Resources

Self-Reliance Resource Centers

Stakes are encouraged to establish self-reliance resource centers in a Church building, often sharing a location with a family history center. Self-reliance resource centers are staffed by Church-service missionaries and volunteers and provide Internet access, mentoring, and other helpful resources to job seekers, the self-employed, and prospective students.

Self-Reliance Groups

A self-reliance group meeting uses a council model and is different from most Church classes, lessons, and workshops. There are no teachers or trainers. Instead, group members counsel together, learn together, mentor each other, commit to act on what they are learning, and hold each other accountable for commitments. This group mentoring and counseling process, together with the workbooks and videos, creates a dynamic learning environment that strengthens each member in his or her progress toward a self-reliant life.

Stake or ward leaders call self-reliance specialists to organize and facilitate self-reliance groups. Group facilitators are not teachers; instead they help the group follow the self-reliance process as outlined in the manuals. Facilitators will need occasional access to the Internet and a way to show videos in group meetings. Leaders may form as many groups and call as many specialists as needed. Group members may be asked to facilitate if needed. Each group meets at least 12 times for two hours each session and consists of 8 to 14 members. Groups can meet in stake self-reliance resource centers, Church buildings, or other appropriate locations convenient for the members.

Local leaders determine which of the following groups are needed in their units.

1. Starting and Growing My Business groups help people start or improve their own business. These groups replace the Self-Employment Workshop.

2. My Job Search groups help people find new or better work. These groups replace the Career Workshop.

3. Education for Better Work groups help people identify an educational path to increase their income. These groups replace Planning for Success.

As part of each group, members also study 12 doctrinal topics on self-reliance from the booklet My Foundation: Principles, Skills, Habits.

How can I measure the self-reliance progress of the members in my ward or stake?

As you help your ward or stake progress toward self-reliance, consider periodically measuring the number of members who:

1. Are identified by bishops as not being self-reliant.

2. Have completed My Path.

3. Have completed My Foundation.

4. Have started a business, a good job, or an educational program.

Church Employee Support and Preferred Resource Lists

The Church employs people in each area to assist the self-reliance effort. These include an area self-reliance manager (ASRM), a self-reliance operations manager, Self-Reliance Services managers, and other staff. These employees help coordinate the needs of stake self-reliance resource centers and provide stakes with resources and training. These resources may include mentors, lists of Preferred Programs and Schools, local job opportunities, and names of financing organizations for capital to start businesses.

Self-Reliance Website

More information for leaders and members is available at srs.lds.org.

Leader and Clerk Resources

The Adult Member Self-Reliance Tool can support bishops as they identify and focus on members who lack the necessities of life. This resource can be accessed at leader.lds.org/self-reliance.

My Path to Self-Reliance Devotionals

Stakes or wards hold regular My Path to Self-Reliance devotionals. This devotional starts members on the path to self-reliance by helping them understand the doctrinal importance of self-reliance, assess their current level of self-reliance, determine the skills and income needed to become temporally self-reliant, and select the self-reliance group that will help them reach that goal. The My Path to Self-Reliance booklet facilitates this process. The assessment can also be done individually, with a priesthood leader, with a self-reliance specialist, in a self-reliance resource center, or in other settings. Watch “How to Use My Path” at srs.lds.org/videos.

Training Videos

Watch the following videos online at srs.lds.org/videos.

Audience	Video Title
Leaders	I Will Provide for My Saints
	The Stake Self-Reliance Committee
	The Stake Self-Reliance Committee Meeting
	Stake Self-Reliance Specialists
	Helping Ward Councils
	How to Form Self-Reliance Groups
	Laboring unto Self-Reliance
	My Foundation videos (12)
Facilitators	My Purpose
	How to Facilitate a Group
	How to: Prepare
	How to Lead: My Foundation
	How to Lead: Report
	How to Lead: Learn
	How to Lead: Ponder
	How to Lead: Commit
	How to: Manage Meetings
	“Go and Do” Learning

Feedback Welcome

Please submit your ideas, feedback, suggestions, and experiences at [e-mail] or srs.lds.org/feedback.

Group Materials

Materials, videos, and training are available on the Gospel Library mobile application and online at srs.lds.org. Materials can also be ordered from Church distribution centers.

My Path to Self-Reliance

All participants begin with this booklet to determine their current level of self-reliance and decide which group will help them become self-reliant. Groups include self-employment, job search, and education.

My Foundation: Principles, Skills, Habits

Members of all three groups use this booklet each meeting to discuss and apply essential spiritual principles of self-reliance.

Starting and Growing My Business

For those who have a business or want to start one. Group members practice record keeping, marketing, and cash management. They also test ways to increase their income through small business experiments.

My Job Search

For those who have the skills to get a good job. Group members get a job by identifying opportunities, networking, presenting themselves powerfully, and preparing for interview questions. Participating in this group results in getting a job.

Education for Better Work

For those who need education or training to get a good job or start a business. Group members identify work that will help them become self-reliant and then find a school or program (including Pathway) that leads to that work. Participating in this group results in a school plan and PEF loan (if needed).

Group members who complete the requirements in My Foundation and Starting and Growing My Business may be eligible to receive certificates from LDS Business College.