Economic Self-Discipline

"Self-reliance is a product of provident living and exercising economic self-discipline. From the beginning the Church has taught that families—to the extent they can—need to assume responsibility for their own temporal welfare. Each generation is required to learn anew the foundational principles of self-reliance: avoid debt, implement principles of thrift, prepare for times of distress, listen to and follow the words of the living oracles, develop the discipline to distinguish between needs and wants and then live accordingly."

 

-Bishop H. David Burton, "The Sanctifying Work of Welfare," April 2011, General Conference

 

To read this talk go to:

www.lds.org/ensign/2011/05/the-sanctifying-work-of-welfare

An Agent for Good

The more self-reliant we are--both spiritually and temporally-- the greater our ability to be an agent for good.

 

"Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior, and that goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others. Our ablility to serve is increased or diminished by the level of our self-reliance." - Elder Robert D. Hales

 

The quotes above are from "Living the Principles of Self-Reliance", Ensign, March 2013, pp. 64-65. To read the article go to:

 

www.lds.org/ensign/2013/03/living-the-principles-of-self-reliance

Self Reliant and Respectful

"As Church members we desire not only economic, emotional, intellectual and social self-reliance
 for our children, but also spiritual self-reliance as well. It is a prerequisite to service. It is a key to spiritual growth and progress. Becoming temporally and spiritually self-reliant works wonders in people's lives — it is living in the Lord's way, she said. An important part of becoming self-reliant is how children are taught in their homes."   -Sis. Daryl Hoole

Here is a great article from the LDS Church News about Sister Daryl Hoole. It is a great article about a talk she gave on Nov. 14, at BYU, about the importance of teaching our children to be self-reliant and respectful. Here is the link:

www.ldschurchnews.com/self-reliant-and-respectful

"In addition to spiritual self-reliance...there is temporal self-reliance,

 which includes getting a post-secondary education or vocational training, 

learning to work, and living within our means.

 By avoiding debt and saving money now, 

we are prepared for full-time Church service in the years to come.  

The purpose of both temporal and spiritual self-reliance 

is to get ourselves on higher ground so that we can lift others in need."

-Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, May 2012, pg. 36.

Self-Reliance

"As we increase our own level of self-reliance, 

we increase our ability to help 

and serve others the way the Savior did."

-Sylvia H. Allred, General Conference, 

Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do or Do Without!

A huge part of living providently is managing your resources wisely! There was a great article Thurs. Nov. 3, 2011 in the Mormon Times section of the Deseret News, by Kim Grant called,  "Time to 'use it up' or 'wear it out'." 

She quotes the 2009 Environmental Protection Agency who reported that the United States produced more than 243 million tons of garbage which is equal to 82,000 football fields full of 6 foot deep in compacted garbage.Kim gave 5 great ideas to reduce waste in our society.

Here are Kim's great suggestions:

1- Use reusable items such as rechargeable batteries, cloth napkins, and towels, reusable water bottles, refillable pens, etc. Use dishes unstead of paper plates. Another idea: use lunch boxes instead of paper lunch bags.

2- Clean, repair or maintain items so that they do not end up in the landfill. This is also better on your finances! Try to buy quality items that will not break as easily. When things do break order new parts, or go to websites such as: Howtofixyourstuff.com. 

3- Donate or sell unwanted items instead of recycling to get more use out of them. 

4- Reusing items saves you money and also saves energy of recycling, or making new items. Print on both sides of paper, or use as scratch paper; reuse bubble wrap or packaging peanuts; grocery bags; ribbon and wrapping paper, etc.

5-Instead of spending money on books, DVD's, or CD's check them out from the library, use online movie sites, or radio Net flicks and Pandora are great! Swap your old books, CD's at online swap sites or used book stores.

Pay All Your Debts

"Verily I say unto you, concerning your debts - 

behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts." 

-Doctrine and Covenants 104:78

Live Within Your Means

"My brothers and sisters, avoid the philosophy that yesterday's luxuries have become today's necessities. They aren't necessities unless we make them so. Many enter into long-term debt only to find that changes occur: people become ill or incapacitated, companies fail or downsize, jobs are lost, natural disasters befall us. For many reasons, payments on large amounts of debt can no longer be made...I urge you to live within your means. One cannot spend more than one earns and remain solvent. I promise you that you will then be happier than you would be if you were constantly worrying about how to make the next payment on nonessential debt."

-Pres. Thomas S. Monson

Church News, Week ending June 11, 2011, p. 16

The Gospel in Action

  "Self-reliance is the ability to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family. As we increase our own level of self-reliance, we increase our ability to help and serve others the way the Savior did. We follow the Savior's example when we minister to the needy, the sick, and the suffering. When love becomes the guiding principle in our care for others, our service to them becomes the gospel in action. It is the gospel in its finest moment. It is pure religion."

- Silvia H. Allred, "The Essence of Discipleship," Ensign, May 2011, p. 85

Avoid Unnecessary Debt

"Perhaps no counsel has been repeated more often than how to manage wisely our income. 

Consumer debt in some nations of the world is at staggering levels. Too many in the Church 

have failed to avoid unnecessary debt. They have little, if any,  financial reserve. 

The solution is to budget, to live within our means, and to save some for the future."

-President Thomas S. Monson, 

Deseret News, Week ending June 11, 2011, p.16

Bountiful Berries!

July is berry season in Utah!  

Many stores as well as the local growers 
will have a bountiful supply of berries at a great price!

 Enjoy these fruits that are rich in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants.

Take time to freeze some,
make syrup, jam or jelly (raspberry jelly is amazing!). 

By putting a few away now you will be able to enjoy this fantastic fruit 

without paying high prices in the winter!

“In the day of plenty, prepare for the day of scarcity.”

First Presidency, “Message of the First Presidency,”

in Conference Report, Apr. 1942, 89.

Thought of the Day

“Mothers, who are ‘primarily responsible for the nurture of their children,’ can be a powerful force for strengthening families when they use mealtimes to gather loved ones. They follow the example of the Savior to calm, teach, and help their families remember important things as they feed, cultivate, educate, and rear at the consecrated tables in their homes.”

-Julie B. Beck, Ensign, Dec. 2005, p. 38

Relief Society Encourages Provident Living

This months Visiting Teaching Message is on encouraging Provident Living. Here is a great article from the Church News to give you some additional information to discuss with your sisters:

Relief-Society Encourages Provident Living

Strengthening Families Through Temporal Self-Reliance

The Visiting Teaching Message for June 2011 is on self-reliance. 

Here are two great quotes from that message:

"In Relief Society, we are taught self-reliance principles and skills. Sisters can learn about budgeting, debt relief, employment qualifications, the scriptures and the gospel, teaching others to read and learn, technology, physical health, fitness, addiction prevention and recovery, social and emotional health, preventing illness, gardening, food production and storage, emergency preparedness, and many other things that will help us become self reliant."

"Under the direction of the priesthood, Relief Society continues to teach self-reliance,

to safeguard the family, and to encourage personal righteousness and acts of charity,

the pure love of Christ."

Here is a link:

June 2011: Visiting Teaching Message

Build an Ark

 Words and music by Marianne P. Wilcock
This is a great song about being spiritually, and temporally prepared.  

The music is in the Sept. 2010, Friend Magazine

Sing it for Family Home Evening and work on some aspect of preparedness such as emergency preparedness, making a plan for family prayer or scripture reading, or adding to your food storage.

Noah was a prophet, a man who did not fear.

When he taught repentance, the people would not hear.

So the Lord told him to build a boat

That could hold a ton and stay afloat.

Then Noah started building and said within his heart:

“I will build an ark before it starts to rain.

I will follow the Lord and do all things in His name.

I’ll prepare ev’ry needful thing. I will walk in righteous ways.

When the rain starts to fall on me, I’ll be ready for that day.”

I can be like Noah. Yes, I can be prepared.

I can build my ark, and I’ll find safe shelter there.

I can do the things I know are right.

I can learn and pray with all my might.

And then when storm clouds come, I’ll be safe within my ark.

I will build my ark before it starts to rain.

I will follow the prophet, for he speaks in God’s name.

I’ll prepare ev’ry needful thing. I will walk in righteous ways.

When the rain starts to fall on me, I’ll be ready for that day.

Copyright © 2004 by Marianne P. Wilcock. All rights reserved. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. This notice must be included on each copy made.

Seeds of Self Reliance

Here is some great advice from one of our prophets!

 “…to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard. Even those residing in apartments or condominiums can generally grow a little food in pots and planters. Study the best methods of providing your own foods. Make your garden … neat and attractive as well as productive.”

Pres. Spencer W. Kimball, “Family Preparedness,“ Ensign, May 1976, p. 124

Also, there is a great article about growing gardens throughout the world in March 20011, Ensign. Check it out!

lds.org/ensign/2011/03/seeds-of-self-reliance

General Conference Thought from Bishop Burton

"It is through living principles of self-reliance such as avoiding debt, implementing principles of thrift, preparing for times of distress, listening to and following the words of the living oracles, developing the discipline to distinguish between needs and wants and living accordingly, that  individuals are able to live a provident life."

-Bishop H. David Burton, "The Sanctifying Work of Welfare", General Conference, April 2011

Nurture Physically and Spiritually

To nurture and feed them physically is as much an honor as to nurture and feed them
spiritually. She is “not weary in well-doing” and delights to serve her family, because
she knows that “out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).

Julie B. Beck, "A “Mother Heart”", Ensign, May 2004, 75–77

Less Can Be More

"Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all."

Julie B. Beck, "Mothers Who Know", Ensign, Nov. 2007, 76–78