Self-Reliance

Developing Emotional Resiliency

By Katherine Ogden

~ D&C 58:28

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are familiar with the idea of being more prepared and self-reliant. We’ve been urged to keep at least a three-month supply of food and water, extra cash and a 72-hour emergency kit.

“Emphasis on self-reliance dates back to the mid-1800s, when food storage began as a pragmatic way to ensure survival as church members trekked across the country to Salt Lake City,” says Matthew Bowman, assistant professor of religion at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. Canneries have been a part of the Church’s welfare and preparedness program since the 1930’s.

The Church currently offers self-reliance courses and resources, including Personal Finances for Self-Reliance, Starting and Growing My Business for Self-Reliance, Find a Better Job for Self-Reliance, Education for Better Work for Self-Reliance, Life Skills (combining the three previous manuals), and English Connect (to help develop English skills).

But, what do you do to stay emotionally healthy and grounded when times are tough? What do you do when you are facing the loss of a job or family medical issues? How do we deal with all the resulting emotional struggles in a healthy way?

Recently, a new class was added to the Self-Reliance course line up, titled Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience. This course tackles topics such as Healthy Thinking Patterns, Managing Stress and Anxiety, Understanding Sadness and Depression, Overcoming Anger and Managing Addictive Behaviors. There are also chapters on Providing Strength to Others and Moving Forward in Faith. “My husband and I have had the wonderful opportunity to work in the Self Reliance program,” says Sister Tina Linford, of the Kimball East Stake. “I think this most recent class, Finding Strength in the Lord through Emotional Resilience, is one of the most inspired classes in the Church’s curriculum. It touches on a person’s emotional make-up as well as their relationship with God. It helped me identify what triggers my emotions, such as anger, irritations with others or lack of patience, and gave me tools on how to help improve in these areas. It touches on all strengths and weaknesses we may have and it helps me to hear how others deal with these same issues. The manual itself is a special experience that’s been inspired to draw you closer to the Lord. The class was an uplifting experience and we feel it’s the most useful class the Church has ever offered.”

Photo courtesy of www.churchofjesuschrist.org Emotional Resilience manual.

Continued on pg. 13

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