--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why should we labor this unpleasant…" description: "\"“Why should we labor this unpleasant point? Because the Book of Mormon labors it, for our special benefit. Wealth is a jealous master who will not be s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/hugh-nibley-13330_books_why-should-we-labor-this-unpleasant-poin_2924557.jpg" --- # Why should we labor this unpleasant point? Because the… ![“Why should we labor this unpleasant point? Because the Book of Mormon labors it, for our special benefit. Wealth is a jealous master who will not be served halfheartedly and will suffer no rival--not even God: "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." (Matthew 6:24) In return for unquestioning obedience…” quote by Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/hugh-nibley-13330_books_why-should-we-labor-this-unpleasant-poin_2924557.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/hugh-nibley-13330_books_why-should-we-labor-this-unpleasant-poin_2924557.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/hugh-nibley-13330_books_why-should-we-labor-this-unpleasant-poin_2924557.jpg) > ““Why should we labor this unpleasant point? Because the Book of Mormon labors it, for our special benefit. Wealth is a jealous master who will not be served halfheartedly and will suffer no rival--not even God: "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." (Matthew 6:24) In return for unquestioning obedience wealth promises security, power, position, and honors, in fact anything in this world. Above all, the Nephites like the Romans saw in it a mark of superiority and would do anything to get hold of it, for to them "money answereth all things." (Ecclesiastes 10:19) "Ye do always remember your riches," cried Samuel the Lamanite, ". . .unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities." (Helaman 13:22) Along with this, of course, everyone dresses in the height of fashion, the main point being always that the proper clothes are expensive--the expression "costly apparel" occurs 14 times in the Book of Mormon. The more important wealth is, the less important it is how one gets it.”” [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth dominates human priorities, demanding total devotion and eclipsing spiritual values, leading to moral decay and social conflict. **In simple terms:** Money demands full loyalty, crowding out spiritual life and causing harm. Key Takeaway Prioritize spiritual over material wealth. Themes materialism spirituality ethics power corruption Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical religious When to use this quote - personal finance - religious teaching - social policy - community leadership Key Concepts idolatry economic inequality moral compromise Questions to Reflect On - How does your community define success beyond money? - What practices keep you grounded when wealth tempts you? A Different Perspective Wealth’s allure can be mitigated by strong ethical frameworks and community support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book Of Mormon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-of-mormon/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Indeed, the distribution of wealth is too important an issue to be left to economists, sociologists, historians, and philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/indeed-the-distribution-of-wealth-is-too-important-an-issue-to-be/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [Good character is more important than wealth, good looks, popularity and even education. These things do not guarantee happiness and often they become obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/good-character-is-more-important-than-wealth-good-looks-popularity/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [My plight has given me a strange kind of wealth, the most important kind. I value each moment that is not spent in pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-callahan/my-plight-has-given-me-a-strange-kind-of-wealth-the-most-important/) [Steven Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-callahan/) > [Dignity is more important than wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/dignity-is-more-important-than-wealth/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [The family is the most important wealth of a nation. May we endeavor to defend and strengthen the foundation of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-is-the-most-important-wealth-of-a-nation-may-we-endeavor/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The health of nations is more important than the wealth of nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/the-health-of-nations-is-more-important-than-the-wealth-of-nations/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [Never be ruled by possessions, and never, ever make wealth more important to you than your self-respect and your dignity." - Lady Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/never-be-ruled-by-possessions-and-never-ever-make-wealth-more/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [What is important, and I think celebrities should do, is show your children when they are young is that wealth is not important. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-geller/what-is-important-and-i-think-celebrities-should-do-is-show-your/) [Uri Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-geller/) > [“To each of us is given a life. To live with honor and to pass on having left our mark, it is only essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-each-of-us-is-given-a-life-to-live-with-honor-and-to-pass-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Inner wisdom is more important than wealth. The more you spend it, the more you gain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/inner-wisdom-is-more-important-than-wealth-the-more-you-spend-it-the/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Let us not get so busy or live so fast that we can't listen to the music of the meadow or the symphony that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/let-us-not-get-so-busy-or-live-so-fast-that-we-can-t-listen-to-the/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“So if you want to be rich and maintain your wealth, it’s important to be financially literate, in words as well as numbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/so-if-you-want-to-be-rich-and-maintain-your-wealth-it-s-important-to/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [Our culture says Status is more important than Wealth, but we teach the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/our-culture-says-status-is-more-important-than-wealth-but-we-teach/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [The trimmings of wealth are not as important to me and my generation as they were to my parents' generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-schrager/the-trimmings-of-wealth-are-not-as-important-to-me-and-my-generation/) [Ian Schrager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-schrager/) > [The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-love-of-family-and-the-admiration-of-friends-is-much-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Hugh Nibley > [Joseph Smith could not have picked a better year to start The Book of Mormon than 600 B.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/joseph-smith-could-not-have-picked-a-better-year-to-start-the-book-of/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [ \[Eve\] sees through Satan's disquise of clever hypocrisy, identifies him, and exposes him for what he is...\[ever since Satan has\] had it in for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/eve-sees-through-satan-s-disquise-of-clever-hypocrisy-identifies-him/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-worst-sinners-according-to-jesus-are-not-the-harlots-and/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Only if you reach the boundary will the boundary recede before you. And if you don't, if you confine your efforts, the boundary will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/only-if-you-reach-the-boundary-will-the-boundary-recede-before-you/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [“Blindness to larger contexts is a constitutional defect of human thinking imposed by the painful necessity of being able to concentrate on only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/blindness-to-larger-contexts-is-a-constitutional-defect-of-human/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Careerism is the determination to reign in hell rather than serve in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/careerism-is-the-determination-to-reign-in-hell-rather-than-serve-in/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The very helplessness of the public which makes it necessary for them to consult the experts also makes it impossible for them to judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-very-helplessness-of-the-public-which-makes-it-necessary-for-them/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The unique value of Christianity lies in those things which would never in a million years occur to men if left to themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-unique-value-of-christianity-lies-in-those-things-which-would/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting he is a righteous man. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/who-is-righteous-anyone-who-is-repenting-no-matter-how-bad-he-has/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Competitiveness always rests on the assumption of a life-and-death struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/competitiveness-always-rests-on-the-assumption-of-a-life-and-death/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified is another matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-being-self-certified-is-another/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Why do people feel guilty about TV? What is wrong with it? Just this: it shuts out all the wonderful things of which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/why-do-people-feel-guilty-about-tv-what-is-wrong-with-it-just-this-it/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Nobody loves the rat race, but nobody can think of anything else—Satan has us just where he wants us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/nobody-loves-the-rat-race-but-nobody-can-think-of-anything-else-satan/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Why read the Book of Mormon? Because angels do not come on trivial errands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/why-read-the-book-of-mormon-because-angels-do-not-come-on-trivial/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [If you pray for an angel to visit you, you know what he'll do if he comes. He'll just quote the scriptures to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/if-you-pray-for-an-angel-to-visit-you-you-know-what-he-ll-do-if-he/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) [Explore all 50 Hugh Nibley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why should we labor this unpleasant point? Because the Book of Mormon labors it, for our special benefit. Wealth is a jealous master who will not be served halfheartedly and will suffer no rival--not even God: \"Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.\" (Matthew 6:24) In return for unquestioning obedience wealth promises security, power, position, and honors, in fact anything in this world. Above all, the Nephites like the Romans saw in it a mark of superiority and would do anything to get hold of it, for to them \"money answereth all things.\" (Ecclesiastes 10:19) \"Ye do always remember your riches,\" cried Samuel the Lamanite, \". . .unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities.\" (Helaman 13:22) Along with this, of course, everyone dresses in the height of fashion, the main point being always that the proper clothes are expensive--the expression \"costly apparel\" occurs 14 times in the Book of Mormon. 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