APRIL STAKE FOCUS
MANAGE MONEY
David Trane
Stake Sunday School President
“Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family. As members become self-reliant, they are also better able to serve and care for others.”
-General Handbook
The Twelve Principles of Self-Reliance
Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ (D&C 104:15)
Use Time Wisely (Alma 34:32)
Be Obedient (D&C 130:20–21)
Manage Money (D&C 104:78)
Work: Take Responsibility (D&C 42:42; 2 Nephi 2:16, 26)
Solve Problems (Ether 2:18–19, 23; 3:1, 4)
Become One, Work Together (Moses 7:18; D&C 104:15–17)
Communicate: Petition and Listen (D&C 8:2)
Persevere (Hebrews 12:1; D&C 58:4)
Show Integrity (Mosiah 4:28; Job 27:5; Articles of Faith 1:13)
Seek Learning and Education (D&C 88:118–119)
Stay On Task, Receive Ordinances (D&C 84:20; 1 Nephi 18:2–3)
It is important to understand that temporal laws have an underlying spiritual foundation to support them. Potentially more significant, spiritual laws help us live more successfully within our temporal existence.
In conjunction with our monthly topic for April, I remembered an article I read a few years back about a janitor who quietly built an $8 million dollar fortune. Maybe for selfish reasons I was curious how someone on a relatively low income could amass such a large fortune. What I learned from the article was not a list of tips or tricks to securing a fortune but how to live a happy and fulfilled life - that underlying spiritual nugget. To spin the phrase; "the end justifies the means" into the end of this story justifies why Ronald Read did it. Upon Ronald's death, his closest family and friends had no idea he had created that kind of wealth. They only knew when they learned he had donated most of it to his local library and hospital.
Some of the many spiritual principles gleaned from examining Ronald's life were he worked hard, he owned functional not extravagant items including his car and home, he saved, he invested a little at a time, he did not want wealth to show others how important he was, he knew his own self worth; just to name a few.
The Lord has given plenty of direction on financial matters, even incorporating financial situations into some of His parables. Why should we pay tithing? Is it for the blessings we hope to receive or is it show gratitude for all of the gifts He has already granted us? He has commanded us to "pay all your debts" in D&C104:78. Is that so we don't end up in a tight spot with the law, or is it so we think before we go into debt, or do we take responsibility for our actions and thus learn from imperfect judgment?
I have seen friends destroy their marriages, their lives, their children's lives because they could not discipline themselves to manage their finances. We can all learn from the janitor on minimum wage - Doing things for the right reasons, to develop the right character, to become the eternal being we were intended to become.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
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