Temporal Stewardship: Self Reliance
What would
Heavenly Father have me do with my Temporal Stewardship?
INTRODUCTION
Gratitude
opens the door to an abundant life and leads naturally into your ability to
share. The more abundance you feel you have, the more you are able to give. Not
only is it a joy to return to the Lord a portion of what he has given you in
your tithes, but it is also a joy to help and assist those less fortunate.
The
Lord has given you many resources and blesses you as you use them wisely. You
should exercise good judgment in managing and replenishing the resources with
which the Lord has blessed you with. Elder Boy K Packer taught that the payment
of tithing is more a matter of faith than of money and as such blesses you
spiritually. (“Teach Them Correct Principles,” Ensign, May 1990)
In regards to
caring for our families President Spencer W Kimball taught: “No true Latter-day
Saint, while physically or emotionally able will voluntarily shift the burden
of his own or his family’s well-being to someone else. So long as he can, under
the inspiration of the Lord and with his own labors, he will supply himself and
his family with the spiritual and temporal necessities of life. (See 1 Timothy
5:8.)” (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Oct. 1977, p. 124; or Ensign,
Nov. 1977, pp. 77–78).
We cannot be
self-reliant without being willing to work. Work is physical, mental, or
spiritual effort. The Lord has commanded us to work (see Genesis 3:17–19;
D&C 42:42; 56:17), for work is the source of happiness, self-esteem, and
prosperity. It is the way we accomplish good things in our lives.
POINTS TO PONDER
- Through the payment of an honest
tithing, I will receive spiritual blessings.
- I will be blessed spiritually as
I manage my financial resources wisely and honestly.
- Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
brings power to grow spiritually and deal with temporal affairs.
- As I prioritize my life, the
spirit will direct me in providing for myself, my family and others and
great spiritual blessings will flow into my life.
SUPPORTING
SCRIPTURES AND QUOTES
Through the payment of an honest tithing, I
will receive spiritual blessings.
“Bring
ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,
and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the
windows of heaven, and pour your out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)
“Behold,
now it is called today until the coming
of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the
tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.”
(Doctrine and Covenants 64:23)
“He
is more blessed who giveth alms than is he who receiveth them.” (Joseph F
Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church, p. 281)
“Those who remember constantly the
teachings of the Lord concerning the earth and its inhabitants, and who
contribute of the means which the Lord gives them to assist the poor and help
carry forward the work of God, exercise a check upon themselves and give Satan
less power to lead them astray.” (Wilford Woodruff, Teachings of Presidents of
the Church, p. 232)
“I believe that when a
man is in financial difficulty, the best way to get out of that difficulty… is
to be absolutely honest with the Lord, and never to allow a dollar to come into
our hands without the Lord receiving ten per cent of it.” (Heber J Grant,
Teachings of Presidents of the Church, p. 123)
“Obedience to the law of
tithing … brings a deep, inward joy … that can be won in no other way. … The
principles of truth become clearer. … Prayer becomes easier. … The spiritual
sense is sharpened [and] … man becomes more like his Father in Heaven.” (John A
Widtsoe, “Tithing Testimonies of Our Leaders,” Deseret News, May 16, 1936, Church Section,
5)
“To those who faithfully and honestly
live the law of tithing, the Lord promises an abundance of blessings. Some of
these blessings are temporal, just as tithes are temporal. But like the outward
physical ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, the commandment to pay
tithing requires temporal sacrifice, which ultimately yields great spiritual
blessings. . . . The temporal and spiritual blessings of tithing
are specifically tailored to us and our families, according to the Lord’s will.
But to receive them, we must obey the law upon which they are predicated [see D&C
130:20–21]” (Robert D Hales, Ensign, Nov. 2002, 27).
“It is all the Lord’s and we are only
his stewards.” (Brigham Young, Teachings of Presidents of the Church, p. 157)
“May tithing be regarded as a
sacrifice? Yes, particularly if we understand the meaning of the two Latin
words from which the English word sacrifice is derived. These two words,
sacer and facere, taken together mean ‘to make sacred.’ That
which we return to the Lord as tithing is indeed made sacred, and the obedient
are edified” (Ronald E. Poelman of the Seventy, Ensign, May 1998,
78).
[The blessings promised in Malachi
3:10] come to all who pay a full ten percent of their income, even if that
amount is very small. As you obey this law, the Lord will bless you both
spiritually and temporally. (True to the Faith, 2004, p. 181)
“The foundation of provident living is
the law of the tithe. The primary purpose of this law is to help us develop
faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Tithing helps us
overcome our desires for the things of this world and willingly make sacrifices
for others. Tithing is the great equitable law, for… all of us pay the same
one-tenth of our increase annually (D&C 119:4), and all of us receive
blessings so great that there shall not be room enough to receive them.”
(Robert D Hales, Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually, Ensign, p. 9)
I will be blessed spiritually as I manage my financial
resources wisely and honestly.
“Wherefore, do not spend money for
that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.
Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and
come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not,
neither can be corrupted.” (2 Nephi 9:51)
“And again, verily I say unto you,
concerning your debts-behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts”
(Doctrine and Covenants 104:78)
“And they were also distinguished for their zeal
towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright
in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.”
(Alma 27:27)
We should be wise stewards by exercising good
judgment in managing and replenishing the resources with which the Lord has
blessed us (see Matthew 25:14–30; 2 Nephi 9:51; D&C 59:16–21; 104:11–18,
78–79; 119). To become self-reliant, we should—
■ Pay tithes and offerings.
■ Avoid unnecessary debt and save
for the future.
■ Satisfy all of our promised
obligations.
■ Use our resources frugally and
avoid wasting them.
■ Use our time wisely.
■ Be willing to serve those in need by sharing our
time, talents, and resources with them.
(Providing in the Lords Way: A Leaders Guide to Welfare, p. 7)
“I urge you . . . to look to
the condition of your finances. I urge you to be modest in your expenditures;
discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible.
Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage. . . . If you have paid your debts, if you have a
reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you
will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts. That’s
all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which
I am capable” (Gordon B Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1998, 53–54).
“Riches are dangerous unless we can
use them so as not to destroy us; if we cannot use them to the glory of God and
for the building up of his kingdom, we are better without them.” (Wilford
Woodruff, Teachings of Presidents of the Church, p.231)
“I testify that happy is the
man who lives within his means and is able to save a little for future needs.
As we live providently and increase our gifts and talents, we become more
self-reliant. Self-reliance is taking responsibility for our own spiritual and
temporal welfare and for those whom Heavenly Father has entrusted to our care.
Only, when we are self-reliant can we truly emulate the Savior in serving and
blessing others” (Robert D Hales, A Gospel Vision of Welfare: Faith in Action,
Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance p. 1)
“By keeping the commandments and living welfare principles, we can have
the Spirit of the Lord to be with us always – to sustain us through the storms
of these last days and speak peace to our souls.” (Robert D Hales, A Gospel
Vision of Welfare: Faith in Action, Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance,
p. 3)
“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.”
(Robert D Hales, Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually, Ensign, May 2009, p. 8)
“If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into
the human heart, and into the family, it is to live within our means, and if
there is any one thing that is grinding, and discouraging and disheartening it
is to have debts and obligations that one cannot meet.” (Heber J Grant, Ensign, May 1979, 39)
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ brings power to grow spiritually and
deal with temporal affairs.
“Because
of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it
… by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious.” (Alma
32:42)
“I,
the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints… For the earth is full, and
there is enough and to spare.” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:16-17)
“My beloved brothers and sisters, the Lord does keep his
promises. He truly opens the windows of heaven and pours out his blessings upon
those who are faithful and who obey his commandments but it will be done in his
own way. These blessings may come in a financial or temporal way or may be
realized by a spiritual outpouring, bringing strength, peace, and comfort. His
blessings may come in unusual and unexpected ways so that at the time we may
not even recognize them as blessings; but the promises of the Lord will be
kept” (Elder Henry D. Taylor, an Assistant to the Twelve, Ensign,
May 1974, 108).
“Believing requires
action. If you prepare to walk down the path of life, you can be rewarded
beyond your dreams and expectations. But to achieve this, you must work very
hard, save, be wise, and be alert. You must learn to deny yourselves of worldly
gratification. You must be faithful in paying tithes; you must keep the Word of
Wisdom; you must be free from other addictions. You must be chaste and morally
clean in every respect. You should accept and be faithful in all of the calls
that come to you. Steadiness and toil will serve you better than brilliance”
(James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 43).
“The riches of this
world are as dust compared to the riches that await the faithful in the
mansions of our Heavenly Father. How foolish is he who spends his days in the
pursuit of things that rust and fade away. How wise is he who spends his days
in the pursuit of eternal life.” (Joseph B Wirthlin, Earthly Debts, Heavenly
Debts, Ensign, May 2004)
As I prioritize my life, the spirit will direct me in providing for
myself, my family and others and great spiritual blessings will flow into my
life.
“Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and,
behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be
made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.” (Doctrine and Covenants
11:7)
“And again, verily I say unto you,
that every man who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him provide,
and he shall in nowise lose his crown; and let him labor in the church.”
(Doctrine and Covenants 75:28)
“When our priorities are out of order,
we lose power. If we need power and influence to carry out our mission, then
our priorities have to be straight.” (Julie B Beck, Womens Conference, April
29, 2010)
“The responsibility to provide for ourselves, our
families, and the poor and needy has been part of the gospel since the
beginning of time. As disciples of Christ, we should give of ourselves— our
time, talents, and resources—to care for those in need. We are better able to
fulfill this responsibility if we are striving to become self-reliant, for we
cannot give what we do not have. When we wisely use those things that the Lord
gives us, we become more able to give to the Lord’s work and provide for
others.” (Providing in the Lords Way: A Leaders Guide to Welfare, p. 3)
“A man filled with the love of
God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the
whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” (Joseph Smith, Chapter 37: Charity, the Pure Love of Christ,” Teachings of Presidents
of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),423–34)
“Our priorities determine what we seek in
life.” (Dallin H Oaks, Ensign, May
2001)
“Jesus taught about
priorities when He said, ‘Seek not the things of this world but seek ye first
to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all
these things shall be added unto you’ (Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 6:38; in Matthew 6:33; footnote a).
‘Seek . . . first to build up the kingdom of God’ means to assign
first priority to God and to His work. The work of God is to bring to pass the
eternal life of His children (see Moses 1:39), and all that this
entails in the birth, nurturing, teaching, and sealing of our Heavenly Father’s
children. Everything else is lower in priority. . . . As someone has
said, if we do not choose the kingdom of God first, it will make little
difference in the long run what we have chosen instead of
it. . . . Our priorities are most visible in how we use our
time… We cannot recycle or save the time allotted to us each day. With time, we
have only one opportunity for choice, and then it is gone
forever. . . . In terms of priorities for each major decision
(such as education, occupation, place of residence, marriage, or childbearing),
we should ask ourselves, ‘What will be the eternal impact of this
decision?’ Some decisions that seem desirable for mortality have unacceptable
risks for eternity. In all such choices, we need to have inspired priorities
and apply them in ways that will bring eternal blessings to us and to our
family members” (Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 2001, 83–84).
“When
priorities are proper, the power to endure is increased. And when internalized,
those priorities will help keep you from ‘going overboard.’ They will protect
you from cheating-in marriage, in the Church, and in life” (Russell M.
Nelson, Ensign, May 1997, 72).
“Our children should be taught to
sustain themselves by their own industry and skill, and not only do this, but
to help sustain others, and that to do this by honest toil is one of the most
honorable mans which God has furnished to His children here on the earth.”
(Wilford Woodruff, Teachings of Presidents of the Church, p. 230)
“To love God more than anything else impels us
to take control of our priorities and order our lives so as to be in accord
with Him. We come to love all of God’s creations, including our fellowman.
Placing God first in all things kindles greater love and devotion between husband
and wife, parents and children. In Zion, we find “every man seeking the
interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory
of God.(D&C 82:19)” (Keith B. McMullin, Come to Zion! Come to Zion!, Ensign,
Nov 2002)
“Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and
righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them
to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be
law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and
fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these
obligations.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World.)
“Our success is never measured by
how strongly we are tempted but by how faithfully we respond. We must ask for
help from our Heavenly Father and seek strength through the Atonement of His
Son, Jesus Christ. In both temporal and spiritual things, obtaining this divine
assistance enables us to become provident providers for ourselves and others”
(Robert D Hales, Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually, Ensign,
May 2009)
APPLICATION
· How
does practicing the attitude of gratitude make my life more abundant? What am I
grateful for?
· What
spiritual blessings have I received from wisely managing my financial
resources?
· How
have I worked out my financial challenges in the past? Have I grown spiritually
from these experiences?
· When
was the last time I reviewed my personal and financial priorities? How can
having gospel centered priorities help me to set my financial priorities?
GOALS AND IMPRESSIONS
Use
this space to set goals that will help you ponder and review your financial
priorities and the spiritual growth you have experienced as you have managed
your temporal resources. Consider your obedience to the law of tithing and the
way in which you reach out to those around you who may be in need. Record any notes
or impressions that you may have had as you pondered the quotes and references
above.
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SOURCES
· The
Standard Works
· The
Gospel and the Productive Life, Religion 150, 2004
· Teachings
of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, Heber J Grant, Wilford Woodruff
· Conference
Ensigns and Church Magazines
· Providing
in the Lords Way: A Leaders Guide to Welfare
· Basic
Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance, 2009
· True
to the Faith, A Gospel Reference, 2004
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