Our Path to Spiritual and Temporal Self-Reliance

“Please be assured that you are a child of our Father in Heaven. He loves you and will never forsake you. He knows you and is ready to extend to you the spiritual and temporal blessings of self-reliance.”

—The First Presidency

Related Links Learn more at srs.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

There are great needs among us. A recent survey of members in several countries showed that many worry regularly about having enough food to feed their children and themselves. To survive life’s challenges, each of us will need to grow our faith and trust in the Lord.

The Savior invites us all to act, to stand independent, and to become as He is. He will help us. He has promised: “It is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. But it must needs be done in mine own way” (D&C 104:15–16). His way includes learning and living the principles of self-reliance.

The Savior Has the Power to Help Me Become Self-Reliant

As we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, He can do miracles. He can make more out of our efforts than we can do for ourselves.

Exercise faith that the Lord will help those who trust Him.

As we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, He can do miracles. He can make more out of our efforts than we can do for ourselves.

► Ask yourself: What does it mean that Jesus Christ is “mighty to save” (2 Nephi 31:19) as it relates to lack of work, lack of skills, consumer debt, addictions, or any other temporal challenge that keeps me from being self-reliant?

Principles of Self-Reliance

Accepting and living the following principles will help you to receive the spiritual and temporal blessings promised by the Lord.

1. Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ.The Lord has all power. He can and will work great tender mercies among those who trust Him in all things.

► Ask yourself: How will my faith in Jesus Christ affect my spiritual and temporal self-reliance?

► Read: 1 Nephi 9:6; Moroni 7:33; Doctrine and Covenants 29:34; Mark 9:23–27; 1 Kings 17

2. Be Obedient.Obedience to God’s laws, principles, and promptings leads to spiritual and temporal blessings.

► Ask yourself: Do I obey the promptings of the Holy Ghost in both temporal and spiritual matters? Is any lack of obedience keeping me from receiving blessings?

► Read: Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21; 58:32; 1 Nephi 3:7; 4:6

The Savior invites us all to act, to stand independent, and to become as He is. He will help us.

3. Act. Individual accountability and action activate blessings.

► Ask yourself: Why does Heavenly Father want me to take personal responsibility for my life? Am I acting or being acted upon?

► Read: 2 Nephi 2:16, 26; 1 Nephi 3:7; Helaman 14:30; D. Todd Christofferson, “Free Forever, to Act for Themselves,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 16–19: “God will not act to make us something we do not choose by our actions to become” (17).

4. Serve and be united. Service and unity build Zion—this is the way of the Lord.

► Ask yourself: What does it mean to “be one,” and how does this relate to self-reliance? Who have I served in the last week? Who can I serve this week?

► Read: Moses 7:18; Doctrine and Covenants 104:15–17; 38:27; 82:17–19; Jeffrey R. Holland, “Are We Not All Beggars?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 40–42: “Rich or poor, we are to ‘do what we can’ when others are in need” (41).

Prophetic Promises

The First Presidency invites you to study and apply these principles of self-reliance and teach them to your family members.

The First Presidency invites you to study and apply these principles of self-reliance and teach them to your family members.

The First Presidency has said: “The Lord has declared, ‘It is my purpose to provide for my saints’ (D&C 104:15). This revelation is a promise from the Lord that He will provide temporal blessings and open the door of self-reliance, which is the ability for us to provide the necessities of life for ourselves and our family members. …

“We invite you to diligently study and apply these principles and teach them to your family members. As you do so, your life will be blessed. You will learn how to act on your path toward greater self-reliance. You will be blessed with greater hope, peace, and progress.

“Please be assured that you are a child of our Father in Heaven. He loves you and will never forsake you. He knows you and is ready to extend to you the spiritual and temporal blessings of self-reliance” (First Presidency letter, in My Foundation: Principles, Skills, Habits [2014], 2).

New Resources

The booklet My Foundation: Principles, Skills, Habits can help you learn and put into practice principles of faith, education, hard work, and trust in the Lord.

Over 1,100 stake self-reliance centers in international areas of the Church can help members learn and live the principles and habits of self-reliance.

A new booklet, My Foundation: Principles, Skills, Habits, has been prepared to help members of the Church learn and put into practice principles of faith, education, hard work, and trust in the Lord. Accepting and living these principles will help you to receive the temporal blessings promised by the Lord. The booklet and accompanying videos are available online.

During 2014, over 1,100 stake self-reliance resource centers were established in the international areas of the Church to help members learn and live the principles and habits of self-reliance. Many of these centers are shared with local family history centers. These resource centers help participants learn how to start and grow their own businesses, find better jobs, or create education plans that will lead to better work. Over 5,000 members have already volunteered to help mentor their brothers and sisters to become self-reliant. For more information see srs.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.