Self-Reliance Courses
Build Skills for a Better Future
By becoming more self-reliant, you can better manage life’s challenges, achieve your goals, and enhance your ability to serve others.
The Church offers several self-reliance courses to help you live a better life, strengthen your faith, and deepen your love for the Lord. Participating in these courses can help you develop essential skills in financial management, education, career development, emotional resilience, and spiritual growth.
What Self-Reliance Courses Are Available?
The Church’s self-reliance courses combine spiritual principles with practical skills to help individuals and families become more self-reliant. Participants can join small groups or complete a course individually to help them gain valuable tools for both temporal and spiritual growth. The Church currently offers the following self-reliance courses:
Why Should I Participate in a Self-Reliance Course?
Everyone faces challenges in this life that include stress and emotional strain. Whether it’s dealing with work pressures, family responsibilities, finances, or unexpected life events, these stressors can affect on our mental and emotional well-being. However, there is hope. By learning essential life skills and lessons through self-reliance courses, you can build a better life filled with more hope, peace, and happiness.
Here are some of the ways the Self-Reliance courses can help you:
1. Develop Emotional Resilience: Learn to manage stress and build emotional strength.
2. Enhance Problem-Solving Skills: Gain strategies for tackling challenges and making decisions.
3. Deepen Faith: Foster faith in God, developing trust in His guidance to help strengthen you to overcome your challenges.
4. Strengthen Relationships: Improve communication and conflict resolution skills.
5. Improve Financial Literacy: Learn about managing money, budgeting, saving, and avoiding debt.
6. Foster Personal Growth: Set and achieve meaningful goals and develop new talents.
7. Cultivate a Positive Mindset: Practice gratitude, cultivate mindfulness, and maintain a hopeful outlook.
By participating in self-reliance classes, you can gain the tools and knowledge needed to build a better life. You will learn how to navigate life with more confidence and grace, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life filled with hope. For more information, check out the video My Self-Reliance Group.
What to Expect in a Self-Reliance Group
Self-reliance courses function in small groups of participants and can be helpful and powerful. The groups are usually less than 12 people and are available both in person and online. The program is offered to the community at no cost by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
What makes these groups so successful is that participants:
- Learn together
- Encourage each other
- Counsel together
- Commit to act on what is learned
- Hold each other accountable
Find a Self-Reliance Course Near You
Interested in taking a self-reliance course? See if one is available online or in your area. It’s easy to register, and the courses are free!
Stories of Self-Reliance
Self-reliance groups combine practical skills with spiritual principles to help you improve your life. Listen to stories of people whose lives have been impacted by being a part of a self-reliance group.
Commonly Asked Questions: Self-Reliance Courses
Are there any costs associated with courses?
All self-reliance classes are free of charge! They aim to help individuals develop key life skills, build self-reliance, and deepen faith in God. Anyone is welcome to attend, and you are also welcome to invite friends and family to join you.
What is a self-reliance group like? What should I expect?
Self-reliance courses meet in small, supportive groups that meet weekly for 8-12 weeks. Groups often meet at local meetinghouses, in homes, or online. Each meeting usually lasts between 90-120 minutes. Participants engage in class activities, receive feedback, and encourage each other to improve.
Who teaches the courses?
Compassionate and caring facilitators lead the self-reliance course groups. Although facilitators are not licensed professionals, the self-reliance course manuals offer expert insights and a well-researched framework for personal development. The discussions, group support, and inspiration from the Spirit of God can make each class engaging and filled with positive energy.
What should I bring to the course?
Most of the materials needed for the class will be provided, but you can bring something to take notes with, such as a pen and notebook.
Where can I find a course or group to attend?
Self-reliance courses are offered in person or virtually worldwide. Local congregations and organizations of the Church sponsor them. Check the Find a Course page to find Self-Reliance classes currently available.
Where can I get a course manual?
In-person group participants are usually given a manual during the first meeting. For online groups, your facilitator can provide a link to the online manual, or you can download your manual. Manuals can also be accessed from the Gospel Library mobile app or ordered from the Church’s online store.
What if I miss a meeting?
Let the facilitator know that you plan to miss a meeting. Review the material for that week and try to do the homework. Check in with an action partner or facilitator, even when you miss a meeting.
What if a course is not available to me?
If a class is unavailable, contact your local Church leaders about creating a group.