Building Self-Reliance

Building Self-Reliance

Overview

Self-reliance is “the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family” (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 22.0, Gospel Library). As we exercise our faith in Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help us build self-reliance in all aspects of our lives and enable us to better care for and help others.

Pacing suggestion: It may be most effective to teach these lessons in the order they appear in this document. The first two lessons introduce students to principles of self-reliance and will help them better understand the final two lessons. Teaching the first two of these lessons early in the calendar year could also help prepare students to understand principles they will study in the “Physical and Emotional Health,” “Preparing for Future Education and Employment,” and “Succeed in School” lessons.

In addition, three of the self-reliance lessons use portions of the story of Joseph of Egypt found in Genesis 37–47. Depending on the needs of your students and other pacing considerations, you could choose to teach some of these self-reliance lessons in conjunction with the Old Testament lessons that cover the same stories. See “Create a Pacing Guide Training” for more help on making pacing decisions for Life Preparation lessons.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides you with ideas of what you may need to prepare in advance for each lesson.

Building Self-Reliance in the Lord’s Way

Lesson purpose: To help students understand why building self-reliance is important in Heavenly Father’s plan for us.

• Student preparation: Consider asking students to do something on their own that others have done for them in the past. For example, they might prepare a meal, do the laundry, pay for something their parents usually pay for, or fix something in their house.

• Materials for students: Copies of the statements from Bishop Waddell and Topics and Questions to give to two students

• Image: Picture of a baby bird

• Content to display: Bishop Waddell and Topics and Questions statements; instructions and questions for self-assessment; instructions, scripture references, and questions for group activity

• Videos: “All I Needed” (1:44)

Exercising Faith in Jesus Christ to Build Self-Reliance

Note: This lesson uses portions of the story of Joseph of Egypt found in Genesis 39–41. You may consider teaching this lesson around the same time you teach Lesson 33: “Genesis 37–41.” Students will study many of the same scripture verses in these two lessons.

Lesson purpose: To help students exercise their faith that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will bless them in their efforts to build self-reliance.

• Student preparation: Consider inviting students to write down obstacles that make it hard to become self-reliant in one or more of the following areas:

  • Gospel knowledge

  • Current and future financial needs

  • Education and employment

  • Physical needs

  • Emotional and social needs

• Content to display: Student self-assessment, including the instructions and categories

• Videos: “I Will Provide for My Saints” (3:08) from time codes 0:00 to 1:52

• Handout: “Exercising Faith to Build Self-Reliance”

Managing Financial Resources Wisely

Note: This lesson uses portions of the story of Joseph of Egypt found in Genesis 41 that are not studied in Lesson 33: “Genesis 37–41.” You may wish to teach this lesson around the time you teach lesson 33 to give students additional understanding about this scripture account.

Lesson purpose: To help students use inspired principles to manage financial decisions the Lord’s way.

• Student preparation: Before teaching this lesson, consider displaying the “Financial Stewardship Success Map” on the board and inviting students to take a picture of it on their phones. You could also distribute paper copies of it to students.

  • Invite students to study the map and think about how it can help them involve the Lord in managing their financial resources. Have them come to class prepared to share what they learned.

• Content to display: Chart about financial decisions; the “Financial Stewardship Success Map”; statement from Bishop L. Todd Budge

• Handout: “Making Financial Decisions in the Lord’s Way”

• Videos: “The Windows of Heaven” (16:55) from time code 0:39 to 2:22

Providing for Ourselves and Caring for Those in Need

Note: This lesson uses portions of the story of Joseph of Egypt found in Genesis 45; 47. You may consider teaching this lesson around the same time you teach Lesson 35: “Genesis 42–45.”

Lesson purpose: To help students identify ways building self-reliance enables them to help others as Jesus Christ would.

• Student preparation: Invite students to listen to or read the words of the hymn “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief” (Hymns, no. 29). Students can look for ways we can care for others as Jesus would.

• Image: Image of airplane oxygen masks

• Videos: “Joseph Smith” (14:49) from time code 9:38 to 10:20

• Content to display: Image of oxygen mask for students to draw; instructions for student activity