Why do Mormons seem to have an unwritten rule that the wealthy are more righteous than others?

What do you expect from a church that only elects successful businessmen as their leaders? An actual church that follows after God's own heart?

Pishaw!

Huh. I wouldn't have thought an individual could live around a people for that long and still know them so little. Since when do we believe that wealth means anything? I honestly can't understand how you've come to this conclusion, but even if that was the way we viewed things, you rail against stereotyping while stereotyping yourself. Yes, poor men can be incredibly righteous while rich men can be hypocrites. And poor men can be terrible while the rich do everything possible to obey God and help others. Righteousness is determined by our choices, not by our wallets.

And if you don't want our opinions, why "ask" a question? Isn't this just an excuse to rant?

I know a man who has always been poor and in his older age is currently living in a trailer with his wife. He is also a patriarch and sealer in the Salt Lake temple. These are callings that require a high degree of faith. However, he might not have talents that would lend to high leadership positions.

What I do admire are men who grew up in a solid faithful Mormon family and who obtained their eagle scout award, served a mission, were married in the temple, were taught to work and serve, received an education as taught by the church and are now productive, successful members of society. These people are called to positions within the church where their faith and talents can be made manifest.

The amount of money that a person has is not an indicator of faith. However, people of faith are able to make things happen. The gospel does have the effect of raising people above their current status.

I don't live in Utah, so I can't account for how people act there. However, the ward I go to is a very interesting ward. The boundaries extend into upper middle class neighborhoods and lower class neighborhoods. I don't recall anyone emphasizing their wealth as a direct result of their righteousness, or vice verse. I have heard people who are well to do thank God for their substance, but that's no different than someone with less thanking God for their substance.

Perhaps you're seeing things you want to see, or you have less and are so aware of it you think people are looking down on you. And if you yourself admit that only some of them are like that, then what's the big problem? You get aarogant people in every social group.

There are financially wealthy people. And there are righteous people.

These are two different groups. But of course there is some overlap. That is to say, there are some people who are both wealthy and righteous.

In a righteous economy, if a person is wealthy, then you wouldn't say automatically that that person is evil. However in many places in the World, in many Third World Countries, being financially wealthy is synonymous with being wicked and evil, because the poor are exploited by the rich and by those who collaborate with them who are powerful in those wicked governments.

As the United States becomes more and more wicked, and more and more like those Third World Dictatorships, those who are financially wealthy will be themselves synonymous with being wicked, who are in the United States.

When this happens you and I might watch for and expect such people not to be given high positions in THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints.

Fact of the matter many who are rich in THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints happen to be righteous in many many ways. The way for the poor to excel the rich, is to be more righteous than the rich, through fasting and praying and attending Church and so forth.

Then combined with the fact that they aren't ripping people off to make money through fraudulent means, this will cause them to excel in the hierarchy of THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints.

Someday we will be able to live in the United Order, which will be a blessed day. Then there won't be rich or poor, just one group of people celebrating life not the sins of the World. But until that day comes, don't be overly concerned about economic disparity.

You are a member of THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints because this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. Don't try to take the speck out of rich peoples' eye, rather work on taking the beam out of your own eye, or in other words, work towards becoming more morally perfect yourself, then you will be a good example to all the wealthy Mormons, to be better Mormons themselves'.

The way to help others who may be succumbing to the darkness is to connect with Jesus Christ, and keep the commandments of Jesus Christ, and by so doing let your light so shine. And when you do this, then you can pray for the rich, that their souls will be saved, because they will give to others, like one brother gives to another.

God bless.

My honest answer is that you are probably the one concerned with money. Ive never seen it as any indicator of righteousness. Rather, its harder to rely on God and be humble when life has given you everything, materially, that you need. So I DO respect people in that situation that DO still put in the hours at church, teach, stay temple worthy..etc... Who are YOU to say they are less righteous than the poor? The money is a non-factor.

Why you've decided to see people who are otherwise good, as "less" simply because they have money is beyond me.

All I know is that the church has always been there for me. Even when I was poor, in need, and not even active. So I really cant relate to your view at all. Not to mention the fact that I know several wealthy families who, with all sincerity of heart, love the gospel and their ward families, and have done much out of their own pockets to take care of one another.

Spare me the rant Mr. Holier than Thou....if you're so pious than maybe you should do something about it. Get off your lazy bum and give some charity to others rather than rant and fume and spreading stereotypes.

But I am Mormon and I am hardly rich. For the past two months I've been living off of Church welfare and living off the food from the Bishop's Storehouse. Meanwhile trying to find a job and thanking God for all the blessings He has given. And it stinks to be unemployed during the holidays, you know that after a certain point no one hires because they don't want to hire during a holiday. Oh plus I really wanted to buy things for Christmas for family members but no means to get it with. You do realize that the economic downturn has effected everyone and not just Non-Mormons and I am sick and tired of people who paint everyone with a broad brush. So some Mormons are Rich and some Mormons are poor. But if it wasn't for the charity of the church....well I don't want to think of the alternative. But my ward and stake and the Bishop and the Relief Society President have been good to me and my family in our need and want. But I guess you've never had to rely on LDS welfare before to realize that the church does help out those in need and those who are poor in material goods.

I think -- but I'm not sure -- that the idea is that wealth and financial success are blessings, so if you are rich you are "blessed". And Mormons, especially, believe that blessings are earned. "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say, but if you do not what I say, ye have no promise" is a verse found in the Doctrine and Covenants. So, ultimately, the idea is the being rich is the reward for being a good person.

using instructors try this too!! My instructor waves at like various different instructor she sees, even from distinctive businesses. all of them understand one yet another lol. i assume bus drivers are an identical. or possibly they're classmates from bus-using college or something.

It's only in your mind. According to a recent study, Mormons are unusually charitable, when compared to other Christian sects.