Handbooks and Callings
7: What Resources and Tools Can Help Me Progress?

“7: What Resources and Tools Can Help Me Progress?” My Plan for Returned Missionaries (2016)

“7: What Resources and Tools Can Help Me Progress?” My Plan

7

What Resources and Tools Can Help Me Progress?

Report:Share (or record in your journal) an experience you had this week with a mentor or how you mentored someone.

As you work on your goals, there are many resources that can help you.

Individual Responsibility

Read:No matter how many resources are available to us, it is up to each of us to put resources and tools to good use. President Brigham Young taught: “My faith does not lead me to think the Lord will provide us with roast pigs, bread already buttered, etc.; he will give us the ability to raise the grain, to obtain the fruits of the earth, to make habitations, to procure a few boards to make a box, and when harvest comes, giving us the grain, it is for us to preserve it” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A Widtsoe [1954], 291–92).

Activity:On a scale of 1 to 5, rate yourself below:

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2

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4

5

I wait for others to do things for me.

I wait for others to tell me what to do.

I do the things that take minimal effort.

I sometimes take initiative to do the things that will help me progress.

I almost always take initiative to do the things that will help me progress.

If you scored yourself less than 5, outline in your journal one or two things you will do to be able to take more individual responsibility in your life. Read how the Lord promises you power to do this so that you may be preserved and not overcome (see D&C 44:4–5).

Family Resources

Ponder:How can my family be a source of strength to me?

Activity:List resources available to you through your immediate or extended family. (Some examples include talents or skills that could help you, knowledge about education programs or jobs, or spiritual strength or testimony.)

Self-Reliance Centers and Groups

Read:Self-reliance resource centers and self-reliance groups can help you become more independent and spiritually strong. Currently, centers have resources to help you assess your needs and skills and either find a job, start or grow a small business, or choose education that leads to better work. They also review the fundamental doctrines and principles of self-reliance. All materials can be found online at srs.lds.org.

Activity:Go to your stake self-reliance resource center and talk to someone there. If your stake doesn’t have a self-reliance center, ask your stake self-reliance specialist to recommend other resources that you could use.

Write down a few key resources available at self-reliance resource centers that can be useful to you.

Self-Reliance Center Resources

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Online Church Resources

Read:The Church also offers many online resources through LDS.org and other sites that can help you become self-reliant spiritually, temporally, and emotionally. These resources include:

Institute

Read:Institute is a wonderful resource. If you haven’t yet registered for a class, you can find one by going to institute.lds.org/find-institute, or by asking your local leaders. Commit to graduating from institute.

Pathway

Read:Pathway is a low-cost program designed to give students the confidence and skills needed to succeed in college. It helps participants to both increase their spiritual strength and improve their English and math skills. In the program, students attend local gatherings and online courses, earning college credits that are eligible for transfer to BYU–Idaho and other universities. For more information about Pathway opportunities near you, go to pathway.lds.org.

Financial Resources

Ponder:What financial resources are available to you? Are you following a budget, saving money, and avoiding unnecessary debt?

Activity:Find someone you trust who is good with managing his or her own money. Ask this person for advice that has helped him or her reach financial goals.

Government Programs

Read:Governments often provide job training programs, student loans, and scholarships. More information about these can be found at a self-reliance resource center.

Online Resources

Read:Online search engines can help you find information and videos on almost any topic you want to learn about. While you may not be able to find everything online, it is a good place to start and can point you to other resources.

    Commit:

  • Remember a time on your mission when you didn’t know what to do. Record in your journal how you responded and how that experience can apply to your life right now.

  • Visit a self-reliance center (if available in your stake) and become familiar with the resources they offer.

  • Share what you learned today with another returned missionary, young single adult, or a member of your family.