now belonged to them. Taxes, tithing, and fast
offerings had been paid out, and they had already given a great deal of money to their children
for an early inheritance. That which remained was theirs to use.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Their first act of consecration was to provide financial assistance to full-time missionaries
of needy families in the stake. This was one way to release funds to where it could do a lot of
good, but it was only one of their ideas. There were, indeed, countless ways in which the Hunters
could share their wealth and goodwill with other members or nonmembers in the stake. <\/p>

 <\/p>

The Hunters looked at their financial situation this way––all of their money was
consecrated to the work of the Lord. And this consecration of funds was something they were
doing of their own free will. No law of man and no law of the Church was forcing them to do
any of this. <\/p>

 <\/p>

In choosing to pursue this way of life, Leonard and Carina's innermost feelings every day
became more joyful than ever, like those of Scrooge on Christmas day running about the rooms
of his house, amazed at how happy and full of energy he was. We read of him:<\/p>

 <\/p>

“I don’t know what to do!” cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; and
making a perfect Laocoön of himself with his stockings.<\/i> <\/i>“I am as light as a feather, I am as
happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry
Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world. Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!”<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

A few miles away, in an exclusive neighborhood of Provo, lived Frank and Ellen
Dannehy. The reader will remember them as the owners of the manufacturing plant that had
employed Mark Chandler for over thirty years, and that now employed him part time as a <\/p>

management consultant. Like Leonard and Carina, Frank and Ellen were a righteous and wealthy
couple of the Church. They were very active in their ward, obeyed the commandments faithfully,
and always did any Church callings and assignments asked of them. They paid an honest tithe,
gave a generous fast, and contributed much to charities inside and outside of the Church. <\/p>

 <\/p>

The Dannehy’s home was large and beautiful beyond measure. They held parties and
important social engagements there often, and they attended events at the homes of friends of
theirs that were similarly large, beautiful, and luxurious. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Frank had a custom-built garage on the estate where he kept all of the antique
automobiles he had purchased over the years from car shows. Ellen had much in the way of fine
jewelry, a large walk-in closet filled with designer clothes, shoes, hats, and coats, and a spacious
room where she put on display her fine collection of sculptures, paintings, and other fine works
of art. The two of them traveled the world, went on cruises, enjoyed the finest restaurants, and
lived a life of luxury. They had worked hard in the early years of their lives, taking on the normal
risks of business that most entrepreneurs do, and had become very successful financially. Along
the way, they also had made it a point to be generous with everyone who worked for them, and
to ensure there was good, sound decision making at the top of their business organizations.
Therefore, the Dannehys were well-regarded by virtually everyone they had done business with
or employed. <\/p>

 <\/p>

In their fifties now, it was a time in their life to enjoy the fruits of their labors and make
up for some of the leaner years when they had first started out. The Dannehys had a strong
marriage, four wonderful children (all of whom were now grown up with families of their own),
and had enjoyed a full and happy life. <\/p>

 <\/p>

On the other hand, while much good had come from the Dannehy’s investments in
factories and businesses, the rest of their kitten chow still sat unused in the cupboard, or was
being slowly consumed month after month by the expenses of their comfortable lifestyle. In this
respect, much of their wealth was still inaccessible to both God and man. <\/p>

 <\/p>

A great treasure in life awaited them, like the one we have seen discovered and embraced
by the Hunters. The Hunters had been in much the same situation as the Dannehys when they
lived in their beautiful Pasadena home and enjoyed a very high standard of living. But one year,
after a time of prayer and fasting during the Christmas season, and after having read once again
the marvelous story of Scrooge in A<\/i> Christmas Carol<\/i>, they came to a decision, like Lehi and
Sariah of the Book of Mormon, to leave all of that behind––<\/p>

 <\/p>

They would move to Utah. <\/p>

 <\/p>

They would seek after the things of God and live lives that were truly special. <\/p>

 <\/p>

They would dedicate themselves and their wealth to the Lord’s work for the remainder of
their years on earth. <\/p>

They would find joy by dispensing their kitten chow stocks to other members of the
Church and to the world’s needy. <\/p>

 <\/p>

In response to this, the Lord acted—an outpouring of the Spirit of God came upon them
that we cannot even begin to describe in this book. To paraphrase these blessings, “the end, the
width, the height, the depth, and the joy thereof, we understand not, neither any man or woman
except those who are blessed unto this happiness.”<\/p>

 <\/p>

The Dannehys were happy, but the Hunters were HAPPY beyond measure, and highly
favored of the Lord.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Nevertheless, the free agency of the individual must come first, and the law of
consecration second. This is the order of the universe that was established from before the
foundation of the world. <\/p>

 <\/p>

One must of his own free will and choice—<\/p>

 <\/p>

Help the poor, the sick, and the needy.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Invest in businesses that provide good, long-lasting jobs and put his fellow man to work.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Give all that he has towards the building up of the kingdom of God on earth<\/span>. <\/p>

 <\/p>

No law of government and no law of religion should limit our kindness once we have
seen the great suffering of the world and all that needs to be done.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

As we ponder upon the eternal rewards of a just God that are waiting for us in heaven, we
might ask ourselves this question: What it is that makes the celestial kingdom so beautiful? <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The answer: The Atonement of Jesus Christ—the great and eternal sacrifice of God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for all mankind.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Outside of the glorified personages of the Father and the Son, there may not be a specific
object in the celestial kingdom that directly embodies the beauty of the Atonement, only the
countenances and feelings of love found in the hearts of those who reside there and the joyful
atmosphere that is present. Acts of good people are beautiful. The Atonement—an
incomprehensible act of charity on the part of the Savior—has a beauty that goes beyond any
tangible representation there might be in heaven.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The glory of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are visible everywhere within the
celestial kingdom, making any heavenly gold and precious things there sparkle all the more. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The celestial kingdom is the Lord’s storehouse in heaven, filled with great riches. The
law of consecration provides those of us living on earth a way to tap into those eternal treasures.
It is the means by which celestial things happen in this world, including the gradual, step-by-step
movement to Zion-like wards and Zion-like stakes<\/span>. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Nevertheless, celestial things, and the Lord’s desire to establish Zion on earth, cannot be
forced upon any man—<\/p>

 <\/p>

not by a government ruled by a king, dictator, or strong central authority;<\/p>

 <\/p>

not by a government freely elected by the people;<\/p>

 <\/p>

and not even by the laws and commandments that come to members of this Church by
revelation through a prophet of God.<\/p>

 <\/p>

We have seen governments and various groups throughout history trying to restrict
freedom, but it cannot work. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Righteous kings have been few and far between, quickly gobbled up by history and
replaced by their wicked counterparts. <\/p>

 <\/p>

A righteous king is one who labors with his own hands and seeks not to burden the
people with his support. He loves the people whom he serves and sees them as equal to him in
every respect. He desires that all men and women be judged fairly and that they be on an equal
footing before the laws of the land, and also that such laws themselves are just and fair.<\/p>

 <\/p>

A righteous king teaches the people by example. He teaches good principles, but is also
humble enough to listen and learn from others all he can—receiving instruction from the Spirit
of God that comes to him through others. He makes sincere pleas to help guide the people
towards important goals, looking out for them and doing that which is in his power but still
respecting their agency.<\/p>

 <\/p>

A righteous king will step aside and allow the people to govern themselves so they can
grow more fully in all things temporal and spiritual. <\/p>

 <\/p>

A righteous king is like a mother or father, having the same love and the same wonderful
aspirations for his people that parents have for their sons and daughters.<\/p>

 <\/p>

A righteous king is full of humility and kneels before God. He has no personal ambition
in life other than to do good and bring happiness to the people he serves. He steps forward and
consecrates all he has to the building up of Zion, bringing forth gold, frankincense, myrrh and
other marvelous gifts to lay at the feet of the Son of God. Surely, there is no greater honor or joy
in life than this? To work all of one’s life to bring forth gifts to honor the Son of God?<\/p>

 <\/p>

A righteous king is adorned with an exquisitely crafted crown of gold and rare jewels—a
representation of the pure love of Christ that is in him. He wears an elegant white robe with gold
trim—a representation of his standing before men, as one who is worthy of an inheritance in the
kingdom of God. His royalty comes from God by virtue of the priesthood that he holds. <\/p>

A righteous king will pass by the angels who stand at the gate of the celestial kingdom.
He will be exalted and receive eternal life. <\/p>

 <\/p>

May all of us in the Church strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ, learn to
consecrate our time, talents, and material wealth fully, and live happily forever in the kingdom of
God as righteous kings and queens of Zion.<\/p>"}