Topic - Self-reliance; Delicate topic, hopefully no misunderstandings and no offense - Me Do
General Handbook - Becoming Self-reliant pg. 257
Base on a talk by Pres. Romney, Counselor to Pres. Kimball, “Principles of Temporal Salvation,”
“We face today a whole range of serious economic and social conditions. But facing periods of economic stress, even deprivation, is not new to us as a church. Historically, the Saints have more than once faced such trials. As a result, the Lord from the early days of the Church has guided his leadership to see clearly certain correct principles. Most Church members of this generation, however, have not personally encountered serious economic and social disruption, and thus from their own experience have not learned how to deal with such problems. Entitlement It is for this reason that we feel compelled to reaffirm certain basic principles of temporal salvation.”
President Joseph F. Smith explained the importance of temporal salvation and its relationship to spiritual salvation: “You must continue to bear in mind that the temporal and spiritual are blended. They are not separate. One cannot be carried on without the other, so long as we are here in mortality. … We have to look after the necessary things for the maintenance of ourselves and our families in the earth. … We do not feel it is possible for men to be really good and faithful Christian people unless they can also be good, faithful, honest and industrious people. Therefore, we preach the gospel of industry, the gospel of economy, the gospel of sobriety.”
Three concepts of temporal salvation: self-reliance - providing for oneself, family reliance - providing for one’s family, charity - acting upon our love for others to help those in need.
The first principle, that of self-reliance, grows out of a fundamental doctrine of the Church—that of agency. This agency applies to all facets of life, both spiritual and temporal matters. With respect for temporal affairs the Lord makes this specific (D&C 104): “For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures. I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.”
Self-reliance implies the individual development of skills and abilities and then their application to provide for one’s own needs and wants. It further implies that one will achieve those skills through self-discipline and then, through self-restraint and charity, use those skills to bless himself and others. That the Lord expects all his children who are able to thus perform in this second estate is made clear in many scriptural passages whose central thought focuses on work—personal, earnest, life-sustaining work. In light of these scriptures, no member should desire or seek to voluntarily shift the responsibility for his own maintenance to another. Rather, each member, through work, should seek to find great satisfaction in personal achievement; and thus, he will be entitled to the fruits of his labors—both temporal and spiritual. Each individual is accountable for his choices and actions in spiritual matters and also in temporal matters. If we are frugal and saved for a rainy day, we can more easily weather financial storms. If we have lived beyond our means, then we receive the consequences of our own actions when the bills come. If we have kept pace in our chosen field of labor, then we can anticipate advancement or increase as opportunity knocks. Thus, it is through our own efforts and decisions that we earn our way in this life. While the Lord will magnify us in both subtle and dramatic ways, he can only guide our footsteps when we move our feet. Ultimately, our own actions determine our blessings—or lack of them. It is a direct consequence of both agency and accountability. And since we are responsible for our actions, we are also personally accountable for their consequences.
The second Principle is family reliance. This is a problem for many people because they are reluctant or embarrassed to ask for help. They would prefer to skip this step. In the Church, the concept of providing for one’s family and of relying on one’s family for growth, mutual care, and help is equally fundamental to self-reliance. The family is the basic organizational unit of the Church. No agency or institution can or should replace the family. By sacred covenant and eternal priesthood government, the eternal family unit is established. By virtue of the commitment made as a part of that covenant, husbands are obligated to provide for their families. Thus, in the words of the Lord: “Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken.” “All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age.” From Paul the Apostle we have the sentiment: “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Tim. 5:8.) Next to one’s own self, the responsibility, the blessing, and great opportunity for lovingly sustaining an individual until he or she leaves mortality rests upon his or her family. The same covenant that obligates parents to care for their children also obligates children to care for their parents. With the Lord’s Spirit, we will see that these same principles also apply to our extended family, that loving group of uncles, aunts, cousins, as well as brothers and sisters, that extends through the branches of the family tree.
As a consequence of the principle of family reliance, we should realize that, generally, one has no claim on Church resources to resolve personal temporal problems and needs until the family has done all it can to help. This is the doctrine the Lord establishes when he says, “And after that, they have claim upon the church, or in other words upon the Lord’s storehouse.” (D&C 83:5.) This principle applies without exception to the families of any individual. It is only if the problem or need exceeds the resources of the individual and his family that we call upon the Church through our bishops. Through the welfare program, the Church provides temporary assistance while helping the member regain their self-sufficiency.
In most cases when individuals and their families do not have sufficient resources to meet a need, it is because they failed to plan ahead, to prepare for the unknown problems that they know will come sooner or later. This involves the doctrinal principle of opposition. As Nephi told us: “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.” Without opposition, righteousness could not be brought to pass. Do any of you remember Aesop Fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper ? Since we know opposition must come sometime, let us be like the ant and prepare for it and not be like the grasshopper who didn’t see a need for preparation utill too late.
The third principle is Charity. While the responsibility for caring for one’s self rests first with the individual himself, and secondarily with his family, the Church and Church members also have a responsibility. It is part of the covenant of baptism. Alma said “...and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,...” Mormon said, “... Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all,. . . .” Nephi’s brother, Jacob, said, “And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.”
So, while we all have the responsibility to help those in need of help - even to seek them out - based upon eternal principles, it is still the individual and family that have the primary responsibility for their own welfare. And, to meet this responsibility, there must be planning and advance preparation. It is true when they say, “Failure to plan is planning to fail.”
Now, I am not directing these remarks to anyone in particular. All of us have had problems in the past and all of us will have more problems in the future. My intention is to encourage all of us to review again our personal and family preparedness and to implement immediately the principles and practices that will ensure our self-sufficiency. The Lord promises, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” (D&C 38:30.) He also promises, “And whoso is found a faithful, a just, and a wise steward shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life.” (D&C 51:19.)
