One story, many stones.
When I was 11-12 years old, I did what I was told. I read the scriptures and prayed and asked God if they were true. Finally, I received my personal answer that the scriptures were true. Great.
Now my family was besties with the Stake President's family. My Mother besties with his wife and my father was business partners with the Stake President. Pres H.P. mentored my father in both business, faith, family, and leadership.
Now a stake president is over many wards so he may seem to be kinda a big deal. One Sunday as we ate together, I looked over at Pres HP and thought of what a great honor it was to have such a great man as an ordinary part of our lives and at our table.
The thought came to mind, "You don't know that he is a good man."
"But he's the stake president."
"You must ask God if he is an honorable man for yourself."
"Is Pres HP an honorable man."
"No, he is not."
"What, um, why."
"He does not apply the gospel to his business practices."(paraphrased)
I was pretty shocked and did not know what to do. I was raised to never speak to my father without invitation, and never found the opportunity to warn my father, and being raised without the freedom of speaking to my superiors, my language was stunted anyway.
Anyway, the decade that followed was great and terrible, filled with conflict, lawsuits, unrighteous dominion. But, my testimony of the Gospel remained because my faith was not in man, but in the Lord. To this day, I don't think my father realizes the effect this corrupt mentor had on him.
Anyway, later my father learned that Pres HP had hurt many people in the business world, and there were some hurt so badly they would commit violence if they could get away with it. It was bad.
Guess what? There are bad Mormon businessmen. That was one of my first lessons.
Just as some people enjoy the suspension of morality video games seems to permit, church-going people suspend their morality in the business world, some Mormon, some of many faiths. Now, we are not supposed to use the word "Mormon" anymore, but I think it's okay to use the word "Mormon" when applied to dishonorable individuals.
When one applies the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Business World, businesses can be mutually beneficial, uplifting, co-supporting businesses and communities thrive as a whole.
Just an hour ago I met a woman wanting to start up a new business in Fruitland. I told her of the social media groups she could join to promote her community and other people who nurture other businesses, without greed. I recommended she form a small network of women in her field in the community to build each other up.
On the other hand, there are those who seek to build up their own businesses by taking down other businesses, as though there is only one small lifeboat and 1000 people.
There is enough for all. We can support each other, we can respect each other, we can build each other up.
Oh, there does come a time to crack down on evil people, and then we can contend. But people simply trying to build their communities, support their families are not among them. Thus you can not, and should not suspend your morality in business, then or ever.
That is where Greed lies. Where businesses viciously complete destroying each other and preying on customers, that is greed in its fullness.
"The more you share, the more your bowl will be plentiful." Teranga
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