Hope Mills 1st Ward

Teach these scriptures and quotations or, if needed, another principle that will bless the sisters you visit. Bear testimony of the doctrine. Invite those you visit to share what they have felt and learned.

What Is Self-Reliance?

" 'Self-reliance means using all of our blessings from Heavenly Father to care for ourselves and our families and to find solutions for our own problems.' Each of us has a responsibility to try to avoid problems before they happen and to learn to overcome challenges when they occur. . . .

"How do we become self-reliant? We become self-reliant through obtaining sufficient knowledge, education, and literacy; by managing money and resources wisely, being spiritually strong, preparing for emergencies and eventualities; and by having physical health and social and emotional well-being."¹

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.

A Gospel Responsibility

"As we live providently and increase our gifts and talents, we become more self-reliant. Self-reliance is taking responsibility for our own spiritual and temporal welfare and for those whom Heavenly Father has entrusted to our care. Only when we are self-reliant can we truly emulate the Savior in serving and blessing others.

"It is important to understand that self-reliance is a means to an end. Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior, and that goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others. Our ability to serve is increased or diminished by the level of our self-reliance."²

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

"Self-reliance is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices. It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being. Regarding this principle, President Marion G. Romney [1897–1988] has said: 'Let us work for what we need. Let us be self-reliant and independent. Salvation can be obtained on no other principle. Salvation is an individual matter, and we must work out our own salvation in temporal as well as in spiritual things.' . . .

"President Spencer W. Kimball [1895–1985] further taught concerning self-reliance: 'The responsibility for each person's social, emotional, spiritual, physical, or economic well-being rests first upon himself, second upon his family, and third upon the Church if he is a faithful member thereof.' "³

President Thomas S. Monson.

Notes
1. "The Welfare Responsibilities of the Relief Society President," Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance (2009), 4–5.
2. "A Gospel Vision of Welfare: Faith in Action," Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance (2009), 1–2.
3. "Guiding Principles of Personal and Family Welfare," Liahona, Feb. 1987, 3; Ensign, Sept. 1986, 3.

Helps for Visiting Teaching

As a visiting teacher, you can seek personal inspiration to know how to best respond to the needs of those you are assigned to watch over. Then focus your efforts on strengthening each sister's faith and family.

Personal Preparation
Genesis 3:19
Matthew 6:33
D&C 82:18–19; 109:8

For more information, see www.providentliving.org; All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances (item no. 04007); and All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage (item no. 04008).

Happy planting!

PS Clue me in on anything you've found helpful also. I'm a little nervous about selecting and maintaining plants I intend to use as a food source for my family this year ... but that's totally not stopping me from buying eggplant. ;)

I just wanted to say that Rebecca N.'s little note on the side bar(I think it was you!) paid off and we have a new viewer, Rebekah Riehle. YAY! Rebekah grew up in this ward for those who may not know her, like me!

I know that this blog isn't being used much so I was wondering if anyone had anything they would like to see here. i.e I am hoping to get Christina to add a side bar that has all the enrichment groups and dates on it. What do you think Christina?

On a another note. I am going to put this blog back to private next week. If anyone wants to join in just add them to the authors list under settings. Or have them email that website listed on the sidebar.

One last thing. If you read this you must comment (just think of it as service). Here are the questions, drumroll please . . . . . .

1. What is your favorite color?
2. How much time passed from the moment you met to the moment you said "I do" (or "Yes") to your current husband?
3. At church, when your kid crawls under the bench seat to the family behind you, do you prefer that they return the child right away, keep him/her for a few minutes and then return, or do you figure you'll just pick him/her up after the closing payer?
4. Is there anything you would like to see on this blog (optional)?

My little 7 month old, Keeley, has gone on strike and I don't know what to do about it. From 3 to 6 months she slept through the night. But right before Thanksgiving she quite. I didn't think much about it at first assuming she was going through a growth spurt or cutting teeth. But a month and a half later its driving me mad!! So, after doing a little reading most things I found said you have to let them cry. I had done that in the past and thought we would just do it again. However, she won't fall asleep. For the last two nights she has screamed for 45 minuets at which point I go in and pick her up. She shows no signs of giving up at that point. I have hear don't let them scream beyond 20 is that true? 45 minuets is a long time and I feel really bad making her cry for that long and then to ruin it by picking her up, Aggh! I'm sure many of you have had this problem any suggestion on what to do? Do I still need to let her cry? Is 45 minuets of crying too long?

Thanks, A Tired Mom

Bonnie Weber-February-It's a Boy!!
Allison Roundy-March-It's a Boy!!
Laci Caraway -March-It's a Girl!!!! (at least there is one girl coming this year!)
Maria Staley-May-It's a Boy!!
Carrie Bergloff-May-It's a Boy
Rebecca Newcomer-JUST KIDDING

I've been asked about some links for food storage from time to time and thought I'd post them here for everyone.


Most sites either have the prices online or you can download an order form. Not all have the best prices on certain items so it will take a bit of comparison to get the best deals. The cannery has great deals on some things but not on others. Heck, Sam's Club has some pretty sweet deals too.


What we've been doing lately to store goods is using a 5-6 gallon mylar bag (with a ziploc top so it can be used and filled over and over again) in a 5 gallon bucket (from Home Depot) which has helped make things a little more efficient and easy to move. You can also get boxes from the cannery which work well with the mylar pouches. We've not got any food storage in cans other than some vegetables we've bought extra's of here and there at the store. I think you can mail order the oxygen absorbers from the church site or just pick them up with your next bulk order and package foodstuffs at home.

If you're picking up things from the cannery, do note that you'll need an appointment to can, bag or even pick up items. Last I checked availability was three weeks out for pick-up only and nearly two months for packaging.


Anyway, here's the links.


Be Prepared - Most foodstuffs listed are pretty pricey but it's fun to get ideas and browse the site.

Pleasant Hill Grain - This place has great ideas and prices for equipment, baking needs, grinders and water purification systems. They also provide fantastic customer service. We've been really pleased.

Homegrown Harvest - We've used this site for some grain orders and to try out new grains like buckwheat, amaranth and spelt.

Walton Feed - You can download their order form and do cost comparisons for the things your family enjoys. SP denotes a SuperPail which is a 5-gallon bucket with a liner and RB is a Regular Bucket without a liner. We've not made an order with them yet but will soon.

USA Emergency Supply - This is where we order the 5-6 gallon bucket liners. The more you order, the more you save.

Honeyville Grain - This is a great place to get started. They have super deals on dehydrated eggs, fruits and vegetables. We need to compare their deals with Walton Feed a little more though.

Nutiva - Bulk vegetable oils don't seem to last more than nine months in the NC (and VA) climate and we've made the switch to coconut oil. It's a better source of good fats and is shelf stable for 5-6 years.

Nuts Online - Just one more resource for organic grains.

LDS Home Storage - Here's the Church's order form.

Sam's Club - Here's where you can compare Sam's prices with others.

I hope all of the links work. Please add any you've found helpful.

Happy storing!

Micah and I attended a Christmas open house at a friend's home last night. There was food, good company, lots of laughter and good conversation topped off by loads and loads of yummy goodies.




I've checked around and the Fayetteville YMCA seems to fit the bill. Free child care (for those with family memberships), a racquetball court for my boys to enjoy together and a free weight / circuit training option for those interested. I'm totally in it for the pool.