From YA Weekly
Practical and Spiritual Blessings: Promises from Our Leaders about Becoming Self-Sufficient
Heavenly Father has blessings in store for us as we become capable and independent.
The phrase self-reliance might not always make us want to jump for joy.
It can bring to mind things like budgeting, paying bills, or getting a job, all of which can be stressful topics. But making sacrifices now to develop self-reliance is actually one of the best ways to take care of ourselves. It can help us in all the aspects of our lives—emotional, temporal, and spiritual.
Here are some words from our inspired leaders about the blessings of self-reliance:
Emotional Blessings
“We need to remember that if we do the easy things today, we will have to do the difficult things in the future, but if we, on the contrary, determine to do the difficult things today, our future may most likely be brighter and easier.”
Elder Frederick Kamya, Area Seventy, “Becoming Self-Reliant,” Liahona, Sept. 2023, Africa Central Local Pages, Gospel Library.
“You will be blessed with greater hope, peace, and progress.”
Personal Finances for Self-Reliance (2016), Gospel Library.
“The principle of self-reliance or personal independence is fundamental to the happy life.”
President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015), “Solving Emotional Problems in the Lord’s Own Way,” Ensign, May 1978, 91.
Temporal Blessings
“As we seek to become temporally prepared, we can face the trials of life with increased confidence, peace in our hearts, and like Joseph in Egypt, we will be able to say, even in stressful circumstances, ‘There was bread’ [Genesis 41:54].”
Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, “There Was Bread,” Liahona, Nov. 2020, 45.
“As we increase our own level of self-reliance, we increase our ability to help and serve others the way the Savior did.”
Sister Silvia H. Allred, former First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, “The Essence of Discipleship,” Liahona, May 2011, 85.
“Blessings come as we obey the counsel of the prophets and live within our means, avoid unnecessary debt, and set aside sufficient of life’s necessities to sustain ourselves and our families for at least a year. This may not always be easy, but let us do our ‘very best,’ and our stores shall not fail—there shall be ‘enough and to spare’ [Doctrine and Covenants 104:17].”
Bishop Keith B. McMullin, former Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, “Be Prepared … Be Ye Strong from Henceforth,” Liahona, Nov. 2005, 12.
Spiritual Blessings
“The more self-reliant we are—temporally, emotionally, and spiritually—the more prepared we are to thwart Satan’s relentless assaults.”
President Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith,” Liahona, Nov. 2020, 75.
“Striving to be self-reliant is part of our work along the covenant path that leads us back to Heavenly Father and to His Son, Jesus Christ. It will strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and joyfully bind us to Him through the covenants and ordinances of salvation and exaltation.”
Elder Hugo E. Martinez of the Seventy, “Teaching Self-Reliance to Children and Youth,” Liahona, May 2022, 95.
“If we do our part, He will step in. He who descended below all things will come to our aid. He will comfort and uphold us. He will strengthen us in our weakness and fortify us in our distress. He will make weak things become strong. All we need to do is pray then do our best, our very best each day, and leave the rest in His own hands.”
Elder Frederick Kamya, Area Seventy, “Becoming Self-Reliant,” Liahona, Sept. 2023, Africa Central Local Pages, Gospel Library.
Rely on Christ
Your efforts to be self-reliant will bring you great blessings and allow you to rejoice later because of the preparations you’ve made today.
As you work to increase your self-reliance, remember who you can safely rely on. Elder Ricardo P. Giménez of the Seventy testified, “I know that if we make our best effort and rely upon Jesus Christ and His Atonement as our refuge, we will be blessed with the relief, comfort, strength, temperance, and peace that we are seeking.’”
Above all, choose to rely on the Savior. He will never fail you.