I have tried to think about what to write this week and have decided that a it might be ok to insert our talks from last week only in English.  I know there are some who would enjoy the Spanish version but the majority of those who would read this blog would not be able to understand it.  If you would like a Spanish copy just send me and email at: ellisrm26@gmail.com.

 

Many years ago when I worked on a ranch, I had a cow dog who’s whole life was to herd cows and do what I asked her to do.  I would send her out into the field to bring in the cows from the pasture.  As she ran out into the field she would look back so that I could guide her with my hand signals as to which cow I wanted her to bring in.  Thus with direction from me she would cut out the cow that I wanted and bring her into the corral.  As we were herding cows out into the field she would run ahead and keep the cows bunched so that they would not stray.  She knew her job well, but would always look back to make sure she was taking them in the right direction.  I loved that dog and she loved me.  She would go everywhere with me, to town, to neighbors, and would be very sad when she had to stay home when we went to church. 

After years of service and showing great skills and training I went to a cattle auction to sell some calves.  Of course my dog went with me and while there she helped pen the cattle and herd some cattle into their pens.  She loved to do her job.  At the end of the sale I had to stop at a grocery store for some purchases for our family.  When I returned to my truck my dog was gone.  I never knew what happened to her and I looked and looked everywhere for her but she was lost.  For months I mourned the loss of my dog because I loved her so much.

Now, why do I tell this story to you?  There are three principles that I would like to point out from this story.

1.   We are children of our Heavenly Father and his love is great for us.  We cannot comprehend his great love.  As I loved my dog and loved to be with her.  God loves us and wants us to stay close to Him always.  He does not want us to stray away and be lost.

2.   We must work to be happy.  As my dog was happiest when she was working cows and making her own way by providing an important work, work that she really enjoyed and was good at.  We must find a useful job that we can really enjoy but will provide for us and our families a good living so that we can be happy and have enough and to spare. 

3.   We must always seek direction from our Master as we work, play, and serve in this life.  As my dog would always look back to me for direction we must always look to our Savior for direction through the perils of this life.  If we do not look to Him we could become lost and find ourselves as lost and fallen souls living this life without any direction or spiritual goals.  I see many dogs laying in the streets of Santiago that are dependent on the good will of others to survive.  This also happens to good people who once had purpose and direction but have become dependent on others for their sustenance.  These people have become lost without joy or happiness in their lives.

Elder David Bednar of the 12 Apostles came to our stake conference in Houston Texas a few years ago.  He spoke to us very bluntly and directly that the Lord is not happy with us when we are dependent on anyone, anything, or any organization for our support.  Being dependent is the same as being a slave or in other word an addict.  We become addicted to laziness, substances, bad behavior, debt, or living off from the work of others.  The Lord has told us:

D & C 42:42

“Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.”

We are to act and not be acted upon. 

2 Nephi 2:26

“And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.  And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.”

When we are acting for ourselves we, are self-reliant.  But when we are not we are slaves and not free to progress spiritually or temporally.

The new initiative of self-reliance has been given to us through revelation.  It is a guide that can help us throughout our lives in becoming and maintaining self-reliance.  Two weeks ago we held a seminar for the missionaries returning to there homes.  After completing 18 months to 2 years of serving the Lord they were faced with the realities of life.  They were going home to determine the direction of their futures.  Many had desires to attend the university and pursue studies that would help them in their lives to deal with the reality of supporting families and to better themselves for service both temporally and spiritually.   Some had a plan, others did not know what they were going to do when they returned home. 

The seminar we gave to them was called “My Path to Self-reliance”.  In this manual they were able to get an idea of what life will be like and make a plan on how to be self-reliant.  They could see what it would cost to live on their own and what they would need to earn enough to be comfortable and have all that they needed.  It was a revelation so some of them, something that they had not ever considered previously. 

Next we discussed what their experience was and how it could be applied to providing for their needs.  We discussed their strengths and how to present those strengths to a prospective employer to gain employment. 

At the end of the seminar they must choose what they will do to become self-reliant from three choices.  They would join a group to learn on of three paths to self-reliance.  Those choices are:

1-  Starting and Growing My Business, Where the group members learn how to create or improve a functioning business.

2-  My Job Search, Where the group members identify good job opportunities and practice networking, presenting themselves powerfully, preparing for interview questions, and excelling on the job.

3-  Education for Better Work, where group members identify a preferred job of skills that will help them become self-reliant, and how they will obtain that education.

At the end of the seminar we discuss the importance of maintaining a working relationship with our Father in Heaven.  Why it is important to continually look to Him for direction and guidance.

Brothers and sisters it is the desire of the first presidency of the church that every member of the church participates in the seminars of self-reliance and that they teach those principles to their children.  Our area presidency two weeks ago told us that it is also their desire that the church in Chile becomes self-reliant and not dependent on others to support the activities of the church.  That means that all of our missionaries from Chile are funded by Chile, all our buildings in Chile are maintained by the members of the church, and all of the operations of the church are performed and funded by the members of the Church in Chile.  That will probably take several years but it can and will happen.  Their vision is that Chile begins to help others and serve others.

Our Lord and Savior would have us be agents unto ourselves serving the Lord and our fellow man.  He would have us be self-reliant that we would have enough and more to build the Kingdom of God on the Earth. 

I know this is true and testify of it to you.

In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Chris's talk

I would like to tell you a story entitled Cast Thy Bread upon the Waters

Ecclesiastes 11:1

“Cast thy bread upon the waters:  for thou shalt find it after many days”

Milk Day
Among the many wonderful people we met when we lived in a small town in Utah years ago was a family named Williams.  They were a good family of strong faith and testimony.  But Brother and Sister Williams had five small children and struggled to make ends meet.  Then Brother Williams’ back was broken in an automobile accident and he was hospitalized for several weeks.

As counselor in our ward Relief Society presidency, I went with our president to visit Sister Williams and her young family.  What a blessing the Church welfare program is at a time like this!  As our president explained how the program worked, Sister Williams was relieved of many anxieties.
When I arrived home, I couldn’t get the plight of this young mother out of my mind.  I could identify with her because we had six young children at home, and they really kept me busy.  I kept wondering what I personally could do for her.  My thoughts went to milk.  I was sure her family drank milk by the gallons, as mine did, and we had found a dairy that sold milk cheaper than the stores or home delivery.  I called Sister Williams about it, and she told me she got her milk there too, so I arranged to get hers when I went for mine.  When I went to pick up her cans, she had them and the money ready for me, but I told her I would like to buy her milk that day.  She resisted, but finally relented.

I went back a couple of days later to get her cans again, but she was hesitant—she didn’t have any money.  I told her not to worry, that I wanted to buy the milk for her.

I went back a couple of days later to get her cans again, but she was hesitant—she didn’t have any money.  I told her not to worry, that I wanted to buy the milk for her.  This arrangement went on for several weeks, until I began to feel the strain on my own budget and found myself borrowing money from my children.

But just as I decided I would have to tell Sister Williams that I could no longer buy her milk, I noticed that every “milk day” some little miracle would happen.  I remember one day there simply was no extra money and I was ready to reach for the phone when I was prompted to go to the mailbox first.  I did; and there was a little check-just enough for the milk-for some jury duty I had performed earlier in the year.  I continued to buy milk.

One evening several weeks later Brother Williams was released from the hospital.  He was in a brace, but he insisted on coming by our home to thank us personally for buying their milk.  However, their compensation checks were coming in now, and everything was going to be all right for them.

After they left, I leaned against the door and silently thanked the Lord that I had never told Sister Williams I couldn’t get her milk.  Still, that very day I had only had enough money to buy their milk, but not ours; and our littlest, Chuck, would be awake at six o’clock next morning, wanting a drink.

The very next morning, before Chuck was even awake, there came a knock on our door.  On the step stood a young man from our ward holding two big jugs of milk.  He said, “Sister Cutler, I understand you have a big family.  For some reason or other our cow has started giving more milk than we can use, and we just hate pouring it down the sink.  Would you be insulted if I dropped it off here each morning on my way to work?”  I couldn’t believe it!  Immediately, into my mind flashed a saying I had heard my mother quote often when I was a little girl:  “Cast your bread upon the waters, and after many days it will return-buttered”  (Ecclesiastes 11:1)  By the time that cow got back to normal production, we had received two or three times more milk than we had ever given away.  Ensign, June 1981

 In I Nephi 7:12 it says Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?  Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.

We receive no blessing until after the trial of our faith, and we are blessed for our obedience.

I have been called on a self-reliance mission which includes the Perpetual Education Fund.  The first principle of this program is faith in the Lord.  The Lord loves all of his children.  He wants them to be self- reliant able to provide for themselves and their families.

I hope many of you will take advantage of the new program. 

I have a testimony that God answers prayers.  When we keep the commandments, he blesses us with the things we need.   I am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I am thankful  that we have a prophet and apostles to guide us in these latter days.  

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen