Self-Reliance
Contact your sister by the 5th, make an appointment by
the 10th, visit by the 15th and report by the 20th
Prayerfully study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life. For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.
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 our dependence
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
From the Scriptures
From Our History
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:
What Can I Do?
Prayerfully study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life. For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.
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 our dependence
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
From the Scriptures
From Our History
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:
-
Learn to love work and avoid idleness.
-
Acquire a spirit of self-sacrifice.
-
Accept personal responsibility for spiritual strength, health,
education, employment, finances, food, and other life-sustaining
necessities.
-
Pray for faith and courage to meet challenges.
-
Strengthen others who need assistance.4
What Can I Do?
-
How am I helping the sisters I watch over find solutions to their temporal and spiritual needs?
-
Am I increasing my spiritual self-reliance through preparing for the sacrament and sacrificing to serve?
