Post # 83 – Lesson #3 Personal Finances for Self-Reliance Week # 3

Dear Family and Friends

Hey, how is everyone today? I hope these stormy days are not getting you down. Remember that we need the moisture for the crops to grow in the Spring. And Spring is just around the corner😊 I have had some really long days this week at work. But they have been good productive days with my students. I love it when they are so excited about a project or a topic we are studying. They are the cutest! 

They want to learn so much and are so curious about so many things. They will all just stand around me while I look up oh, I don’t know – the other day it was what kind of bug we saw, or what was the name of the shark they were playing with – they are like little sponges they are soaking up everything. That’s why it is so important to teach them what’s most important while they are young.

This week in my personal finances class, out focus was on paying tithes and offerings FIRST! Then you pay everything else. I have experienced this in my life, and it is so very true. Pay the Lord first, then pay yourself – put something into savings, then pay everything else. Remember my analogy of the glass pickle jar – the gallon size, and the giant rock – which I used to represent Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, all of the smaller or various sized rocks, pebbles, and sand representing all of the other things in your life. Well, guess what? 

They used that same analogy in this week’s lesson Excerpt they used the large rock to represent tithes and offerings. The other rocks, pebbles and sand represent all of your other bills each month. If you put the large rock in first all of the other rock, pebbles and sand will fit, but if you put all of the other rocks, pebbles, and sand in first then you will not have room for the large rock!  I think it makes the best sense to pay your tithes and offerings first – put the large rock in first, just as I told you before about when the large rock represented our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ – They want us to pay our tithes and offerings first. And so, we should😊

It has been my experience that as long as I pay my tithes and offerings first all other bills and such are taken care of. The Lord has helped me to find a way to make everything work out. You just have to put your total trust in Him. You may be prompted to get a little creative about your spending habits. You may need to sell some things that you don’t need anymore. You may need to cut back on some things that you like to have but do not absolutely have to have😊 You know, whatever you are prompted by the Holy Ghost to do. Heavenly Father will take care of you and your family.

As we do each week, we reviewed what we had committed to do during the previous week:

1.       Sharing the My Foundation Principle:

2.       What patterns or habits have you discovered while tracking your expenses – It has been interesting to listen to everyone as they have shared their experiences.

3.       What did you learn from your family council? – I only have my granddaughter to counsel with.

4.       What did you learn from the financial assessment?

5.       How is working with an action partner helping you? It has been a really good thing for me as they usually help keep me on track.

Something we were all asked to ponder: How are repentance and obedience connected to self-reliance? Then we watched a video “Obedience Brings Blessings” which is available at srs.led.org/videos

President Thomas S Monson: What a glorious promise! He that keepeth [God’s] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth al things.” Doctrine and Covenants 93:28. My brothers and sisters, the great test of this life is obedience. “We will prove them herewith” said the Lord, “to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” Abraham 3:25. Declared the Savior, “ For a; who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world” Doctrine and Covenants 132:5. 

No greater example of obedience exists than that of our Savior. Of Him, Paul observed: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” Hebrews 5:8-9. The Savior demonstrated genuine love of God by living the perfect life, by honoring the sacred mission that was His. Never was He haughty. Never was He puffed up with pride. Never was He disloyal. Ever was He humble. Ever was He sincere. Ever was He obedient. When faced with the agony of Gethsemane, where He endured such pain that “his sweat was as t were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” Luke 22:44. 

He exemplified the obedient Son by saying, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done” Luke 22:42. As the Savior instructed His early Apostles, so He instructs you and me, :Follow thou me: john 21:22.  Are we willing to obey the Lord’s commandments. I quote once again the words of the Lord: “He that keepeth [God’s] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things” Doctrine and Covenants 93:28. It is my humble prayer that we may be blessed with the rich rewards promised to the obedient. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen. (Obedience Brings Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 89m 82).

What blessings have you received by obeying God’s laws? I have received many blessings throughout the years because of being obedient to the commandments of the Lord. Since this lesson is about tithing, I will share of blessings from my paying tithing first each pay day. I have found that when I forget to pay my tithing first, I am always short by the end of the month. When I pay it first everything seems to work out each month.

How does repentance help us progress? Repentance helps us to stay closer to our Heavenly Father so that we can receive the promptings from the Holy Ghost. Once we have repented, we have been forgiven, and we then become worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. With the companionship of the Holy Ghost we can then receive the promptings from the Lord through the Holy Ghost.

We then read Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21 which reads as follows: “there is a law irrevocably decreed upon which all blessings are predicated.”

Then we read a quote from the Prophet Joseph Smith: “I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it?” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 160.

Here’s an activity that we did – are you ready? Obedience to specific laws leads to specific blessings. Step 1: draw two columns on your paper, got it? Now write down some blessings you desire in the left column. Step 2: identify which laws or principles you will need to obey in order to receive the blessings you desire.

LAWS OR PRINCIPLES TO OBEY	BLESSINGS I WANT TO RECEIVE
Tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:10–12)	Three months of savings
Follow a budget

I hope that by making this graph it helps you to better visualize what I am sharing with you😊

We read Joshua 3:5 and quotes by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and President Spencer W. Kimball as follows:

“Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” JOSHUA 3:5

“The Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them. . . . He will help you repent, repair, fix whatever you have to fix, and keep going. Soon enough you will have the success you seek.” JEFFREY R. HOLLAND, “Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 126

“If we like luxuries or even necessities more than we like obedience, we will miss the blessings which he would like to give us.” SPENCER W.  KIMBALL,  in The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 212

Why do we need to repent, sanctify ourselves, and try to do good as we seek to become self-reliant?

As we repent each week, we are worthy to take the sacrament. We are worthy for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. And if we do our best to follow the Lord’s plan to become self-reliant I have faith that we will prosper and our lives will be better because we will be blessed by the Lord for our efforts.

The lord will meet us where we are and lift us up. He will accept our honest efforts to do His will and to change our lives to align our lives to His will. He will bless us as we continue moving forward, following His will for our lives. I know this to be true and I have experienced it.

 

	5	CONTINUE TO GIVE AND TO BLESS OTHERS Teach your children • Lift the poor • Press forward in Christ	B
W	4	SAVE AND INVEST FOR THE FUTURE Savings, home ownership, education, retirement	U
O	3	ELIMINATE DEBT	D
R	2	PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM HARDSHIP 1-month emergency fund, 3- to 6-months’ savings, insurance	G
K	1	PAY TITHES AND OFFERINGS	E
	Foundation	FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST * UNITY WITH SPOUSE * COMMITMENT TO SELF-RELIANCE	T

FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP SUCCESS MAP

Well, this is my version of our financial stewardship map or our financial house. I had a roof all made, but it would not show up in the blog. forgive me for not knowing how to do that😊 I made the five levels anyway (without the roof) so that I could fit ‘budget’ into the right wall😊 I hope my visual is helpful.

We had a discussion about this question: why do you think that: pay tithes and offerings” is the first layer in the Financial Stewardship Map? I believe that when we pay the Lord first everything else will be worked out for the best good of you and your family. The Lord doesn’t need our money. It is a test of our obedience to Hi commandment to pay our tithes and offerings. 



Then we read the following:

Church members have been counseled to pay their tithes and offerings before paying other expenses, even necessities. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “The payment of tithing is a test of priorities” (“Tithing,’ Ensign, May 1994, 35). As you show God your priorities, you will unlock greater opportunities for Him to bless you. The scriptures often emphasize that things must be done in order. (For examples, see 1 Corinthians 14:40, Mosiah 4:27, and Doctrine and Covenants 93:43.) President Heber J. Grant taught, … God has given them wisdom whereby they have been able to utilize the remaining nine-tenths, and it has been if greater value to them, and they have accomplished more with it than they would if they had not been honest with the Lord” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1812, 30).

1.       Change Your Approach to Managing Money -- In order to pay tithes and offerings first, it may be necessary to change your general approach to managing money. Taking care of current living expenses can often overwhelm our ability to save for the future and build financial security. Many people follow this approach to financial stewardship: they pay for immediate needs like food, shelter, transportation, and health care first, while intending to save money and pay tithing with what is left.

COMMON APPROACH

1.       We receive money.

2.       We pay for our current needs and wants.

3.       We pay tithing or save a little, but only if we have money left over.

While this practice may be very common, there is a better approach to financial stewardship: when you receive your income, first pay your tithing and offerings and then set aside money for your future self – even if it is just a little bit. Then, use the rest of what is left *the majority of your income) to pay for your living expenses.

SELF RELIANT APPROACH

1.       Receive money or income

2.       Pay tithes and offerings

3.       Build financial security

4.       Pay current living expenses

I have made a graph comparison for you to visualize below.

COMMON APPROACH	SELF-RELIANT APPROACH
Receive income	Receive income
Pay current living expenses We pay our bills first.	Pay tithes and offerings We are paying the Lord First.
Pay tithes and offerings We pay this next – if we have money left.	Build financial security We are paying ourselves next.
Build financial security We pay this only if we have money left.	Pay current living expenses We pay our bills last.

Why do you think so many people end up taking the more common approach to financial stewardship?

I believe people may choose the more common approach when they are not familiar with the financial approach the Lord would have us follow. Then when they are familiar with it or have just been shown it – maybe they do not have enough faith and have not put their trust completely in the Lord. I have been there, and I do understand how it is when we are taught or shown a new way to do something. Remember it takes twenty-one days to make something a habit. So maybe it will take us twenty-one times to make this a habit.

Do you remember the image I gave you of the pickle jar, the giant rock, the other various sizes of rocks, the pebbles, and the sand?  

This image is to show the wisdom of setting money aside first for the Lord and for our future self (See Steven R, Covey, A, Roger Merrill, and Rebecca R. Merrill, First Things First: To Live, To Love, To Learn, to Leave a Legacy [1994], 88-89). The jar represents our income: a resource of limited size. We each have jars of different sizes, but the principle discussed here is the same for everyone. The rocks and the sand, when placed in the jar, represent the ways we can use our money. 

In this example, the big and small rocks represent our long-term priorities – setting aside money for the Lord and our Future self – and the sand represents our current needs and wants. Let’s place the items into the jar using the more common approach to financial stewardship.

Notice that when you pour the sand in first, there is not enough room for the rocks to all fit in. Now let’s place the items in the jar using the more self-reliant approach to financial stewardship.

Did you notice that if you place the rocks in first, there is still room for all of the sand? Have you ever tried this experiment? It is one thing to hear it from someone else it is quite another thing if you do the experiment yourself.

As we continue through these classes, we will learn together how to be taking the more self-reliant approach to financial stewardship😊 like with all new things when you first try them, following this self-reliant approach may seem a bit uncomfortable at first, it will help us to better prepare for our future. Remember that it is a natural thing to worry that you may not have enough money for your current needs if you pay tithing first – I felt that way at first as well and put money in savings for our future self, first. You must remember that in taking this approach it is a test of your faith.

“A wise bishop once told a nervous new convert, “If paying tithing means that you can’t pay for the water or electricity, pay tithing. If paying tithing means you can’t pay your rent, pay tithing. If paying tithing means that you don’t have enough money to feed your family, pay tithing. The Lord will not abandon you” (in Aaron L. West, “Sacred Transformations,” Ensign, Dec. 2012, 38).

As you have been tracking your expenses, you have likely also received income. Consider how you currently manage your money and how you can improve to pay tithing and your future self, first.

One of our commitments this past week was to apply these principles and to continue to track our income and expenses during the week. While taking the self-reliant approach to financial stewardship requires exercising faith in Jesus Christ, it also requires applying proper financial skills. Next week, we will begin mastering the skill of properly using a budget, which will help us to take control of our spending and stretch our money to pay for all of our expenses.

 How does this jar example relate to paying tithing and saving money? Why did everything fit in the jar the second time? How is putting rocks in the jar first an example of showing faith?

How can paying tithing and saving money first change your life? I have had experience with paying my tithing and offerings first, but I don’t believe that I have ever actually taken money out of my check to put it into savings before I have paid my bills – which is probably why my savings is not adequate for my needs were an emergency to happen☹ I do have a method for saving money and it works fairly well for me, but I am betting that if I do it the Lord’s way it will be much better.

Here’s another quote: “The law of tithing is simple,” taught President James E. Faust of the First Presidency. “We pay one-tenth of our individual increase annually. Increase has been interpreted by the First Presidency to mean income. What amounts to 10 percent of our individual income is between each of us and our Maker. . . . As a convert in Korea once said: ‘With tithing, it doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor. . . . If you make lots of money, you pay 10 percent. If you make very little, you still pay 10 percent’” (“Opening the Windows of Heaven,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 59).

We also watched a video about the Widow of Zarephath. Which you can find here: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-12-016-widow-of-zarephath

Why did the widow of Zarephath give her last meal to the prophet Elijah?  Because she trusted in the Prophet and the promise, he gave her from the Lord. This was a test of her faith, just as our paying tithes and offerings is for us. Could you have done that? That would definitely be a test of faith – to feed a stranger prophet or to feed your child and yourself.  I think I could, but I don’t think I would have been able to do so years ago. Why or why not? I think where my spiritual roots of faith have reached deep down, I now have the foundation that I need, the faith that I need to be able to do something lie this. Years ago, I did not have such deep roots to my faith, maybe I didn’t even have any faith back then.

WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH The widow of Zarephath, who was among the poorest of the poor, was actually a very self-reliant person in the middle of her starving, drought-stricken land. Now, you may recall, she was about to run out of food and was gathering sticks to build a fire to cook one last meal. That seems like the opposite of self-reliant. But so deep were her spiritual roots of self-reliance, that when a prophet of God asked for her last portions of food, “she went and did according to the saying of Elijah” (1 Kings 17:15). The scriptures tell us that after she used her last grain to feed the prophet, “the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail” (verse 16), and “she, and he, and her house, did eat many days” (verse 15). She was about to run out of food, but she did not—not because she had enough money, but because she had enough faith. As we do our best to live the gospel and do all that we can to support ourselves, the Lord will reward our faith and hard work.

The law of tithing has been around since Old Testament times. In Malachi, we read that if we pay our tithing, the Lord will open the “windows of heaven” unto us (see Malachi 3:10). Elder David A. Bednar taught, “The imagery of the ‘windows’ of heaven used by Malachi is most instructive. Windows allow natural light to enter into a building. In like manner, spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing. . . . We may need and pray for help to find suitable employment. . . . The spiritual gift of enhanced discernment [can] empower us to identify job opportunities that many other people might overlook. . . . We may appropriately desire and work to receive a pay raise in our employment to better provide the necessities of life. . . . [Or in some cases] we might want and expect a larger paycheck, but the blessing that comes to us through heavenly windows may be greater capacity to act and change our own circumstances rather than expecting our circumstances to be changed by someone or something else” (“The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 18).




PAYING TITHES AND OFFERINGS

The Law of the Fast

 “A proper fast day observance typically includes abstaining from food and drink for two consecutive meals in a 24-hour period, attending fast and testimony meeting, and giving a generous fast offering to help care for those in need” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010] 21.1.17). Fast offerings are used to help the poor and those in need. Giving a generous fast offering will also increase our own capacity to be self-reliant. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught, “I bear witness of the miracles, both spiritual and temporal, that come to those who live the law of the fast. . . . Cherish that sacred privilege at least monthly and be as generous as circumstances permit in your fast offering and other humanitarian, educational, and missionary contributions. I promise that God will be generous to you, and those who find relief at your hand will call your name blessed forever” (“Are We Not All Beggars?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 42).

 In what ways has spiritual illumination (or personal inspiration) guided you to change your own circumstances? I moved my children across the country so that they would be able to see their father more often and our family could be whole again.

 What can you do to improve your fasting? I need to remember that it is fast Sunday – when it is fast Sunday. I don’t have a problem fasting when I need an answer, or I am making a decision, or I am fasting for someone else’s benefit. But when it comes down to once a month fast-Sunday fasting I truly do struggle. I can begin my fast after lunch on Saturday and then forget I am fasting by breakfast time☹ I do keep trying to be better at my monthly fast – every month I try it again, and again!

During your family council this coming week, discuss the benefit of paying tithing and setting some money aside for savings immediately after receiving your income. Determine with your spouse how to improve your fasting. If you are like me and not familiar with having a family council, you may want to use the “Sample Family Council Discussion” outline below:

SAMPLE FAMILY COUNCIL DISCUSSION

Be sure to begin and end with a prayer to invite the Spirit.

Part 1: Review ○ Are you paying a full and honest tithe?

○ Are you giving a generous fast offering?

○ How are you doing with tracking your income and expenses?

 Part 2: Plan ○ What can you do to pay a full and honest tithe?

○ What do you consider to be a generous fast offering?

○ How can you improve your fasting?

 ○ How can you adopt the self-reliant approach to financial stewardship?

At home one evening after a group meeting, my wife and I determined to start setting aside money for savings before we paid for our current living expenses. She spoke with someone at our credit union the next day, and they told her they could automatically route a portion of each direct deposit paycheck into checking and another portion—whatever amount we decided upon—into savings. Now every time I get paid, it automatically routes to separate accounts. It was so easy! Saving money now isn’t even something we have to think about!

The last question was for each of us Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, . . . and prove me herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10–12).

I hope you don’t mind my using so much of the lesson. I could not have worded it any better to help each one of you to understand it all. I want you to remember that the Lord will bless you as you are doing your best to live His gospel and keep His commandments. I have seen it and experienced those blessings in my life for many years. 



I am far from being perfect at this, I am just learning along with you. The Lord knows our heart and our mind. He knows each one of us and He loves each one of us.  He doesn’t give us commandments to restrict us – I believe He gives them to us to help us to progress in this life and to prepare for the life to come.

I guess I am at the end of this lesson. I hope and pray that each one of you will give this some thought and give the Lord’s way of being Self-reliant because I know that it will bless each one of us as we make these changes in our lives. I know that I have some changes to make as well. We can do this together😊

Until my next post, keep studying your scriptures and continue following my blog and learning and growing with me and especially growing with your relationship with the Lord. He is the most important relationship I have ever had, and it has been well worth all the effort that I have put into building my relationship with Him. He has always been there for me, and I know that He will be there for each one of you as well. As always, make it a great week!