Becoming Spiritually Self-Reliant

 Spiritual self-reliance is indeed a vital aspect of overall self-reliance, often overlooked in discussions about preparedness. Your point about making choices aligning with positive outcomes is especially poignant. It reflects the idea that our spiritual strength is cultivated through our actions and decisions, particularly when they align with principles of goodness and righteousness. 

Benjamin Franklin's quote underscores the importance of choosing values that guide our lives towards positive outcomes, which in turn strengthens our spiritual resilience. Obedience to higher laws and making wise choices can certainly fortify our spirits.

With all the talk of emergency preparedness, we sometimes forget about another aspect of self-reliance: spiritual self-reliance.  Are we spiritually strong enough to withstand the wiles of the world?  Are we spiritually self-reliant?

 First we have to choose between good and evil. When we consistently make good choices with positive outcomes, we strengthen our spiritual self-reliance. Benjamin Franklin had this to say about making choices: “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.” If we are obedient to God’s laws and choose wisely, our spirit is strengthened.

 Next, we have to nurture the goodness we have within us. Study scriptures, pray for guidance and for the good of others, as well as pondering the good words we read are all positive actions we can take over the course of the day and weeks in nurturing our goodness.

Lastly, be on the lookout for open messages from God.  That little voice or feeling which tells us to do something good keeps us on the right path. We should follow the impressions we get and the more we follow, the more positive experiences we will have and the stronger our spiritual self-reliance.

 One of the best talks I’ve ever heard was from a General Conference last October (2014) when Jörg Klegengat, church leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talked about approaching God with confidence. This is a no nonsense guide to spiritual self-reliance.

He says:

 “1. Take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being. Stop blaming others or your circumstances, stop justifying, and stop making excuses for why you may not be fully striving to be obedient.

2. Take responsibility for your own physical well-being. Your soul consists of your body and spirit. Feeding the spirit while neglecting the body, which is a temple, usually leads to spiritual dissonance and lowered self-esteem.

3. Embrace voluntary, wholehearted obedience as part of your life. Acknowledge that you cannot love God without also loving His commandments. The Savior’s standard is clear and simple: ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments’. (John 14:15) Selective obedience brings selective blessings, and choosing something bad over something worse is still choosing wrong.

4. Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly. Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out. Embrace the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance as things that are to be welcomed and applied daily according to the Great Physician’s orders.

5. Become really, really good at forgiving. Forgive everyone, everything, all the time, or at least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness your own life. Don’t hold grudges, don’t be easily offended, forgive and forget quickly, and don’t ever think that you are exempt from this commandment. Spiritual confidence increases when you know that the Lord knows that you bear no ill feelings toward another soul.

6. Accept trials, setbacks, and surprises as part of your mortal experience. Remember that you are here to be proved and tested.” (See: Klegengat, Jöge, “Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence,” Ensign, November 2014 pgs. 34-36.)

Using these wise words from Jörg Klegengat helps us to realize how we are affected in many areas of life through spiritual self-reliance. One of the ways we can gauge our spiritual self-reliance is in how we can serve others without expecting anything in return.  I know of a friend who gives of himself when others see disasters.  Michael has gone overseas in times of disaster in Japan, Haiti and now Nepal using his own money and the funds he collects from a non-profit organization he started to help others in natural disasters.  It is amazing what he has accomplished and he serves his fellow man without expecting anything back in return.

Using these effective tools, we can all become spiritually self-reliant and guard ourselves from any opposition which comes our way. We won’t always have family or close friends to rely on to keep us on the straight and narrow but with God’s help and our own spiritual strength we can stand for truth and righteousness and be spiritually self-reliant.