My wife and I had the opportunity yesterday (Sunday – asked by our Bishop) to share information with the adults of our ward on the ‘Self Reliance Initiative’ now launched in North America. Profoundly successful, it has had a proactive blessing in the lives of many (multitudes!) to bring financial and spiritual stability into the lives of individuals and families in 3rd world countries. The whole purpose over those weeks facilitated new habits/disciplines with an end result in favor of (not only the subject at hand but) a much closer relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. It works!
Now launched in North America, we were blessed to facilitate and be a part of the group meeting in our home (it was not about my wife and me, it’s about the group, thus facilitating is something even a young teenager has done). There are currently four subjects with more to come. Our group theme was ‘personal finance’, something we felt we had ‘a handle on’ but learned so much more in those wonderful 12 weeks.
From my notes for yesterday: “This was different from secular opportunities that cover the same subject because:
Each session/lesson is opened and closed with prayer… the Lord is very much in this! Prayer is part of the new and increased discipline! and equals strong feelings from the Spirit as the honest in heart, together, seek to do the Lord’s will. (In church meetings and activities we are used to opening and closing with prayer and as soon as we gather as a group with this specific (in this case consistent) purpose, the spirit is there powerfully.)
Our Stake President was in the meeting, spoke briefly sharing from D&C 88:118: “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” President then spoke of the history / discovery through the one on one Perpetual Education approach and the differences/advantages of a group approach to the same concerns.
Those in a group soon become involved, strengthened, blessed, because of discussion in that Spirit filled setting. There is a definite feeling of pro-active energy since the Lord is there, too! With Him involved, we come to ‘own’ our personal progress into new disciplines / habits. (In a secular program not necessarily so.)
Asked to embrace certain principles, we follow up by the return and report principle — simply marking a chart regarding the previous weeks suggested commitments. (Since everyone does this, no one is ‘put on the spot’–the Spirit is there with promptings.) In open discussion we bounce ideas off of one another. The lives of members in the group provide a ‘wealth’ of resourceful answers and input.
So… we all have an opportunity to embark on a sweet journey, strongly encouraged by our Stake President. He, our own local General Authority has asked us to do this, yet it also comes from the First Presidency … to embrace this initiative, take the time, have the patience and follow the instructions, commitments, patterns, to make the most of this. Rich blessings await those who so follow.
We might have a tendency in our busy lives, to yawn, to not give heed to what they ask of us, to say my life’s in order, I have it all together, or this would be a waste of my time. Becky and I had some misgivings about the time commitment and energy asked to complete it. We have our agency. However, in not doing as though encouraged of the Lord Himself, we may not have the necessary needed skill sets and discipline in place that would see us through tougher times to come. It is simple and been noted by our leaders over many decades… we follow our ordained/sustained leaders now in things as simple as this and we will be ready to follow them in tougher times ahead. The converse is also true… follow a habit of dismissing suggestions/encouragement from our leaders now and that will be the place we default to when times get tough.
Such difficulties have been prophesied by ancient prophets and now prophets/leaders of these latter days, including our current leaders!
kdm
