MANAGING MONEY
Winchester Ward, July 21, 2019
Are you prepared and ready for the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ?
Pres. Russell M. Nelson, April 2018 General Conference
"One of the things the Spirit has repeatedly impressed upon my mind since my new calling as President of the Church is how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will. The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children."
"Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, 'To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!'"
"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." (2 hour meeting block & Come, Follow Me)
Elder Quentin L. Cook, October 2018 General Conference
"President Nelson, from his initial address to the members of the Church in January, has exhorted us to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by walking the covenant path.
World conditions increasingly require deepening individual conversion to and strengthening faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The Lord has prepared us, line upon line, for the perilous times that we now face.
"The adjustment announced this morning (Come, Follow Me & 2-hr mtg block) is yet another example of guidance for the challenges of our day."
These truths are what came to my mind as I pondered the topic on which I have been asked to speak today. Claude and I will speak to you on two of the Foundation Principles taught in each of the Self-Reliance Groups. The principle I am to focus on is Managing Money.
As we look at the changes in programs in the Church since Pres. Nelson has been called and sustained by us as the Prophet and President of the Church, I have noticed a marked focus on us being prepared for the 2nd Coming in each of those changes. One of the ways this has been emphasized is the continual unfolding of the Self-Reliance program. My testimony to you is this is a powerful tool the Savior has given each of us to prepare ourselves and our families for the 2nd Coming. With that background, let’s look at ‘Managing Money’.
From the "My Foundation" Manual
Ponder: Why is managing money so hard—and so important?
The Self-reliant Approach to Managing Money
➀ Income - Work hard and smart to receive money.
➁ Pay the Lord first. Tithes and offerings
➂ Pay ourselves second. Savings – Emergency Fund 1st and then Savings for our future.
- L. Tom Perry, “Pay yourself a predetermined amount directly into savings…It is amazing to me that so many people work all their lives for the grocer, the landlord, the power company the automobile salesman, and the bank and yet think so little of their own efforts that they pay themselves nothing.”
➃ Pay your Current living expenses.
As we follow the Self-reliance Approach to Managing Money, we will spend less than we earn and avoid debt.
** Doctrine and Covenants 104:78
“And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts—behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts.”
All Is Safely Gathered In: “Pay tithes and offerings, . . . avoid debt, . . . use a budget, . . . determine how to reduce what you spend for nonessentials . . . [and] discipline yourself to live within your budget plan.”
** “There seems to be a sense of entitlement in today’s culture. . . . When we become burdened with excessive debt, we have . . . placed ourselves in self-imposed servitude, spending all of our time, all of our energy, and all of our means to the repayment of our debts. . . . It is essential that we . . . develop a spending and savings plan—a budget—and distinguish between wants and needs.” (Robert D. Hales, “Seek and Attain the Spiritual High Ground in Life” (Church Educational System fireside, Mar. 2009)
Topical Guide – Money
See also Bribe; Debt; Family, Managing Finances in; Mammon; Priestcraft; Riches; Treasure; Wealth
• money is a defence, Eccl. 7:12.
• money answereth all things, Eccl. 10:19.
Bible Dictionary – Ecclesiastes
The book of Ecclesiastes consists of reflections on some of the deepest problems of life, as they present themselves to the thoughtful observer.
The book of Ecclesiastes seems permeated with a pessimistic flavor but must be read in the light of one of its key phrases: “under the sun” (1:9), meaning “from a worldly point of view.” The term vanity also needs clarification, since as used in Ecclesiastes it means “transitory” or “fleeting.” Thus the Preacher laments that as things appear from the point of view of the world, everything is temporary and soon gone—nothing is permanent.
Ecclesiastes 1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
(If we have no budget. If we do not follow the Self-Reliant path by earning income then paying the Lord first, then putting money into an emergency fund & savings and then pay our debts we will experience the ‘vanity and vexation of spirit’ of no profit in our lives.)
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
(Being Self-Reliant allows us to lift & serve others.)
Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much:
(The Lord is concerned with work being a crowning principle in our lives. Jacob 2:18-19 teaches us to seek for the kingdom of God before we seek for riches. Then, after we obtain a hope in Christ we shall obtain riches for the intent to do good which is to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, liberate the captive and administer relief to the sick and afflicted.)
(Claude & I reflecting at the end of each day on how we used the 16 hours we were awake.)
Ecclesiastes 5: 18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
(This is the blessing of living a Self-reliant life)
Topical Guide – Family, Managing Finances in
See also Debt
- Haggai 1:6 he that earneth wages…to put it into a bag with holes!
- Malachi 3:10 Paying tithes will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that we will not have room enough to receive.
- Matthew 6:19 Treasures on earth will corrupt with moth and rust; Treasures in heave will be there for eternity.
- D&C 88:119 Organize ourselves and prepare every needful thing.
Prepare for the 2nd Coming by using the tools He has given you.
Self-Reliance is one of those important tools.
Self-Reliance include much more that the original 4 groups.
- Life Skills
- BYU-Pathway
- Just Serve
Pres. Russell M. Nelson, April 2019 General Conference
"Now, as President of His Church, I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior’s Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.
"I leave my love and blessing with you, assuring you that revelation continues in this, the Lord’s Church. It will continue until “the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
It was humbling to have these thoughts and this understanding impressed so strongly on my heart. I know it came from my loving Heavenly Father. I know these things are true. I know that the scriptures teach "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear". We know it will get worse in the final days prior to the Second Coming. We have been given so very much in the Church to prepare us so we do not fear. So we are temporally and spiritually strong enough to weather whatever storms come our way. That is why we will not fear and we will have hope in the eternal lives we are preparing to live. This I know to be true.
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