AREA PRESIDENCY MESSAGE
The Strength of My House
Knowing the plan will give youth and young adults an understanding of what it means to be awesome—children of God having divine potential, coupled with accountability to the Divine.
In October and November 1833, the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri, were driven from their homes by mobs. A month later on 16 December 1833, a revelation was given to Joseph Smith, giving the reason for the expulsion of the members of the Church from Jackson County.1
As part of that revelation, the Saints were instructed, through a parable, to “say unto the strength of [the Lord’s] house, my young men and they that are middle-aged—Gather yourselves together unto the land of Zion.”2
The Lord promised the Saints that He would fight their battles. He would fight their battles through the strength of His house. Through Joseph Smith, the Lord gave the following instruction to the members of the Church: “Unto the strength of my house, even my warriors, my young men [and young women], and middle-aged … gather together for the redemption of my people, and throw down the towers of mine enemies, and scatter their watchmen.”3
We are blessed as a Church today, as we follow this pattern of fully engaging the youth and young adults in developing and strengthening the Church. We are blessed as our stake and ward leaders engage the youth and young adults in meaningful service in the Church.
To the Youth and Young Adults
To you youth and young adults, it has been said that knowing the plan is the antidote for feelings of anxiety and depression. Knowing the plan will give you an understanding of what it means to be awesome—children of God having divine potential, coupled with accountability to the Divine. It is the only path to the real autonomy you seek. Remembering the plan of salvation and making daily choices based on the central truths of the word of God will produce lasting conversion.
Your effectiveness in the Lord’s kingdom depends on how well you understand and apply the plan of salvation in your lives. While you have the whole future ahead of you, be mindful of how you use your time and resources.
The wise use of all our resources
Most people, including myself, have gone through life saying, “If I had more money, I would have a better plan.” What I failed to grasp is that if I had a better plan, I would have sufficient money. Our loving Father in Heaven had all of us in mind when He said, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”4
My simple advice to you, my dear friends, is if you have a dollar, never spend more than 70 cents. Whatever your situation might be, wherever you may be, or in any circumstance, you may be in—if you could just grasp this principle, never spend more than 70 cents of each dollar which comes your way, through gifts of labour you will be self-reliant. You will understand what the Lord meant when he said, “the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare.”5
These principles will bless all of us: those who are currently employed need to plan for the future, as well as those of us who are struggling in life and surviving hand to mouth. This concept would be a great blessing and help in being self-reliant.
My suggestions on where to begin would be this:
Ten cents is for the Lord. Pay tithing. President Russell M. Nelson taught: “To develop enduring faith, an enduring commitment to be a full-tithe payer is essential. Initially it takes faith to tithe. Then the tithe payer develops more faith to the point that tithing becomes a precious privilege.”6 This life-changing teaching from the Lord’s prophet is very true.
Ten cents is for capital. Put it somewhere where you cannot access it or use it. This could be for 10, 15, or more years. When I think of these ten cents, I am reminded of my mother. She would sift through very good ground nuts and maize and put some aside for seeds. She would fumigate them—or so we were made to believe, so that we would not be tempted to roast that maize and eat those groundnuts when we were hungry. Mother never used the seeds, even in dire situations. She would rather have us go without than to eat those seeds. They were to be planted in the following rainy season and have them multiply. She would do the same in each harvest. She was never dependent on government handouts.7
The third ten cents should be invested. It helps to make sure that you don’t need to buy anything on credit—except for a house or essentials. When one invests these ten cents, it allows someone else to use and pay interest to yourself. It’s not the amount that counts, it’s the PLAN!
As you do this, you will become self-reliant and become the strength of the Lord’s house. You will fulfil your Heavenly Father’s blessing to you, and be fruitful! In reality, it is more about what we are becoming than what we will get.
Stand Up and Be Counted
The Lord depends on you to build His kingdom. He expressed His concerns to some of you: “But the strength of mine house have not hearkened unto my words.” The Lord also applauds most of you, who are on the covenant path: “But inasmuch as there are those who have hearkened unto my words, I have prepared a blessing and an endowment for them, if they continue faithful.”8
My humble invitation to you, my dear friends, is that you will do your very best in any calling you may be serving in and if you do not currently have a calling, go and see your bishop. Let him know that you are available as the strength of the Lord’s house to serve in His kingdom. As you do, He will expand your vision. The Lord knows you; He loves you and knows what you can become.
Elder Dube was called as a General Authority Seventy in April 2013. He is married to Naume Keresia Salizani. They are the parents of four children.