By Cristie Gardner

For years, I’ve written down my goals—the character traits I wanted to develop, the things I hoped to own, the adventures and projects I dreamed of completing. But at times, I felt like I was stumbling in the dark, hoping my dreams would somehow materialize, not really knowing how to bring them to life.

Then in 2009, everything changed when I read Hidden Treasures: Heaven’s Astonishing Help With Your Money Matters.

My spirit and mind caught fire. I shared the book with my husband, and together we compiled a personal study guide that tied Leslie’s powerful insights and stories to scriptural principles. We gathered quotes from spiritual leaders, passages from our favorite books, and excerpts from personal journals—and had the whole compilation spiral bound.

That Christmas, we gave each of our eight children a copy of Hidden Treasures, along with our booklet. We gifted copies to other family members, too. Then, during our fall family reunion in San Diego, we had our very own "home study" course. Between beach outings, we read stories aloud, explored the principles, and wrestled with ideas like true laws vs. soft laws. Together, we came to recognize the deep truths in Leslie’s book—and it changed our lives, both individually and as a family.

One example still stands out: our son and daughter-in-law were driving a very old car. They knew they needed a new one, but didn’t think they could afford it. After our study, they sat down and got specific. They decided what kind of car they needed—it had to be big enough to fit Brittany’s cello for performances, and still have seats for their two little girls. They wanted a newer car with low mileage and great gas mileage. They even hoped for a moon roof. They guessed a Passat might be a good fit, but were open to anything that matched their criteria. Most importantly, they agreed on what they could afford to spend—and they wrote it all down.

Within days, they visited a dealership just to explore options. As they were leaving, the salesman called after them. “Hey, I almost forgot—we have one model from last year: a Volkswagen Jetta that hasn’t been driven much. We’re willing to drop the price way down.” The price he named? Exactly what they had written down. The color? The exact blue they had envisioned. It even had the moon roof! It was their car. Later, they tearfully told us how following the process—getting clear spiritually, writing it down, and acting on faith—aligned them with the blessing they needed.

I had a similar experience when our eighth child, Nathaniel, was born. Our minivan no longer had enough seats. We needed a vehicle that could seat 11—10 for us, and one extra for the inevitable friend who’d tag along. Stan was a Scoutmaster, so we needed space for sleeping bags and gear. I prayed specifically for a late-model van, and just because I knew it wouldn’t matter in heaven’s eyes, I added that I’d love a gray exterior with burgundy interior. We had $9,000, and we didn’t want to take on payments. I shared my list with Heavenly Father in prayer.

That afternoon, a local newspaper was delivered to our doorstep—which I usually don’t read. But I glanced through it anyway, and there it was in the classifieds: “Late model, seats 11. $8,995.” I called immediately. The dealer said, “It’s one of those 15-passenger vans, but it’s missing the back seat—so it fits 11. Lots of room in the back. The previous owners used it mostly for highway driving.” Then I asked about the color. He paused. “It’s gray on the outside, and kind of a dark red inside—not sure what you call it exactly.” Burgundy.

I told him we’d be there that afternoon to buy it. He was surprised. “Don’t you want a mechanic to check it out?” No need—I knew it was ours. And it was. That van served us beautifully for years.

Later, I shared this story in a church meeting. A friend there had been trying to sell an old pickup for four years without a single inquiry. That day, she went home and wrote down what she wanted from the sale—and prayed in faith. By the end of the day, someone called. The truck sold that evening.

How many blessings do we miss because we don’t ask? How many more do we fail to recognize because we forget to count the blessings we’ve already received?

I sometimes cringe when I read a message from a friend who’s overwhelmed, saying things like, “God has dumped so much on me—how much more can I take?” And while I empathize, I also wish we all better understood how powerfully the laws of gratitude and abundance work in our lives.

Since then, I’ve continued to see how God prospers us when we follow His laws. It’s not just cars—it’s homes, appliances, furniture, books, clothing, and moves. But real prosperity doesn’t always mean money. God’s abundance can be health. It can be a beautiful marriage or a trusted friendship. It can be air to breathe and food to eat. It can be ideas, peace of mind, or opportunities to earn and grow. It can mean resilient children or a home full of love. It can be insight into why a hardship is happening—and the strength and peace to overcome it.

We’ve come to know that we have a loving Heavenly Parent who hears us and wants to bless us with all that’s truly for our good. We’ve come to see that money is an illusion, and that true wealth lies in healing, in gratitude, in faith, in joyful relationships, and in a heart that recognizes answered prayers.

Most of all, true wealth lies in becoming the person we were sent here to become—right in the middle of this magnificent journey we call life.

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