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I Have Sufficient For My Needs

What is the Law of Consecration? How does it work—what does it mean? Perhaps this story will help. 

Thomas Grover was born July 22, 1807, in Whitehall, New York. His father died before he was born which necessitated Thomas going to work at a very early age as a cabin boy on an Erie Canal boat. Eight years later, Thomas became the captain of a boat called the Shamrock. 

He married Carolyn Whiting in 1828 and not long after moved to Freedom, New York where he took up farming. The Prophet Joseph Smith spent some time in the area of Freedom in 1833-34, preaching the Gospel. The Lord had revealed to Joseph: “I have much people in this place, in the regions round about” (DC 100:3). It is likely that Thomas heard him and his heart was touched. Six months later, Thomas and Carolyn were baptized. 

On March 15, 1835, he sold his farm in Freedom for $500 and set out for Kirtland, Ohio to gather with the Saints. Upon arriving in Kirtland, Thomas went to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith. The following is recorded in the family records: 

“As he knocked at the door the Prophet opened it and said, putting out his hand: ‘How do you do, Brother Grover. If God ever sent a man he sent you. I want to borrow every dollar you can spare for immediate use. Brother Grover entered the house and conversed with the Prophet about the situation, offering to let Joseph have what money he needed. Brother Joseph accepted the offer and told Brother Grover to look around and find a location that suited him for a home and then return, when the money he had advanced would be returned to him. In a short time, the place was selected, but Brother Grover refused to receive back his money, saying, ‘I have sufficient for my needs without it.’ From that day the devotion of Thomas Grover to Joseph Smith never wavered.” 

Many people of the world consider it utter foolishness that faith and obedience require the sacrifice of worldly wealth, but from the time Adam offered up the firstlings of his flock to the present day when the Lord’s people offer their money and themselves as offerings, it has always been so. 

And now; any and all who are looking to make a good investment with high and lasting returns, consider the example of Thomas Grover and invest in the work of the Lord. He consecrated not only his money, but himself, to the very end of his days. 

Sources: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWN2-D41 

“LDS Biographical Encyclopedia” vol. 4 p.137-138 By Andrew Jensen