What does it mean to be self-reliant?

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

When we are self-reliant, we use the blessings and abilities God has given us to care for ourselves and our families and to find solutions to our own problems. As we become self-reliant, we are also better able to serve and care for others. The Lord wants us to become both spiritually and temporally self-reliant.

Resources to Help You Prepare

These resources are to help you prepare for the “Learn together” section of the meeting.

• Matthew 25:1–13 (The parable of the ten virgins)

• Luke 2:52 (Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man)

• Galatians 6:3–5; 2 Thessalonians 3:10–13 (Importance of working and being self-reliant)

• 1 Timothy 5:8 (Men should provide for their own)

• Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28 (We are agents unto ourselves)

• Doctrine and Covenants 83:2, 4 (Women have claim on their husbands; children have claim on their parents)

• Doctrine and Covenants 104:78 (Pay debts)

• Robert D. Hales, “Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 44–47

• Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 7–10; see also the video “Becoming Provident Providers”

• Henry B. Eyring, “Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 37–40

• “Work and Self-Reliance,” For the Strength of Youth (2011), 40–41

• “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 145

• “Becoming Self-Reliant,” True to the Faith (2004), 184–85

• “Self-Reliance,” Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), 6.1.1

• “Life’s Drama” (video)

Questions to Ponder before You Teach

What does self-reliance mean to you? How has being self-reliant blessed you and your family?

Why do the young men need to learn self-reliance? What influences could keep them from becoming more self-reliant? How will self-reliance help them endure times of adversity? How will it bless their future families?

What can the young men do to prepare to learn? For example, they could read a talk, watch a video, or study a scripture related to this doctrine.

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

The Savior trusted His disciples, prepared them, and gave them important responsibilities to teach, bless, and serve others. His purpose was to help them become converted and grow through their service to others. Help the young men see that their obedience and service will help them prepare to be self-reliant.

Meeting Outline

1. Counsel Together and Share Experiences

Led by a member of the quorum presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Lead a discussion about items such as the following:

• Our quorum: Who is missing today? What visits do we need to make? Who should we invite to an upcoming activity? Who needs our help and prayers?

• Our duties: What assignments do we need to make? What assignments have we fulfilled? How have we invited others to come unto Christ, and how can we invite others now?

• Our lives: Remind the quorum of the discussion from the last meeting. What experiences have we had with applying what we learned? What experiences have we had in the past few weeks that strengthened our testimonies of the gospel?

If possible, discuss these items beforehand in a quorum presidency meeting.

2. Learn Together

Led by a leader or teacher or a member of the quorum; approximately 25–35 minutes

After studying the above resources and following the inspiration of the Spirit, you may select one or more of the activities below to help quorum members understand the doctrine.

• Divide the young men into groups and assign each group one of the following aspects of self-reliance: education, finances, relationships, and spiritual strength. Invite each group to review the sections of Elder Robert D. Hales’s talk “Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World” that address these topics. Invite the young men to share what they learned and something they will do to become more self-reliant in one of these areas.

• Write on separate slips of paper the following topics related to self-reliance: Health, Education, Employment, Home Storage, Finances, and Spiritual Strength. Allow each young man to pick a topic that he is interested in, and invite him to read about the topic in a copy of section 6.1.1 of Handbook 2 (pages 34–35). Ask each young man to briefly teach the class what he learned about his topic, how it relates to self-reliance, and what he can do now to prepare to be self-reliant in the area. How can the young men’s efforts in their youth bless their families when they become husbands and fathers?

• Before the quorum meeting, invite one or more quorum members to prepare to teach how Captain Moroni prepared his army to meet the Lamanites in battle (see Alma 46–49). Ideas could include physical preparation (see Alma 43:18–21, 37–39; 48:8–9), and spiritual preparation (see Alma 46:11–21; 48:7, 11–13). What difference did this preparation make as the Nephites defended their lives, liberty, and families? What does this example teach the young men about self-reliance? What can the young men do now to be prepared for the challenges they may face?

• Write the word Dependent on the left side of the board and the word Self-reliant on the right side. Ask the young men to define both words (if they need help, refer them to pages 184–85 of True to the Faith). Ask them to list ways they are dependent on others and ways they are self-reliant. Why does the Lord want us to become self-reliant? Show the video “Becoming Provident Providers” (or invite the young men to read about this story in Elder Robert D. Hales’s talk “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually”). Ask the young men to identify what Elder Hales teaches us about how to become self-reliant, and list their answers on the board. Ask the young men what habits and patterns they need to be establishing now in order to provide for their future families. What behaviors do they need to avoid? As part of this discussion, you could show the video “Life’s Drama” or invite the young men to read the third paragraph of Elder Hales’s talk.

• Ask the young men what they and their families might do to prepare for a natural disaster (such as an earthquake or hurricane). As a class, read the first three paragraphs of President Henry B. Eyring’s talk “Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady.” What are some “spiritual disasters” or trials that we might face? What can we do to prepare spiritually for these trials? Give each young man part of the remainder of President Eyring’s talk, and ask them to look for answers to these questions. Invite them to share what they find.

3. Plan to Act

Led by a member of the quorum presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

• Ask the young men to discuss any feelings or impressions they had during the meeting. What was meaningful to them? Is there something they can do personally or as a quorum to apply what they have learned?

• Give the young men a few minutes to record what they will do in the coming weeks to act on their impressions. Invite them to share their ideas.

• Remind the young men that they will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the beginning of the next meeting.

Related Youth Activities

Plan a Mutual activity that will help the young men apply what they learned in this lesson.