Self-Reliance

Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide for the spiritual and temporal well-being of ourselves and of our families.¹

As we learn and apply the principles of self-reliance in our homes and communities, we have opportunities to care for the poor and needy and to help others become self-reliant so they can endure times of adversity.

We have the privilege and duty to use our agency to become self-reliant spiritually and temporally. Speaking of spiritual self-reliance and ourdependence on Heavenly Father, Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught: “We become converted and spiritually self-reliant as we prayerfully live our covenants—through worthily partaking of the sacrament, being worthy of a temple recommend, and sacrificing to serve others.”²

Elder Hales counseled us to become self-reliant temporally, “which includes getting a postsecondary 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.”³

I do not need to feel guilt. I can do this 90 day push or burst then settle into it. Then do it again. It is a good thing and will make our family self-reliant. It will help us as we get to our goals and help others reach theirs. Then when we are old we can go on missions and serve the Lord in every thing and not have to worry whether we will make it or if our children with be alright. What a peaceful beautiful thing!

Chapter 25

Jesus gives the parables of the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and the goats.

 1 ^aThen shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten ^bvirgins, which took their ^clamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all ^aslumbered and ^bslept.

 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the ^abridegroomcometh; go ye out to meet him.

 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their ^alamps.

 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps ^aare gone out.

 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ^aready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was ^bshut.

 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

 12 But he answered and said, ^aVerily I say unto you, I ^bknow you not.

 13 ^aWatch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

This scripture reminds me that I must first take care of my own needs before anyone else's because if I do not then I will not have my own oil to light for the King when He comes.

1 Timothy  5:8

8 But if any ^aprovide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Again I need to take care of my own house before I take care of anyone else's problems because it is unwise to have gotten us in this situation and not have sufficient funds to cover our needs.

Alma 34:27-28

 27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your ^ahearts be ^bfull, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your^cwelfare, and also for the welfare of ^dthose who are around you.

 28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye^aturn away the ^bneedy, and the ^cnaked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and ^dimpart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your ^eprayer is ^fvain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as ^ghypocrites who do deny the faith.

I need to share of my substance of what I have or I am no better than those I despise for their greediness.

D&C 44:6

 6 Behold, I say unto you, that ye must ^avisit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief, that they may be kept until all things may be done according to my law which ye have received. Amen.

I need to ask for visiting teaching assignment.

D&C 58:26-29

 26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is ^acompelled in all things, the same is a ^bslothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

 27 Verily I say, men should be ^aanxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are ^aagents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their ^breward.

 29 But he that ^adoeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with ^bdoubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is ^cdamned.

The Lord doesn't want command us in everything because we have the gift of agency and need to learn to us our own brains. If it is a good work then go for it! If we are being righteous then continue to move on your righteous desires. He is not happy when we do not move and then He commands us to do something and we doubt that commandment. Not wise at all. I am doing good with moving forward with Isagenix because it is a good work and I am learning a skill that will make our family self-reliant and it will help others to be self-reliant as well.

D&C 88:118

118 And as all have not ^afaith, seek ye diligently and ^bteach one another words of ^cwisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best ^dbookswords of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

Magnify our church callings and ask for a visiting teaching assignment. Find out where we can do service for our community and neighbors.

After the Latter-day Saints had gathered in the Salt Lake Valley, which was an isolated desert, President Brigham Young wanted them to flourish and establish permanent homes. This meant the Saints needed to learn skills that would allow them to become self-sufficient. In this effort, President Young had great trust in the capacities, talents, faithfulness, and willingness of the women, and he encouraged them in specific temporal duties. While the specific duties of Relief Society sisters are often different today, the principles remain constant:

1. 1. 
   Learn to love work and avoid idleness.
2. 2. 
   Acquire a spirit of self-sacrifice.
3. 3. 
   Accept personal responsibility for spiritual strength, health, education, employment, finances, food, and other life-sustaining necessities.
4. 4. 
   Pray for faith and courage to meet challenges.
5. 5. 
   Strengthen others who need assistance.⁴
6. I am learning to love work and we are learning to sacrifice. I have the responsibility to help my husband with our financial in come though we are very taken care of with the military. I will finish my education in finance. I will pray to have faith and courage to meet the challenges that in front of us and let go of the mistakes and pain of the past but use it to my advantage in the present and future. I will give of my blessings to others and help assist them in their journey.