Marion G. Romney (1897–1988), a member of the First Presidency, once said, ”Many programs have been set up by well-meaning individuals to aid those in need. However, many of those programs are designed with the short-sighted objective of ‘helping people’ as opposed to ‘helping people help themselves’“ (“The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance,”Ensign, June 1984, 3).

This story is a wonderful example of the inspired humanitarian program of the Church of helping people to be self-reliant. However, it does require the individuals involved to be committed and be prepared to do the hard work if they want the rewards.

There is a common saying about effective humanitarian aid: ”If you give a man a fish he lives for a day, but if you teach him how to fish he lives forever.“

 

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I wanted to piggyback off of that post and talk a little more about some of the principles she discussed but didn’t have the space to expand upon. Today, I’ll talk about education and self-reliance, and in the future, I want to talk more about the principle of agency that Brenda mentioned. (As is always the case, we share our perspectives and understanding here, but do not speak for the Church officially. We do try to point you to official teachings so you can read and consider more on your own about what Mormons believes.)

For today, I will focus on the statement Brenda made, which is that

Our Mormon faith encourages lifelong learning, self-reliance and an emphasis on hard work….

From the time we are young, we as Mormons talke about the importance of education and self-reliance. Consider, for example, the following examples from Church materials.

For LDS girls and boys ages 8-11, we have a goal-setting program, called Faith in God. One of the requirements to complete the program is to “Read D&C 88:77–80, 118 and D&C 130:19. Discuss with a parent or Primary leader how important a good education is….”

A possible Faith in God goal is to “Learn how to budget and save money. Discuss why it is important to faithfully pay our tithing and how Heavenly Father blesses us when we do (see 3 Nephi 24:10–11). Pay your tithing and begin saving for an education.”

Young women ages 12-18 hear a lot about the importance of education and of hard work, both in lessons and also in talks and articles in the youth magazine, The New Era.

I just skimmed over some of these materials to find some examples. From a Young Women lesson on work, we find several meaningful quotes such as this:

The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership.

The young women are encouraged to consider such questions as: “What steps do we need to take now for our future temporal welfare? What attitudes could prevent us from learning to work to care for our own temporal needs?”

The search on the topic of education in The New Era yielded nearly 600 results!

I think the Church’s view about education can be summed up well in the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth:

The welfare program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also underscores how much education, literacy and other facets of self-reliance matter to Mormons.

I think it’s important to note, however, the Mormons don’t look at education as solely a means to an end of getting a career and making money. Of course, being able to provide for one’s family is important, but it’s not the only reason to get an education.

I loved this story about an  address given by Sister Mary N. Cook about the importance of education. She notes that

My professional education has been the solid foundation that has really helped me in everything that has come since….

Getting an education is a very important part of mortality,” Sister Cook said. “It is one of the ways we become more fit for the kingdom [of the Lord]. We have our agency, we can make many choices that will prepare ourselves to be great teachers, parents and leaders. Rarely do we really know or understand what the Lord has in mind for us.”

When I think about Mormon women and education, I think about the wisdom of what I understood Sister Cook to be saying. I believe we (and actually, I think this applies to men as well), are encouraged to view our education not just for our own fulfillment, nor just about getting a good job (although that is, of course, important). I think we can see it as a means to be better instruments in God’s hands, in our homes and family life, in God’s work, and in our communities — in whatever way He directs us to use our skills and knowledge. And I think that there is key: learning to let God direct us in how we use our time and talents, and how and what we learn.

I love the quotes in this visiting teaching message. (Visiting teaching is a program wherein we visit one another and talk about life and gospel principles and try to serve and care for one another.) This simple material captures so much about Mormon belief and life. We care about spiritual learning. We care about secular learning and preparation. We care about formal education, but we also care about lifelong learning. Education is not simply about schooling, but is more a way of life and includes wise use of our time and setting of priorities. Consider this from President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency:

“We will have to make some hard choices of how we use our time. … But remember, you are interested in education, not just for mortal life but for eternal life. When you see that reality clearly with spiritual sight, you will put spiritual learning first and yet not slight the secular learning. …

… And since what we will need to know is hard to discern, we need the help of heaven to know which of the myriad things we could study we would most wisely learn. It also means that we cannot waste time entertaining ourselves when we have the chance to read or to listen to whatever will help us learn what is true and useful. Insatiable curiosity will be our hallmark” (“Education for Real Life,” Ensign, Oct. 2002, 18, 19).

So much to think about there. I also appreciated his thoughts on the topic of education in this article for youth.

This quote from Elder Robert D. Hales included thoughts specific to women who are raising children about cultivating a desire for lifelong learning:

My dear sisters, don’t ever sell yourself short as a woman or as a mother. … Do not let the world define, denigrate, or limit your feelings of lifelong learning and the values of motherhood in the home—both here mortally and in the eternal learning and benefits you give to your children and to your companion.

Lifelong learning is essential to the vitality of the human mind, body, and soul. It enhances self-worth and self-actuation. Lifelong learning is invigorating mentally and is a great defense against aging, depression, and self-doubt (“The Journey of Lifelong Learning,” in Brigham Young University 2008–2009 Speeches [2009], 2, 8–9).

I think there are points in these quotes that underscore how multi-faceted our views on education and learning are as Mormon women, and how they intertwine with how deeply we feel about the roles of wife and mother in God’s plan. Our beliefs about education, self-reliance, and learning involve more than just degrees and careers. They intersect with all that matters to us both in this life and the next, and, as such, demand a lot of us in terms of the choices we make about how to use our time and talents.

So how do Mormon women navigate these choices and the many responsibilities in our lives? As Brenda noted, that is where the principle of agency comes in. And that is a topic for another day. 🙂

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~by Brenda

When I was five years old, my mother took me to a local shoe store to pick out new shoes for Kindergarten. I remember they were white and blue leather hush puppies with unbelievably white laces. I loved them. After purchasing the shoes and guiding my siblings and I into our blue Chevy Malibu we drove home only to find that my new shoes weren’t in the car. My mom was frantic because she suspected that she had put the shoes on the roof of the car to help the kids get into their seat belts. We retraced our way back and forth to the store and back several times to try and find the shoes on the road, but my shoes were gone.

My mother started crying. Hysterically. She said that my Grandma had given her the money for me to get new shoes and that we did not have any money to replace them. I was stunned.

That was the first time I realized that my parents were struggling. I remember hearing tense conversations between my mom and dad from time to time. I watched my dad sell his nice car. Despite these ripples of discontent, my world was still very peaceful. The evidence of my parents’ heartbreak was minimal and was very carefully shielded from us.

Now I know that my Dad’s business had failed and they had lost everything but their home. My mother recalls from this time of her life, “We had no credit. At one point there was only $11 in our account and no hope of money coming in. We survived on our stored canned foods, having no money for fresh fruit or vegetables.”

I still like canned pork and beans and peaches to this day.

My Dad spun his wheels trying to make money for the family. He tried direct sales and was a salesman of solar heating systems for a while. Then he worked for a sign company based in Idaho who had him sell signs in the Bay Area. One day, they called to say they were closing their California office immediately but there were still signs that needed to be installed. My dad, who had never, ever hung a sign before asked, “Can I install those final signs for you?” They said yes. When he came home to tell my mom of his plan told her, “I can do this. I know I can do this.”

Since this tragedy, my parents have lived within their means, worked hard, obtained more education and licensing, built up a savings and live by a budget. (They were probably living this way before, but life can be unfair.) My dad has never driven a car as fancy as the one he sold when I was young and has been diligent in teaching his children the value of work and in maintaining their credit scores.

Decades later, my husband and I now own that same small sign installation company that my dad started on the back of that Chevy Malibu years ago. We have been blessed by my Dad’s willingness to sacrifice for his small family and try something new. (He had previously been a partner in a company where his main function was accounting.) Undoubtedly the principles of self-reliance were taught to my parents by their parents as my parents have taught me. But it is also part of our culture. Mormons believe in being self-reliant.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints hosts a website on the topic of Self-Reliance.

On that website are a few quotes I found helpful;

Self-reliance is a simple concept that encourages each of us to take responsibility for our own needs—physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and economic.

Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society President for the Church explains,

“We become self-reliant, through obtaining sufficient knowledge, education, and literacy; by managing money and resources wisely, being spiritually strong, preparing for emergencies and eventualities; and by having physical health and social and emotional well-being.”

And finally, Robert D. Hales, an apostle of Jesus Christ outlines ways to be self-reliant:

Be ready for rainy-day emergencies
Avoid excessive debt; be content with what we have
Use the resources of the earth wisely; don´t be wasteful
Prepare for the future by making spending and savings plans
Keep a family or personal budget
Teach children wise spending habits and help them save for the future
Obtain an education or vocational training
Find gainful employment

In summary, Elder Hales says that being self reliant is “Preparing for the ups and downs of life.”

To learn more about self-reliance, please visit the church’s websites.

Self Reliance

Provident Living

Family Finance

Such principles as food storage, emergency preparedness, family budgeting and home gardening can be explored at these websites. In my own life, I have found a lot of peace by following these principles. When I review these materials, I always find ways I can improve. Maybe I’ll start a garden this year…… What will you do to prepare for the ups and downs of life?

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I love the principle of food storage, and I love going to the cannery. (If you have ever seen a Mormon’s food storage supply, you have probably seen the #10 cans that we fill and seal when we volunteer at our local canneries.) I love the spirit that is at the cannery — a spirit of industry, unity, obedience. It’s like a beehive, humming with activity. When I work at the cannery, I feel the joy that comes from both service and self-reliance.

There was one time, though, when I found myself wishing I had stayed home.

We were cruising: 50 cans of orange drink, 140 cans of white wheat, many cans of sugar, 50 cans of red wheat….

“How much wheat are you putting in those cans?” the missionary asked the sister across the table from me. [You know the missionaries you see walking two-by-two in the streets? We have older missionaries (usually couples) who serve in the canneries and elsewhere.]

“Five pounds,” was her reply.

He proceeded to tell her that she wasn’t putting enough in. The chart read 5 pounds, 13 ounces. (How did we all miss that?)

A rush of adrenaline surged through my body as I realized what was happening.

“I only put five pounds in the white wheat cans, too,” I confessed. The worst part of it all was that I was the one who had told the sister across from me how much to load.

“You’re kidding?” was all the shocked sister missionary could manage.

I hoped the others at the table had been smarter than I on the white wheat. No such luck.

Suddenly, there was a flurry of activity outside the room as the missionaries huddled together to figure out what to do. The activity in the canning room nearly came to a halt in the meantime.

To say I was embarrassed is an understatement. I was horrified. I heard talk of remeasuring, refilling, redoing. That would mean discarding nearly 200 cans, lids, and oxygen absorbers. That was not exactly a negligible potential loss, one that I felt was largely on my head.

They got us going on sealing carrots. We joked about making sure we had the right weights this time, but it was hard for me to laugh (or to even smile, for that matter). I was fighting back tears as I scooped the crunchy dehydrated tidbits into cans. For all my detail-orientation and hard work, I’d goofed, and goofed pretty badly. (I don’t really need to emphasize how much I hate to goof, do I?)

The sister missionary could tell I was not doing well. She came and put her arm around me, and told me not to worry. (Not worry? How could I not worry?)

But her kindness and love helped. She bore the burden with me, saying that it was as much their fault as mine. (Yeah, well, how hard is it to read a simple chart? Harumph.)

I stayed late to help clean up. Call it self-imposed penance (even as I knew I couldn’t make up for the lost time, effort, and money that I felt had been lost).

As I threw my plastic apron and hairnet into the garbage, I peered through the glass to see one of the sisters who worked in my group, piling cans onto a large dolly. It only took a second to realize what she was doing.

She was cheerfully purchasing every one of those goofed-up cans.

As I looked at her a bit incredulously, she simply said, “Oh, we have our truck out there and we can load it up and I’m sure our ward [local congregation] members will snatch these up in a hurry. Don’t you worry one bit about it.” (She said it as though purchasing nearly 200 cans of wheat was simply like sweeping up a few spilled kernels.)

Even as I think about it, I’m fighting back tears.

If fallible, imperfect people can show the kind of love and mercy that these people showed, what of the love and mercy of our Savior and Heavenly Father?

I think I am glad I didn’t stay home.

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We will soon be posting audio links to these and other talks as well.

• President Thomas S. Monson Joy in the Journey
• Sheri Dew Awake, Arise, and Come Unto Christ
• Jeffrey N. Clayton Turning the MTC into a Review, Not a Revelation
• Lolly S.and Russell T. Osguthorpe A Partnership of Equals: “Neither is the Man without the Woman, Neither the Woman without the Man”
• Ana Maria Coburn Sacred Relationships and Self-Reliance

The post 2008 Women’s Conference Transcripts Available! appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Talk titles (where available) and featured speakers include the following:

Awake, Arise, and Come unto Him by Sheri Dew

“Lay Hold upon Every Good Gift” by Elizabeth Ricks and Barbara Thompson (second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency)

Sacred Relationships and Self-Reliance by Ana Maria Coburn and Silvia H. Allred (first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency)

“Temple Worship Is an Avenue to Exaltation in God’s Kingdom” by Marilyn S. Bateman and Elder Merrill J. Bateman (matron and president of the Provo Utah Temple)

Strengthening Thy Stakes: Standing Strong and Immovable in Faith by Julie B. Beck (general president of the Relief Society)

“My Body Is the Temple My Father Gave to Me”: Teaching Children Virtue and Chastity by Ann Farnsworth and Cheryl C. Lant (General President of the Primary)

A Partnership of Equals: “Neither Is the Man without the Woman, Neither the Woman without the Man” by Lolly Osguthorpe and Russell Osguthorpe (who is an Area Authority Seventy for the area including Brigham Young University (for more information on Area Authority Seventies, see this talk))

Closing Session by President Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Speakers include President Thomas S. Monson, who was the concluding speaker, Julie B. Beck (General Relief Society President), Sheri Dew, Cheryl Lant (General Primary President), Marilyn S. Bateman and Elder Merrill Bateman (now matron and presidehnot, Barbara Thompson and Silvia Allred (counselors in the Relief Society General Presidency), Lolly Osguthorpe and her husband,

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