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Really this blog is only as good as the information I have to add to it. Sometimes I miss some of the announcments and need you to help me out if I don't remember to add them.

Monday, February 22, 2010

It a BIRTHDAY PARTY…

A Backwards Birthday Party

Come CELEBRATE the Relief Society Birthday. Thursday March 4, 2010, 6:30 at the Church House.

Dinner and Fun will be served.

Hope to see you there!!!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Becoming Self-Reliant

Sunday February 7th lesson from Sister Bagley. She gave a beautiful heartfelt lesson on Becoming Self-Reliant. This is a handout she gave us. It is intended to help us identify the areas of self-reliance we are lacking in, to help us start thinking about the next steps and goals we can give ourselves in becoming more self-reliant.

 

“Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves;

Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse;

Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved;

Teaching cannot come from the unlearned;

Spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually week.”

     -Ana Maria Coburn, Primary General Board

 

Area of Self Reliance My Next Steps and Goals
Spiritual Strengths:

                                                 
Physical, Emotional and
Social Strengths:
 
Preparedness for
Emergencies and/or
Eventualities
 
Financial Management:

 

 

WORK and LEARN

Work is an antidote for anxiety, and ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility. Those who aren’t unafraid to roll up their sleeves and lose themselves in the pursuit of worthwhile goals are a blessing to their families, community, nations and to the Church.

Knowledge does away with darkness, anxiety, and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is. Strive to increase your knowledge of all that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”  Seek knowledge “by study and also by faith.” Seek with a humble spirit and contrite heart.     -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 13th Article of Faith, D&C 109:7

Primary Activity

Just a little reminder for those mothers who didn’t hear about the Primary Activity. It is this Tuesday, February 9th after school till 4:30. They are going to spread some love and joy to others and hope that you can come. Parents are always welcome.

Visiting Teaching Message for FEBRUARY…don’t forget your sisters this month

Managing Resources Wisely and Staying Out of Debt

“Managing Resources Wisely and Staying Out of Debt,” Liahona, Feb 2010, 7

Teach these scriptures and quotations or, if needed, another principle that will bless the sisters you visit. Bear testimony of the doctrine. Invite those you visit to share what they have felt and learned.

Managing Resources

“‘Provident living’ … implies the [conserving] of our resources, the wise planning of financial matters, full provision for personal health, and adequate preparation for education and career development, giving appropriate attention to home production and storage as well as the development of emotional resiliency. … If we live wisely and providently, we will be as safe as in the palm of His hand.”1

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985).

“What skills do we need to help us become self-reliant? … In the early days of the Church, Brigham Young pled with the sisters to learn to prevent illness in families, establish home industries, and learn accounting and bookkeeping and other practical skills. Those principles still apply today. Education continues to be vitally important. …

“I asked several bishops what self-reliance skills the sisters in their wards needed most, and they said budgeting. Women need to understand the implications of buying on credit and not living within a budget. The second skill bishops listed was cooking. Meals prepared and eaten at home generally cost less, are healthier, and contribute to stronger family relationships.”2

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.

Avoiding Debt

“May I suggest five key steps to financial freedom. …

“First, pay your tithing.

“Second, spend less than you earn.

“Third, learn to save.

“Fourth, honor your financial obligations.

“Fifth, teach your children to follow your example.”3

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“When we go into debt, we give away some of our precious, priceless agency and place ourselves in self-imposed servitude. We obligate our time, energy, and means to repay what we have borrowed—resources that could have been used to help ourselves, our families, and others. …

“To pay our debts now and to avoid future debt require us to exercise faith in the Savior—not just to do better but to be better. It takes great faith to utter those simple words, ‘We can’t afford it.’ It takes faith to trust that life will be better as we sacrifice our wants in order to meet our own and others’ needs.”4

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Helps for Visiting Teachers

Counsel with your companion about how to sensitively adapt this message to each sister’s circumstances. What self-reliance skills can you share with her?

Personal Preparation

For more information, see All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances (item no. 04007).

Photograph by Matthew Reier

Notes

1. “Welfare Services: The Gospel in Action,” Ensign, Nov. 1977, 78.

2. “The Welfare Responsibilities of the Relief Society President,” Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance (2009), 5.

3. “Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2004, 41, 42.

4. “A Gospel Vision of Welfare: Faith in Action,” Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance (2009), 1.