Making Money While Sharing the Gospel: Is It Priestcraft?

A few years ago, I sat staring at my phone, my heart pounding. I had just launched a scripture study guide that took me weeks to create, and immediately, someone slid into my comments with this zinger:

“Isn’t this priestcraft? You shouldn’t be making money from the gospel.”

Well, I used to ask myself the same question.

As a Latter-day Saint woman trying to live my covenants, raise a family, and follow promptings to create online, I wrestled with the tension between spiritual stewardship and financial support. Could I really be a content creator and a disciple of Christ?

Turns out, I can. And so can you.

Let’s talk about why.

What Priestcraft Actually Is

Let’s define the word that gets thrown around without context: priestcraft.

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi describes priestcraft this way:

“Priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion” (2 Nephi 26:29).

It’s not the money itself that’s the problem. It’s the motive.

Priestcraft is using the gospel to elevate yourself instead of pointing others to Christ. It’s preaching truth (or sometimes falsehoods) with the sole purpose of gaining fame, followers, or fortune – without caring for Zion or the souls you influence.

If you’re building a platform, writing books, selling products, creating content, or coaching others, and your intent is to serve, uplift, teach, and bless, then you are not practicing priestcraft.

You are building the kingdom.

But I Make Money… Doesn’t That Make It Wrong?

Let’s look at the Savior’s own example. Jesus sent His disciples out to preach with the instruction, “the laborer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7).

Paul echoed this principle when he wrote, “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:14)

We believe in consecration, yes, but consecration doesn’t mean poverty. It means aligning everything we have – our time, talents, voice, and even our resources – with God’s purposes.

If you are using your influence to teach truth, strengthen others, and bring souls to Christ, and if you are prayerfully guided in how you monetize your work, then you are honoring your stewardship.

My Story: Called to Create

I didn’t start out trying to make a living from my testimony. I started because I felt called.

The more I shared my experiences, especially as a woman who loves the gospel and wants to speak up about things that matter, the more people resonated with my words. Opportunities started to come. Brands aligned with my values. Readers wanted more. Coaching made sense. A masterclass. A partnership. All of it built momentum.

And yet I kept second-guessing myself.

Until one day, in the temple, I had a powerful confirmation that this work, my work, isn’t mine at all. It’s the Lord’s.

I was simply being invited to participate in the restoration, in my own small and modern way. Through reels and writing. Through affiliate links and conversion. Through motherhood and marketing.

And yes, even through monetization.

The Bigger Picture: Building Zion in the Digital Space

We are living in a time when social media is one of the most powerful tools for gathering Israel. President Nelson called the gathering “the most important thing taking place on earth today.”

If your spiritual gifts include creativity, influence, storytelling, clarity, or connection, why wouldn’t the Lord want you to use those online?

The enemy wants faithful women to shrink. To stay small. To believe that visibility is vanity and that influence is incompatible with holiness.

But Zion needs women who will boldly speak light, and if God is calling you to do that in a public way, do not apologize for it.

Practical Questions to Ask Yourself

If you’re feeling conflicted about monetizing your influence, ask yourself:

• Am I sharing truth or manipulating feelings?

• Am I pointing people to Christ or to myself?

• Am I motivated by service or by status?

• Am I prayerful and honest in how I promote, partner, and profit?

These questions help keep your heart in the right place. And when your heart is aligned, you can confidently stand as a witness, on and offline.

We Need More Righteous Influence, We Need YOU

It’s okay to make money as a Latter-day Saint content creator.

It’s okay to use your gifts.
It’s okay to grow your brand.
It’s okay to be visible.

As long as Christ remains the focus, your influence can be powerful, profitable, and priesthood-aligned.

Because when women of covenant take up space in the digital world, we don’t just “build a platform.” We build Zion.

And that is holy work.