“The purpose of both temporal and spiritual self-reliance is to get ourselves on higher ground so that we can lift others in need.” —Elder Robert D. Hales

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers local self-reliance courses, where congregation members with valuable life experience can share what they’ve learned with others. The things taught in these courses represent a broad spectrum of life skills and helpful programs.

Managing your money is a crucial part of becoming self-reliant. That includes staying out of unnecessary debt, living within your means, budgeting, and saving for a rainy day. (In other words, don’t buy things you can’t afford.) Being financially responsible might not mean you get all the nicest things in life, but the stability you’ll get instead is priceless.

It’s hard to provide for your family if you don’t have steady employment. Self-reliance courses can help you with job search skills like writing a resume, finding job leads, networking, and preparing for interviews. Learn more here.

Parlez-vous français? ¿Hablas español? How’s your English? Wherever you live, if you don’t speak the language, you might have trouble finding the right job. Courses can help you learn or become proficient in a second language, removing a difficult barrier on the road to self-reliance. 

In addition to being emotionally prepared for challenges, it pays to be physically prepared too. For decades, Church leaders have taught the importance of being prepared by setting aside enough food, water, and other emergency supplies to sustain your family in the event of an unforeseen disaster, large or small. 

Around the world, many people have the desire, drive, and intelligence to do great things, but they still need a hand to escape poverty. Enter the Perpetual Education Fund, which provides loans for hardworking young Latter-day Saint adults so they can gain an education, get good jobs, and pay back their loans so the fund can keep helping people for generations to come.