you might wonder how we could have known this....well because the ward clerk looked at how much my parents paid in tithing, and easily figured out how much money my dad earned. And then he brought it up at a ward party, in front of everybody. My dad was a very private person and it embarrassed him greatly because for years it led to comments like "well obviously you'll have no problem paying for missions and college for your kids" or "hey ask (my dad) if he can give us a loan, he's loaded"

It honestly made him super uncomfortable, and was just a jerk thing to do by the ward clerk and it let to comments for many years by some small minded people in the ward. Maybe thats just the nature of a small town in a area that doesnt have much money. Nevermind my dad had invested hundreds of thousands in his education, and invested in a business when interest rates in the 70's where something like 15%.

For the rest of his life when he'd buy a new truck he'd buy the same model, same color so as not to draw attention to the fact that he bought something new and have people joke about his money situation. He and my mom would have liked to have a nicer house, but never moved from their first starter home built in the early 70's because they felt the pleasure of a new home would be more than offset by the comments and judgement. But here's the thing - he did good things with his money, he donated significantly to kids going on missions - at my dads funeral the former stake president told me at one time he was significantly contributing to more than 10 kids on missions simultaneously - but anonymously because he didnt want to be recognized.

My dad died 3 years ago and to this day I'm still bitter that he lived for 30+ years being worried about how his financial success would be perceived by ward members. And to this day I feel angry at that loudmouth former ward clerk in the mouth for what he did, and the continued joy he took for years in making my dad feel uncomfortable for being financially successful.

For me, in my life I'm so happy when I see other people doing well financially, I love to see people have success who have invested in their education, building a business, acquiring skills that make them well paid, etc.....and I know a lot of those people are probably very generous. There are a lot of good people who have money.