One day after class, I returned to my office. I was only there a few minutes when I heard the sound of beautiful piano music coming from my classroom. I walked back in, and there was one of my students, a lovely young woman, the mother of two small children and the wife of a hard working college student.

I was a little surprised. She never spoke in class and she was always content to listen, and she never seemed to draw attention to herself. And yet from those hands poured forth music that was worthy of angels. Well, I complimented her and I thanked her for playing so well.

She then told me a story I think of often. She told me how she loved the piano, and – and loved to play, and had done so for a long time, but that she couldn’t. She didn’t own one; they were too poor to afford it. The only opportunity she had to play the piano was when she came to my class.

Ah! What a shame I thought. Every child needs to hear music such as this. Her family was missing out. What a blessing, what a privilege it would be to have music like that in the home. It would invite the spirit of the Lord. It would bring peace.

And then I felt something I had never felt before. You know, like everyone else, I had thought ‘I wish I was [were] a rich man.’ But for the first time the feeling came over me ‘I wish I was [were] a rich man so I could give it away.’

I would have gone out right then and there and bought that woman a piano worthy of her talent. I would have taken it home and set it up in her small apartment, and asked for a concert right in front of her children. But I had no money. I was a teacher, working two jobs as it was. I remember to this day the ache that I couldn’t help her, and I wanted to.

That was years ago. I can’t remember her name now. But I’ve never forgot [forgotten] that ache – wanting to do something good, and not having the means to do it. I believe that experience was given to me by my Father in Heaven. It’s a worthy scar.

It’s fun to have money and buy what you want. But it’s joy to have money and help others get what they want. I believe that money matters to the Savior. If it didn’t, then why does He always prosper those who keep His commandments? (Mosiah 2:22) Why are we told of rich young rulers, of camels and needles’ eye? (Luke 18:25) It matters! The Lord wants all of us to be wise and rich givers.

But, there’s a paradox. To love money is to die and lose all of it. But to love people with your money is to live and have it all.

May the Lord bless each of us to get rich wisely. May He bless us and help us not to fatten our camels as we do so. By our means, my friend, we may be saved or damned!

I remember a little man in a tree named Zacchaeus. (Luke 19:1-10) God help us to become more like him.