Becoming Self-Reliant

The visiting teaching message for January. What does that mean to you? Becoming self-reliant. The first thing that comes to my mind is independence. Heavenly Father wants us to take responsibility for the things that He has blessed us with. Our spiritual and temporal living.

Becoming self-reliant is following Christ's footsteps.

Imagine you are a young child still living with your parents. They teach you the ways of the Lord and life. Reading scriptures, attending church, praying, balancing a check book, shopping smart, driving a car. Think about it. If you were never taught those essentials (along with much more in between), would you be able to reach out and help others?



The only time we can serve others is when we have strengthened ourselves. Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: "It is important to understand that self-reliance is a means to an end. Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior, and the goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others. Our ability to serve is increased or diminished by the level of our self-reliance."

It is my testimony that, no matter how small the steps we make toward becoming self-reliant as we serve others, we will truly be blessed. In application to our writing, if we choose to help others with theirs (critiquing, building confidence, mentoring, batting around ideas, etc.), I have no doubt that Heavenly Father will help us become powerful, influential and yes, even successful!



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I have transferred this info below from a handout so you could (hopefully) copy it and print it up. I hope it helps!

Food Storage for about $5.00 a week

Week 1: 6 lbs salt

Week 2: 5 cans cream of chicken

Week 3: 20 lbs sugar

Week 4: 8 cans tomato soup

Week 5: 25 lbs of flour

Week 6: 6 lbs of pasta

Week 7: 6 lbs of brown sugar

Week 8: 8 cans of tuna

Week 9: 1 lb each of yeast baking soda & powder
Week 10: 50 lbs of wheat

Week 11: 8 cans of tomato soup

Week 12: 20 lbs of sugar

Week 13: 10 lbs powdered milk

Week 14: 7 boxes of Mac & Cheese

Week 15: 20 lbs of rice

Week 16: 5 cans cream of chicken

Week 17: 1 bottle of vitamins

Week 18: 12 cans of evaporated milk

Week 19: 5 cans cream of mushroom

Week 20: 50 lbs of wheat

Week 21: 8 cans tomato soup

Week 22: 10 lbs beans

Week 23: 8 cans tuna

Week 24: 3 lbs shortening 3 lbs oil
Week 25: 25 lbs rice

Week 26: 5 lbs honey

Week 27: 10 lbs powdered sugar

Week 28: 20 lbs sugar

Week 29: 5 lbs peanut butter

Week 30: 50 lbs wheat
Week 31: 7 boxes mac & cheese

Week 32: 2 quarts of Mayonnaise

Week 33: 1 bottle Aspirin

Week 34: 5 cans cream of chicken

Week 35: 50 lbs wheat
Week 36: 7 boxes mac & cheese

Week 37: 6 lbs salt

Week 38: 10 lbs beans

Week 39: 8 cans tomato soup

Week 40: 25 lbs flour
Week 41: 5 cans cream of chicken

Week 42: 20 lbs sugar

Week 43: 1 bottle vitamins

Week 44: 8 cans tuna

Week 45: 50 lbs wheat
Week 46: 6 lbs pasta

Week 47: 20 lbs sugars

Week 48: 5 cans cream of mushroom

Week 49: 5 lbs honey

Week 50: 10 lbs of rolled oats
Week 51: 8 cans tomato soup

Week 52: 10 lbs wheat

You will end up with:

300 pounds wheat, 100 pounds sugar, 20 pounds of powdered sugar, 12 pounds salt,

10 pounds honey, 5 pounds of peanut butter, 45 cans of tomato soup, 15 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 15 cans cream of chicken, 24 cans of tuna, 21 boxes of mac & cheese,

1 bottle of Aspirin (Tylenol), 1 pound of yeast, 2 bottles of vitamins, 3 pounds of shortening

12 pounds of Pasta, 50 lbs flour, 12 cans of evaporated milk, 2 quarts of Mayonnaise, 1 lb baking soda, 6 lbs brown sugar, 50 lbs rice, 10 lbs of rolled oats, 20 pounds beans, 1 lbs baking powder, and 20 pounds of powdered milk.

This is almost a complete year supply for two people of everything that is needed. The things that you might need extra of is rice, beans, milk (canned) and rolled oats, so if you get extra cash buy more or those. They also recommend fruit vegetables, jams and jell-O. You will also need 28 gallons of water.