Rich Americans

Hi Everyone,
I hope you enjoyed our great Stake meeting (those of you in our Stake). It really gave me a lot to think about with Elder Costa and our attitude about how bad our economy is. Poor Us! "Our happiness is not bound to the economy. It is bound to the Gospel."- Elder Costa. To hear of the stories of the people of Chili and the extreme poverty they lived in, the sacrifices they made to attend the temple. They were happy. A difficult life in many ways, but more simple in others. There would not be so many choices to make on how to spend our money.

I remember a man I met who was from Ecuador. He told me in his broken English, "when people of my country join the church, they become rich." I thought that he met they were rich in that they now had the gospel and Christ in their lives, much fuller richer lives. When we asked he about it he replied that while that our understanding was true, he said they also increased in their wealth. Elder Costa brought up on more than one occasion the scripture, "If you keep the commandments, you will prosper in the land." I think Elder Costa has seen this particular promise fulfilled in his life as he has been raised in what we would consider extreme poverty, became relatively wealthy , and was willing to give it all up on more than one occasion because of his convictions. But, God has continually blessed him in many ways.

I know that he gave me a lot to think about as a provident living specialist and as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.