My first missionary assignment was to the Tokyo Third Ward in Kichijoji, Tokyo, Japan. I struggled to connect and fit in. The language was difficult, and the culture was very different from what I knew and felt comfortable with. I was discouraged and darkness began to creep into my world. Surrounded by crowds, I never felt more alone in my entire life.
The start of a new year is the perfect time to evaluate your financial habits and budget for the year. Setting aside some dedicated time to review your 2025 spending plan allows you to make changes based on your income, expenses, and financial goals. In this article, we’ll share tips on how to approach revisiting your spending plan as the year begins.
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 current Self-Reliance Groups began on January 26, 2025. However, there is still time to join. Meetings are at 6:00 pm on Sunday Evenings at the South Stake Center, 865 South 300 West in Brigham City. The groups are organized based on individual interests.
I spent Christmas of 1976 in the nation of Japan. Most of the people I met were Shinto and Buddhist. They celebrated Shinto weddings and Buddhist funerals. They mostly ignored Christmas. Many people would eat cake on Christmas (Kurisumasu keki). Kentucky Fried Chicken advertised and encouraged people to celebrate Christmas by eating fried chicken. However, there was very little focus on Jesus Christ, the Creator, and Savior of the world.
I was in the city of Niigata on the West Coast of Japan where cold Siberian winds cooled the winter weather. There were 12 missionaries in Niigata and two nearby towns. But Tokyo and our mission leadership were many hours away by train. So, we felt very separated from the other missionaries. This was the year that I discovered that Christmas was not in the decorations or the lights of the season but in our focus on our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord.
As 2025 approaches, now is an ideal time to review your finances and set goals that align with your long-term vision. Taking proactive steps early on can help you establish habits that make it easier to reach your objectives. This article will outline practical financial resolutions for 2025 to start implementing today, giving you a head start on building a solid financial foundation for the coming year.
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 January 26, 2025. Groups will be organized based on individual interests.
Self-Reliance 