“In Mine Own Way”
Lesson 38 – D&C 38:30;
42:30-31, 42; 58:26-28; 104:13-18; Our Heritage, pgs. 108-109, 111-114.
As Latter-day Saints, we should commit ourselves to greater
self-reliance and service to those in need.
D&C 38:30 teaches that we should be self-reliant and
that—if we prepare as instructed—we will have no need to fear.
The goal of spiritual self-reliance is to have the strength
to resolve difficult problems in our own lives and strengthen others in their
times of spiritual need. Elder Boyd K.
Packer said: “We
have been taught to store a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, if possible,
fuel—at home… Can we not see that the same principle applies to
inspiration and revelation, the solving of problems, to counsel, and to
guidance? We need to have a source of
it stored in every home… If we
lose our emotional and spiritual independence, our self-reliance, we can be
weakened quite as much, perhaps even more, than when we become dependent
materially” (Ensign, May 1978, 91-92).
In class, be prepared to volunteer some insight as to how we
can teach children spiritual self-reliance.
To be temporally self-reliant, we must assure that we can
use the temporal blessings the Lord has given us to provide for ourselves and
our families. When we are capable of
doing this for ourselves, we should not shift the burden of our care to others
in or outside our family.
Developing temporal self-reliance includes learning to work
effectively, storing food and other essential supplies for a time of need,
managing our finances carefully and prudently, and gaining a good education.
President Brigham Young wanted the Saints to exemplify and
practice industry in their new home in the Salt Lake Valley and to work
together for the common good, so the region was given the name, “Deseret”, a Book of
Mormon word for “a honey bee” (Ether 2:3).
We should also work together for the common good and be
industrious. “To become self-reliant, a
person must work. Work is physical,
mental, or spiritual effort. It is a basic source of happiness, self-worth, and
prosperity. Through work, people accomplish many good things in their lives” (Church Handbook of Instruction,
Book 2, [1998], 257). Elder Neal
A. Maxwell said, “Work is always a spiritual necessity even if, for some, work is not an
economic necessity” (Ensign, May, 1998, 38).
Obviously, those who follow the oft-repeated counsel of
multiple latter-day prophets to acquire and maintain a year’s supply of food,
clothing, and other necessities where possible, will be blessed in time of need
by their ability to be self-reliant in their basic temporal needs.
The Church Handbook of Instructions explains: “Church leaders have not
given an exact formula for what to store.
Rather, they suggest that Church members begin by storing what would be
required to keep them alive if they did not have anything else to eat… Through careful planning, most Church
members can store a year’s supply of the basic items needed to sustain
life. However, some members do not have
the money or space for such storage, and some are prohibited by law from
storing a year’s supply of food. These
members should store as much as they can according to their circumstances. All members can provide themselves with
added security by learning to produce and prepare basic food items” (Book 2,
258).
To be self-reliant, it is important to know how to manage
your finances prudently. Poor money management can seriously impair individual
and family life. The Church Handbook
of Instruction explains: “To become self-reliant in resource management,
Church members should pay tithes and offerings, avoid unnecessary debt, save
for the future, and satisfy all of their personal obligations. Members also should use their resources,
including their time, frugally and avoid wasting them” (Book 2,
258).
President Gordon B. Hinckley warned against the dangers of debt: “I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage… If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts” (Ensign, Nov. 1998, 54).
The Doctrine and Covenants contains numerous passages that
clearly emphasize the Lord’s desire that we care for the needy.
·
D&C 42:30-31. We are giving unto the Lord when we give
to the poor.
·
D&C 44:6. We are required to visit and succor the poor
and needy.
·
D&C 52:40. We
cannot claim to be disciples of the Lord unless we remember the poor, the
needy, and the sick and afflicted.
·
D&C 56:16. If we
are rich and do not share with the poor, our riches will canker our souls.
·
D&C 88:123. We
should love one another and give to each other, as the gospel requires.
·
D&C 104:18. We
will dwell in torment if we do not impart of our abundance to the poor.
·
D&C 104:13-18. These verses explain the Lord’s “own way”
of providing for his children’s temporal needs. His way requires that we give according to that which we have
received. As we have received freely and lovingly, we should acknowledge openly
the blessings we have received from Father and use them as He would—to bless
those around us according to their needs. Necessary help should be accepted
with gratitude and humility. Help
should be used wisely to overcome limitations and sustain development of one’s
potential. Then, when the needy have
overcome their need, they are responsible to help others less fortunate than
they.
We meet much of our responsibility to the poor through the
Church when we give a generous fast offering that the Bishop can use to relieve
the needs of those in our ward and stake. “The
Church designates one Sunday each month as a fast day. On this day Church
members go without food and drink for two consecutive meals. They…give to the
Church a fast offering at least equal to the value of the food they would have
eaten. If possible, members should be very generous and give more than the
value of two meals” (Church Handbook of Instruction, Book 2, 256).
Giving to the Church’s organized humanitarian assistance program is another avenue for helping those in need. President Monson reported results of some humanitarian efforts: “In 1992 a devastating hurricane… struck the east coast of Florida, leaving a path of ruin behind it, with homes battered, roofs gone, people hungry. Our members were there to help. Home after home was cleaned and repaired without charge. It mattered not the faith or color of the person who occupied the home… “ He continued…“Far away in the foothills on the western slopes of Mount Kenya, along the fringe of the colossal Rift Valley, pure water is now coming to the thirsty people. A potable (drinkable) water project has changed the lives of more than 1,100 families. When we originally became aware of the need for pure water, we were able to help fund a project in cooperation with TechnoServe, a private voluntary organization. With villagers providing the labor, drinkable water now flows through 25 miles of pipes to waiting homes in a 15-village area. The simple blessing of safe drinking water recalls the words of the Lord, ‘I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink’ [Matthew 25:35]” (Ensign, June 1998, 37).
D&C 58:26-28 counsels us about our personal
responsibility to be actively engaged in an effort to help the poor and needy
on an individual basis—not just through Church programs.
The First Presidency established the inspired welfare
program of the Church during the Great Depression. It was designed to promote self-reliance and provide a method of
helping the needy among the Saints. The
creation of this program is summarized in Our Heritage, Pgs.
108-9.
As communicated by the First Presidency at the time, “Our primary purpose was to
set up, in so far as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of
idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and
independence, industry, thrift and self-respect be once more established
amongst our people. The aim of the
Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives
of our Church membership” (Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 3).
*****
Education is a basic foundation for self-reliance. Since the
earliest times of this dispensation, leaders have counseled the Saints to
educate themselves as well as possible and avail themselves of educational
opportunities throughout their lives. In the first year of settling in the Salt
Lake Valley, the pioneers established a school for children in a tent. In subsequent years, every ward was directed
to establish a school to educate the children.
The University of Deseret was created in 1850 for the provision of
higher education. Note: The
Deseret alphabet was an interesting product of education in the pioneers’ new
home in the West. For examples of the deseret alphabet and information about
it, go to the following URL -- http://people.delphi.com/deseret/home/home.htm
and click on “Deseret Alphabet” near the bottom of the page.
Lessons may
be found on the Internet at www.neumanninstitute.org