A revelation to Joseph Smith in Thompson, Ohio, in 1831 is straightforward: "And whoso is found a faithful, a just, and a wise steward shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life." (Doctrine and Covenants 51:19.)
Elder F. Dallas Merrell of the Seventy spoke during the April 1993 general conference about the principle of stewardship: "The strength of the Church is also rooted in obedience to the principle of stewardship. We acknowledge that all we possess belongs to God. We and all brothers and sisters who preceded us come as one, in common, to bring our offerings of tithes, time and talents for building the kingdom of God. We strive to lift one another as neighbors and to establish ourselves as a covenant community whose lives are centered in Christ.
"No other institution has the divine character as does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is because it has true authority, revealed purpose, a divine work, committed disciples, a vision of our stewardship and impelling principles of eternal progress."