Last month, when we got some heavy snow, I decided to use my snowblower to clean my driveway and sidewalks. When I tried to start it nothing happened no matter how many times I tried. I was grateful for an electric starter instead of pulling a cord each time. However, months previously in the summer or fall, I had not taken care to see that the engine was properly prepared and in working order before the storm came. No matter how many times I cranked the engine it could not start. I had not prepared properly in the summer or fall for the winter storms.
Tax season may feel far away, but starting early can help streamline the process and reduce stress when deadlines approach. By organizing your financial information and planning ahead, you can identify opportunities to align your tax strategy with your overall financial goals. In this article, we’ll discuss tax season preparation and share some early moves to consider as you prepare for tax season this year.
In the April 2024 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson taught us about the blessings of serving in the House of the Lord. “Time in the temple will help you to think celestial and to catch a vision of who you really are, who you can become, and the kind of life you can have forever. Regular temple worship will enhance the way you see yourself and how you fit into God’s magnificent plan. I promise you that.”
The purpose of becoming spiritually and temporally self-reliant is to better serve the Lord and care for others. The Savior invites us all to act, to stand independent, and to become as He is. He will help us. He has promised: “It is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. But it must needs be done in mine own way.” His way includes learning and living the principles of self-reliance—“the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the necessities of life for self and family.”
The Lord has said, “It is my purpose to provide for my saints . . . but it must needs be done in mine own way” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:15, 16). This is a promise that Heavenly Father will help take care of His children as they follow Him. Self-reliance does not mean that we can accomplish or obtain anything we want. If we are self-reliant we believe that through the power of Christ, and through our own effort, we can work for the spiritual and practical needs of life. Many people can become more self-reliant. With Self Reliance Groups much of the work takes place in small groups that combine spiritual principles with practical skills.
The next Self-Reliance Groups are scheduled to begin on September 14, 2025. Groups will be organized based on individual interests.
Self-Reliance 