Self Reliance - in all forms

Self Reliance is one of the most important things the Lord wants us to understand.  It is imperative to happiness.  In my personal opinion from my own experience one of the most important aspects of self reliance is spiritual reserves.  Our obedience and integrity will help us to store up strength in this area.  We need to educate ourselves about frugality and wise investments.  We need to exercise good habits of spending and buying and giving to charities.  Our greatest source of direction and support in our efforts to be self reliant will come through the Savior he is all powerful and will direct us in the ways we need to find strength.

Supporting Quotes:

1.      Pres. Henry B. Eyring – April 2012 General Conference “Mountains to Climb” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/mountains-to-climb?lang=eng “The ground must be carefully prepared for our foundation of faith to withstand the storms that will come into every life. That solid basis for a foundation of faith is personal integrity. “Our choosing the right consistently whenever the choice is placed before us creates the solid ground under our faith.”

2.      Pres. Henry B. Eyring – April 2012 General Conference “Mountains to Climb” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/mountains-to-climb?lang=eng “Serving God and others persistently with full heart and soul that turns testimony of truth into unbreakable spiritual strength.”

3.      Pres. Thomas S. Monson – April 2015 General Conference “The Blessings of the Temple” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/blessings-of-the-temple?lang=eng “My brothers and sisters, in our lives we will have temptations; we will have trials, and challenges. As we go to the temple, as we remember the covenants we make there, we will be better able to overcome those temptations and to bear our trials. In the temple we find peace.”

4.      Pres. Henry B. Eyring – April 2015, General Conference “Is Not This the Fast I Have Chosen” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/is-not-this-the-fast-that-i-have-chosen?lang=eng “The brief time we fast every month and the small amount we offer for the poor may give us only a small part of the change in our natures to have no more desire to do evil. But there is a great promise, even as we do all that we reasonably can to pray, to fast, and to donate for those in need: “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. “Then shall thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here am I.”

5.      Elder Richard G. Scott – October 2014 General Conference “Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/make-the-exercise-of-faith-your-first-priority?lang=eng “I must testify of the blessings of daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening. These are the very practices that help take away stress, give direction to our lives, and add protection to our homes.” Then Elder Scott continued with: “Sister Reeves is a very wise woman. I strongly urge you to earn your own testimony of these three crucial habits.”

6.      Elder Hales- April 2009 General Conference “Becoming Provident Providers both Temporally and Spiritually” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/becoming-provident-providers-temporally-and-spiritually?lang=eng “All of us are responsible to provide for ourselves and our families in both temporal and spiritual ways. To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.”

7.      Elder Hales- April 2009 General Conference “Becoming Provident Providers both Temporally and Spiritually” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/becoming-provident-providers-temporally-and-spiritually?lang=eng “In both temporal and spiritual things, obtaining divine assistance enables us to become provident providers for ourselves and others.”

8.      Elder Hales- April 2009 General Conference “Becoming Provident Providers both Temporally and Spiritually” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/becoming-provident-providers-temporally-and-spiritually?lang=eng “Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually. We give away some of our precious, priceless agency and put ourselves in self-imposed servitude.”  What remains [of our income] is often only enough to meet our most basic physical needs. Living at the subsistence level, we become depressed, our self-worth is affected, and our relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and the Lord are weakened. We do not have the time, energy, or interest to seek spiritual things.”

9.      Elder Hales- April 2009 General Conference “Becoming Provident Providers both Temporally and Spiritually” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/becoming-provident-providers-temporally-and-spiritually?lang=eng “In seeking to overcome debt and addictive behaviors, we should remember that addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied. It is an insatiable appetite. When we are addicted, we seek those worldly possessions or physical pleasures that seem to entice us. But as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide—His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy.”

10.  Elder Neil L. Andersen- April 2014 General Conference “Spiritual Whirlwinds” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/spiritual-whirlwinds?lang=eng [When we look to the Lord in all things] Elder Andersen promises “you will see the whirlwinds for what they are—tests, temptations, distractions, or challenges to help you grow. And as you live righteously year after year, I assure you that your experiences will confirm to you again and again that Jesus is the Christ. The spiritual rock under your feet will be solid and secure. You will rejoice that God has placed you here to be a part of the final preparations for Christ’s glorious return.”