Spiritual and Temporal Self-Reliance

From the Church Handbook of Instructions, we learn: “The Savior has commanded the Church and its members to be self-reliant and independent. …

“To become self-reliant, a person must work. Work is physical, mental, or spiritual effort. It is a basic source of happiness, self-worth, and prosperity. Through work, people accomplish many good things in their lives. …

“As people become self-reliant, they are better prepared to endure adversities” and are “better able to care for others in need.”

President Marion G. Romney (1897–1988) taught: “Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak.” 

Self-reliance is not about vainly thinking you can work and save yourself.  Self-reliance is about cultivating your own dependance and personal relationship with Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.  Self-reliance (not self-sufficiency) is about becoming an agent and applying the teachings of Jesus Christ and receiving the spiritual  and temporal blessings therefrom such that you become enabled to spiritually and  temporally assist others and serve in God's kingdom.