Finances

This unit we've been studying about family finances. We were asked to create a financial plan, which includes starting/improving a budget and tracking our income/expenses daily. I've had two other classes in the past year (Life Skills and Math) that have required us to do that. Usually when so much emphasis is put on something by the Church, there's a reason for it.

General Relief Society President Julie B. Beck has warned, “When we go into debt, we give away some of our precious, priceless agency and place ourselves in self-imposed servitude. As our freedom is diminished by debt, increasing hopelessness depletes us physically, depresses us mentally, and burdens us spiritually. Our self-image is affected, as well as our relationships with our spouse and children, with our friends and neighbors, and ultimately with the Lord. Becoming self-reliant temporally affects our spiritual self-reliance, and we are going to need to be more temporally self-reliant in the days to come…” (Sister Julie B. Beck, Women’s Conference, 29 April 2010.)

I thought it was interesting that Sister Beck addressed this when talking to the women. I know in my family, I do a majority of the household buying. It's important that there is sufficient funds for the needs of our family. When we purchase frivolous things, the money isn't there for the items that we need or the bills that need to be paid. Having a budget and keeping track of the expenses/income helps me stay more on top of things. 

One of the things that I have done is not shop at Wal*mart. The main reason I started this was because I was irritated by the lack of customer service whenever I was in the store. My husband would always remind me that the employees there don't make very much money, so they don't feel the urgency to get the customers through the lines. But after a while, I noticed that we were spending a lot less. I think the reason was because although I was shopping where items may cost a little  more, I wasn't adding silly things that would tempt me during my usual "one-stop shopping".  If I can't get the item at WinCo, Costco, Target, or Home Depot (or online) - I can live without it! My shopping habits changed when I went to specific stores for the items I needed.

In the One for the Money pamphlet you will find great counsel. I encourage everyone to look through this and really study up on how following these principles can bless your life. I once heard someone compare Dave Ramsey's teachings to the things found within this little booklet.

Same Gender Attraction

I recently read the transcript to an interview Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Lance B. Wickman gave in December 2012, regarding Same Gender Attraction. It can be found here.

This past week a lot has been said in regards to gay marriage. As I've read comment boards, I have seen hatred expressed (both ways), against others with opposing views. As Elder Oaks mentioned, those who disagree with the gay lifestyle are characterized as "narrow-minded, bigoted, and unreasonable." For years, the LGBT has asked for equal marriage rights, and the courts are now going against the voice of the people of many states, and allowing this to happen.

I've seen Facebook posts of friends that are celebrating the news that now the LGBT can finally have what they want and deserve, that there is equality for all! To be honest, I've never had a problem with the LGBT community having the benefits that come along with marriage in regards to decision making on behalf of a loved one, or other things involving financial and tax matters for those involved n committed relationships, things that could be covered under a civil union. The problem I have is that they want it to be called marriage, and to me, marriage should not be redefined.

In the interview mentioned above, Elder Oaks talked about homosexuality, he taught, "homosexuality...is not a noun that describes a condition. It's an adjective that describe feelings or behavior." (9)

Another point that stood out to me as I read the interview is that "same-gender attraction did not exist in the pre-earth life and neither will it exist in the next life. It is a circumstance that for whatever reason or reasons seems to apply right now in mortality, in this nano-second of our eternal existence.(35)" (Wickman, 2012) 

I also loved Elder Oaks statement that "God loves all of His children. He has provided a plan for His children to enjoy the choicest blessings that He has to offer in eternity. Those choicest blessings are associated with marriage between a man and a woman by appropriate priesthood authority to bring together a family unit for creation and happiness in this life and in the life to come."

I really enjoyed reading the inspired words from these two men. I know what they said is true. Although I do not know why people are asked to struggle with same sex attraction, I know that if they are faithful to their covenants that they will have the opportunity to progress in the next life. I hope I don't ever come across as bigoted or hateful. I really do have compassion for people who struggle with this, including many friends. But I also feel frustrated that the will of the people (voters in many states) can be changed on a whim to satisfy the desires of approximately 2% of the population.

Here is another great post on SSA.

Becoming Self-Reliant - Physically

The activity that we had for this unit centered around healthy eating and exercising. The Church has great material that encourages us to be self-reliant by taking care of our physical bodies. The areas covered are:

·         The Word of Wisdom and Physical Health

·         Nutrition and Diet

·         Exercise and Fitness

·         Sleep and Rest

·         Managing Personal Health

The areas that I felt that I needed to focus on were nutrition and diet, exercise and fitness, and sleep and rest. I’ve found that as I work full-time, go to school, and still have other outside obligations that oftentimes my schedule can get too crazy and I don’t take the best care of myself. Sometimes the workload causes me to not be prepared to make my family a good meal and we resort to ordering pizza or having take-out just so they can be fed. It is easy to think that I don’t have time to exercise on top of all of that. Then stay up all night to get assignments done by the deadline. I need to make some changes. The site says, “By maintaining good physical health, we become more self-reliant and are better prepared to progress personally, strengthen the family, and serve in the Church and community.” This is my goal!

Elder M. Russell Ballard quotes Benjamin Franklin in his talk, Becoming Self-Reliant – Spiritually and Physically. According to Franklin, “We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour, each day, making choices. We choose the thoughts we allow ourselves to think, the passions we allow ourselves to feel, and the actions we allow ourselves to perform. Each choice is made in the context of whatever value system we’ve selected to govern our lives. In selecting that value system, we are, in a very real way, making the most important choice we will ever make.

Those who believe there is one God who made all things and who governs the world by his Providence will make many choices different from those who do not. Those who hold in reverence that being who gave them life and worship Him through adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving will make many choices different from those who do not. Those who believe that mankind are all of a family and that the most acceptable service of God is doing good to man will make many choices different from those who do not. Those who believe in a future state in which all that is wrong here will be made right will make many choices different from those who do not. Those who subscribe to the morals of Jesus will make many choices different from those who do not.”

I found those words by Franklin so interesting. It’s true, life is about choices. Including what I am going to eat, whether or not I am going to exercise, and when I am going to sleep. What I stuck out the most is the connection that Franklin made to these choices among believers and non-believers. It made me wonder what my choices said about me.