How do we define the word ‘stewardship’? In church we use it quite a lot — maybe as much as we use the word ‘responsibility’ — but since we use both and since they are somewhat interchangeable, I wish I knew of a clear statement that distinguished how we use these two terms. As far as I can tell, ‘stewardship’ is something larger, taking in more than just specific tasks or the clear responsibilities of a role. A stewardship seems more all-encompassing — and this graphic I found, which to me resonates with the covenants in the Temple, I think gives a sense of how ‘stewardship’ touches all parts of our lives.

The context of this Come Follow Me lesson is associated with the efforts to organize the early Latter-day Saint community, just as the first settlers are leaving Kirtland for Missouri in an attempt to found Zion. But these ideas still apply to us, since our stewardship, even now, is trying to create and improve Zion, for the benefit of all of God’s children.

 

The Lord wants me to be a faithful, just, and wise steward.

One common sense of stewardship connects it with leadership—something that those in charge should do. But I don’t see that idea in the scriptures or in gospel teachings. Stewardship is something the Lord wants all of his children to practice; and, in fact, building Zion requires everyone to participate in fashioning according to what the Lord has taught. We all have that responsibility stewardship.

In the following poem, Orson F. Whitney not only suggests that basing stewardship in a favored few, an aristocracy, is contrary to the gospel, which instead favors genius, humility, and merit.

 

Aristocracy

by O. F. Whitney

The world is his who sees its vain pretense,

And tries it with the touchstone—common sense;

And tho’, with some, ’tis Title rules the earth,

In Reason’s balance, Brains far outweighs Birth.

Avails it, then, if Gossip’s tongue beguiles

The fashion throng where wanton Folly smiles;

Or Vanity, the pampered child of Praise,

To win new lies from Flattery, essays;

While Genius, climbing to its destined place,

Encounters sneering Envy in the race

Where polish’d Dunce, with studied speech inflate,

Affects to scorn, but cannot emulate ?

The mind of sterling Merit can despise

This meretricious tinsel of disguise;

For, tho’ decrees of Caste its way retard,

A conscious virtue “is its own reward.”

What recks, if Pride on fancied honors dwell;

Or sordid Gain of Mammon’s glories tell;

Or fashion’s queen, with stolen sceptre, play

The tyrant o’er dominions of a day?

Is not a crown of Virtue dearer prize

Than Gold which teaches Merit to despise?

A station ‘mong the kings and queens of Thought

A nobler rank than is of Name begot?

He’ll find, who studies for his own behoof,

That ’tis the pillar which sustains the roof,

Whereon the fluttering ensigns, waving high,

In haughty grandeur court the distant sky.

And who would Ocean’s hoarded treasure know;

Or gather of its gems, must search below;

While further observation shows the wise

That air-distended bubbles always rise.

1880

 

I can invite others to come unto Christ wherever I go.

One of the areas where, it seems to me, that stewardship is different from responsibility is in who is included. While our responsibilities are limited to a specific group of people, our stewardship is usually broader. We might argue, for example, that a bishop’s responsibility are to members of a ward, but the bishop’s stewardship is for everyone who lives in the ward’s boundaries. Therefore, for all of us, our stewardship includes providing the gospel to others.

Lorenzo D. Barnes was an early convert and missionary, recently called on a mission to England late in 1841. Barnes arrived and was assigned to preside over the Bradford conference, where he died later that year. He is believed to be the first LDS missionary to die in the midst of his service.

 

The Bold Pilgrim

Written on board the ship Southernor, by Lorenzo D. Barnes, Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, While on his Voyage from New York to England, on a mission. Jan. 1842.

I am a bold Pilgrim—a message to bear

To Islands, and Countries, and Kingdoms afar;

For the Lord, from the heavens, a message has sent

To call on the Nations—Believe and Repent,

In the Last Days.

The Gospel of Christ is now made so plain,

That none need to doubt—the truth of the same;

For the simple and wise, and the way-faring man,

May all believe in, and be saved by one plan,

In the Last Days.

In the days of St. Paul, the Gospel of Christ

Was free unto all, without money or price;

It did with ritch gifts, the believer endow—

It always did this, and so it will now,

In the Last Days.

Glad tidings! Glad tidings! let the nations rejoice!

Ye Elders of Israel, O, lift up your voice,

Like Angels of God—and proclaim the glad news,

With sounds of rejoicing—to Gentiles and Jews,

In the Last Days.

But no man can tell what trials and cares

These Elders of Israel are called to bare;

For year after year they are called to roam,

As strangers and pilgrims, afar from their home,

In the Last Days.

But though from their kindred and friends who are dear,

They are called to the Nations, this message to bear,

They never repent it, nor never repine,

But cheerfully spend both their money and time,

In the Last Days.

And now as I’m called, this message to bear,

By land and by sea, to the Nations afar,

Some acts of my life I will try to explain,

And I hope I may not be thought to be vain,

In the Last Days.

Lorenzo D. Barnes, in truth, is my name;

Descended from Ephraim, my lineage I claim;

I was born in New England—and when but a child

My Parents removed to Ohio’s dark wild,

In the Last Days.

My Parents sojourn’d on the Western Reserve—

‘Twas near to the town of New Portage they lived;

They were kind unto all—and were pious indeed—

And brought up their Children in the Methodist Creed,

In the Last Days.

But when the Gospel I heard, I could not believe

The doctrine and system which they receiv’d;

For the Ordinances of God were lightly pass’d by,

And the Gifts of the Gospel their preachers deny,

In the Last Days.

So when to my Friends, and my Parents most kind,

I ventured to tell the thoughts of my mind,

“Beware of Delusion,” was what they all said;

“For much of False Prophets, in the Bible we’ve read,

In the Last Days.

I then felt determin’d to know the right wy,

And evening and morning I ceas’d not to pray;

The Bible I read with much candor and care,

And with it all systems I tryed to compare,

In the Last Days.

‘Twas then I discovered, with sorrow and pain,

That the world, long deluded, in darkness had lain;

For sect upon sect had spread the world round,

But the Gifts of the Gospel in none could be found

In the Last Days.

But no tongue can express the joy I received,

As the promises to Israel I read and believ’d;

That God would the tribes of Israel restore

Again to their lands to be scattered no more,

In the Last Days.

When the harvest should come, a standard He’d raise,

That the Nations upon it in rapture might gaze;

While the Elders of Israel, inspir’d of God,

Should bare to the Nations, these tidings abroad,

In the Last Days.

The Kingdom of Heaven should spread its domain,

Opposers should strive to impede it in vain;

As the light of the morn, it should spread the world round

Till nought but purity on the earth should be found

In the Last Days.

The plan of salvation was brought to my view,

And the Scriptures appear’d entirely new;

And the more I listen’d the more I believ’d

These Elders of Israel the truth had receiv’d,

In the Last Days.

They were fill’d with the Spirit and power of God,

They boldly and plainly expounded his word;

And taught, in such clearness, salvation to man,

I fancied that all would believe in the plan,

In the Last Days.

As for me, I determin’d without more delay,

To step forward boldly, and the Gospel obey;

The Lord had been kind—my prayers He has heard,

And why should I doubt in the work of the Lord,

In the Last Days.

My soul was o’erwhelmed with joy and surprise,

And the tears in torrents flow’d down from my eyes;

Like the notes of an Angel, most sweet was the sound,

And I knew the Pearl of Great Price I had found,

In the Last Days.

I felt willing to part with my sports and my fame,

My gayest companions, and honorable name;

My Parents and Friends, though dear as my life,

To obtain this Pearl—the Pearl of Great Price,

In the Last Days.

Then bidding the world and its trifles adieu,

The Saviour’s example I tried to pursue;

Being buried with Him in the pure limped stream,

That my sole from all sin his blood might redeem,

In the Last Days.

A gentle pure spirit then prevail’d in my breast,

And calm’d all my sorrows—in silence to rest;

All doubts and all fears were banish’d from my heart,

And with truth I determined I never would part,

In the Last Days.

Not all the vain world such peace could afford,

My joys they sprang from the God I adored;

In anthem’s of praise my soul did rejoice,

That the truth I had found, and made Jesus my choice,

In the Last Days.

And, O! the glad scene which then burst on my view!

I beheld Christ’s Kingdom established a new,

As fair as the moon, and as clear as the sun,

Preparing as a Bride for the Bridegroom to come,

In the Last Days.

And now as I gaze, with rapture and delight,

On this glorious scene which dawn’d on my sight,

I rejoiced, and thank’d heav’n, for the day I was born,

To live in this age—the Millennial Morn,

In the Last Days.

And though I was young, and slow in my speech,

I was call’d from my home Salvation to teach;

Being called of God, and to the Priesthood ordain’d

To publish Salvation in Jesus’s name,

In the Last Days.

I also rejoiced, that the days of my youth

Might now be employ’d in proclaiming the truth;

And boldly went forth through my own native land,

Proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven’s at hand,

In the Last Days.

And now to all people, to lands far and near,

we invite you to bow to this message we bear;

Be meek, and be lowly, be wash’d in the stream,

And the blood of the Saviour your souls shall redeem,

In the Last Days.

The work we declare is the work of our God,

It still will prevail and will spread far abroad,

Till nations, long shrouded in darkness and gloom,

Shall rise to the light—as the dead from the tomb,

In the Last Days.

Old Israel shall come, with his tribes from the north,

Like the sands by the sea, in number his host;

On truth’s fair standard, shall his banner be furl’d,

While Zion’s bright glory shall enlighten the world,

In the Last Days.

Then joys unnumber’d without pain or alloy,

The Angels from heav’n and the Saints will enjoy;

While peace, like a river, shall extend the world round,

And the knowledge of God o’er the earth shall abount.

In the Last Days.

1842

 

The Lord helps me avoid deception.

Unfortunately, one of the principal concerns for trying to fulfill a stewardship is the possibility of deception, whether it is intended or not, whether self-inflicted or not. Here, Eliza R. Snow sees a pretty clear dichotomy between deception and certainty. Unfortunately, it’s often difficult to tell between the two.

 

To Be, or Not to Be

by Eliza R. Snow

To be a Saint, or not to be,

Is ev’ry one’s prerogative

To choose.—If from volition free,

You make your choice, THAT nobly live.

 

The feint of doing things by halves,

Is worse than doing not at all:

Canst worship God and golden calves?

Bear Jesus’ cross, with satan’s pall?

 

Will God and mammon, be allied?

Can Jesus Christ and Baal unite?

Will truth and falsehood coincide,

Or darkness propagate the light?

 

Then, wherefore think with mockery,

Or base deception, to prevail?

Why bend to God the falt’ring knee,

And yield the heart and hand to Baal?

 

Why, smiling, gaze upon the cloud,

Which, gath’ring, forms the deadly blast?

Why, tamper with the coiling shroud,

Till in its folds it binds you fast?

 

Who waits the thunder’s voice, to tell

Of the fierce lightning’s fatal stream?

Or trusts th’ enchantress’ fairy spell

T’ avert the lifted poniard’s gleam?

 

Rise, trim your lamps and make them bright—

Keep ev’ry thought and eye awake:

Gird on your armor, for the fight—

Truth, freedom, virtue are at stake.

 

You who indulge in carnal ease,

Awaken from your treach’rous sleep,

Rise—ev’ry post of duty seize,

And sacred, ev’ry cov’nant keep.

 

When God a crucible prepares,

It burns with dross-consuming heat:

His threshing floor will waste the tares,

But He’ll preserve the precious wheat.

1863

 

I can turn to the Lord when I am hurt by others’ choices.

As mentioned above, stewardship is broader than just what we’re responsible for, and it clearly involves others, even if the others are acting like enemies. During the 1857 Utah War, she addressed the complaints and fears of the women of Utah to those accompanying the U.S. soldiers in the expedition, asking why they had chosen to support those who might hurt those in Utah. Fortunately, the war was settled without serious bloodshed.

 

The Ladies of Utah to the Ladies of the United States Camp in a Crusade against the ‘Mormons’

by Eliza R. Snow

Why are you in these mountains,

Expos’d to frosts and snows,

Far from your shelt’ring houses—

From comfort and repose?

 

Has cruel persecution,

With unrelenting hand,

Thrust you from home and kindred

And from your native land?

 

Have you been mob’d and plunder’d

Till you are penniless,

And then in destitution

Driven to the wilderness?

 

No, no; you’ve join’d a crusade

Against the peace of those

Driv’n to these distant valleys

By cruel, murd’rous foes.

 

Amid the dreary desert,

Where hideous red men roam—

Where beasts of prey were howling,

We’ve made ourselves a home.

 

We never had intruded

As you would now intrude;

We’ve never sought to injure—

We’ve sought for others’ good.

 

We came through sore compulsion,

And not from wicked choice;

We had, in all our sorrow,

Heaven’s sweet consoling voice.

 

Can woman’s heart be callous

And made of flint or steel?

Perhaps you’ll learn to pity,

When you are made to feel.

 

Should sickness prey upon you

And children cry for bread,

With bitter self-reproaches

You’ll rue the path you tread.

 

We’re form’d of blood and sinews

And flesh, as well as you;

And we have hearts compos’d of

As many fibres too.

 

We love with purer feelings

Our husbands, children, friends;

We’ve learnt to prize the blessings

Which God in mercy sends.

 

We have the ancient order

To us by prophets given,

And here we have the pattern

As things exist in heav’n.

 

We’re well prepar’d to teach you,

And that you may discern;

We simply here remind you,

You’ve just commenc’d to learn.

 

We’d fain from human suff’ring

Each barbed arrow draw;

But yet self-preservation

Is God’s and nature’s law.

 

The Scriptures are fulfilling—

The spoiler’s being spoil’d;

All satan’s foul devices

’Gainst Zion will be foil’d.

1857

 

Blessed are the pure in heart.

What’s required for a successful stewardship? What are the elements that lead to success? While there may be many contributing elements, surely our motivations are foremost. Being pure in heart is what will lead to good stewardship, as English poet John Lyon suggests in this poem.

 

Praise to God

by John Lyon

To thee, O God, we do approach

With gratitude and praise,

To know thy character is such

As ’twas in former days;

That thou hast made us in thy form,

Though now we fallen be,

Yet but in fashion like a worm,

We’ll rise to live like thee.

 

Thou dwellest in the purest light,

Where truth and glory shine;

The brightest of perfected power,

And majesty is thine:

But man, alas! how prone to sin,

How subject to disease;

Deformed and fallen, touch,d with death,

He bends to every breeze.

 

Yes, thanks be to thy holy name,

For truth restored to earth;

That man, though lost, can now regain

A pure celestial birth;

And be restored to thy bright form,

Through constancy and love;

To see thy face, and live with thee

On earth, or Heaven above.

 

What honour, glory, and renown,

Await the pure in heart,

When they, transformed to be like thee,

Shall all thy light impart,

And have eternal lives to give,

And kingdoms, worlds, to sway;

Nor pain, nor death, nor sorrow feel,

Through all eternity.

1853