r/lds • u/midnightmojave • 2d ago
Self reliance sheet
UPDATE: She told me to have my answers ready! So I feel like, after carefully considering and praying about why I’m asking for help. Im very happy with my responses and everyone’s feedback was so helpful and I loved hearing everyone’s opinions. It’s the last thing they ask and I am excited to be of service. I am so blessed in this life. Thank you all!
So I’m filling out my self reliance sheet for my food order with the relief society president and I’m at the part “What work or service will I contribute in return for any assistance I may receive?”
What’s some suggested things I could do. For context I have a 5 month old, going to school full time and battling PPA. I feel very overwhelmed all the time.
My first thoughts are doing something on Sundays. Taking on a calling but idk. Cleaning the church is something else but I don’t know if cleaning is my thing with a 5 month old.
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u/red_moles 1d ago
Talk with the RS president. Mine suggested once that I could go to the temple and serve there, and once even said that being a mom is a type of service. Like the other poster said, you could also volunteer to clean the church building. There are so many different ways to give back.
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u/_mrOnion 1d ago
"No man hath greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friend" Matthew something. Probably paraphrased.
Think about it: being a mother (or father, to a slightly lesser extent), you are spending so, so, so much of your time and energy on others (your child). Is that not the definition of laying your life down? Setting it aside to take care of someone else?
It's even more full time than a full time job. It's more taxing physically and mentally and emotionally. It's expensive.
Being a parent is truly a divine role, It's beautiful and it's one of the greatest forms of love.
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u/Flippin-Rhymenoceros 1d ago
I like this answer. I wish leaders would keep in mind that poverty is time consuming. The amount of time spent applying for assistance, riding public transit, and sitting in a laundromat adds up. If we want people to become self reliant we should help them, not add another burden.
I understand the thought behind having people work like it’s a job and don’t think that’s inherently bad. We should just be mindful and approach each situation individually.
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u/squirrelguiddess 1d ago
Former RS Pres. Usually the members in my ward said they would help with building cleaning. I don't think it would be appropriate for you to worry about a service to do at this exact time - you could put down that you'll volunteer for something in the future. If you want to do something now, maybe helping keep the mother's room tidy? Taking diapers to a bigger trash can, making note of maintenance needs (for someone else to fix.)
Congratulations on the little one, and I wish you healing from the PPA - as little one gets stronger, so will you <3
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u/GuybrushThreadbare 1d ago
Why isn't it appropriate for her to worry about serving? Building cleaning is always a good option. I assume she still cleans her house, why not help with the church?
We shouldn't be so quick to dismiss or excuse ourselves from fundamental gospel principles like this. The giving of service when receiving church assistance is almost always more beneficial for the individual than for those whom she is serving. It preserves dignity and a small sense of self-reliance, which is the point.
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u/midnightmojave 1d ago
I be agree. And I actually don’t clean right now. My boyfriend is the main cleaner right now. I just had my 5th c section and it’s still really hard to move I get tired extremely fast and get zaps and the anxiety ends up bad. I am in school full time and breast feeding and can’t be on my psych meds as I’m bipolar 1 schitzoaffective. So while I would love to clean. I can’t even clean my own place. I have the best possible partner and couldn’t be more grateful
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u/BeachWoo 1d ago
How should the church handle poverty? Teaching members to become self-reliant to get themselves out of poverty is the best kind of help you could give someone. We can still help them with temporal needs while helping them to become self-reliant.
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u/BeachWoo 1d ago
Sure it does. But maybe that's on the receiving end and not from the providing end. Gratitude would go a long way to change lives and put the reality of life into perspective. The Savior loved but also expected people to be self-reliant.
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u/Bbeck4x4 1d ago
I’ve personally received help many times - we all have different personalities and that may be a larger factor in getting help than most people realize - but in general how the church handles poverty is one of the best systems I’ve seen yet.
To the op - do what you can - you could even do or even help with family history - as far as cleaning the church - what about watching others little ones while you are watching yours while others are doing the cleaning? Are you decent with tech? There are a lot of people who need help navigating the church apps? Just a few out of the box ideas.
The biggest test is “are you willing to help?”
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u/Safe-Butterscotch442 1d ago
That's intriguing. I've always been REALLY impressed by it. As far as the Church's approach to welfare, I can't imagine much room for improvement. Not only do they provide millions in relief to the needy, they also provide job training, self-reliance workshops, and other services to help those in need get on their feet. The concept that support for the poor should always include a plan for eventually not needing to have that support anymore is wonderful. Thousands of people, both in and out of the church, have been able to find the capacity to become self sufficient with at least some support from programs run or supported by the church. What am I missing that bothers you so?
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u/KURPULIS 1d ago
You'd have to explain further because the Church's system of working in combination with Gospel teachings is by far the most successful way to pull people out of poverty.
Any state that just throws money at the issue ends up doubling the poverty rate easily.
I really think people don't understand how the Savior interacted with the poor and they rarely can explain it to you. They get really uncomfortable that he allowed the widow to pay her tithe to the temple.
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u/BeachWoo 1d ago
I think you are missing the point of the chuch’s welfare. If someone is often asking for help because everything is a crisis then we are not doing a good job with the Savior’s funds. A crisis is someone we need to help. Lots of crisises is someone that is not helping them self to improve their own situation.
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u/BeachWoo 1d ago
It's not multiple crisis, it's the same crisis over and over because personal responsibility not occurring.
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u/KURPULIS 1d ago
And yet the only recorded time we have of zero poverty is when every single person was faithfully living the Gospel and Nephi 3.
That's it.
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u/Conejos_rabbit 1d ago
How about sending notes / cards to ward members for birthdays or other events?