Hi all - I know it has been a while, so i thought i would post a talk i gave today in church.
Enjoy!
Craig
-----------------------------------
When I think of the words Temporal Welfare I think firstly about the words. To me the word Temporal means something that is not long lasting, something that is temporary, like food, water, sleep, worldly or material positions. None of these items are long lasting.
When I think of welfare, I think about wants and needs.
Putting them together, gives me an impression that our Temporal Welfare relates primarily to our ability to decipher and control our temporary worldly wants and needs.
Temporal Welfare is about learning to exercise self-control over our wants and needs. The moment we have allowed our wants to drive our thoughts and desires we have started on a path that can cause us to forget their true purpose.
In most cases the scriptures uses the term Temporal in conjunction with the word Spiritual suggesting that there is a strong link between the two.
If we are out of balance in respect to our management of our temporal needs it can significantly impact on our abilities to grow spiritually. For instance mismanagement of our desires for food, drink, inappropriate images, and finances can entice us into a bondage that we find difficult to change.
In this state our abilities to seek after the things of God are numbed and as our focus to seek after the things of real importance is put to one side, because we become consumed with satisfying our temporal desires.
Temporal welfare differs from Spiritual Welfare in that we are encouraged to look to the Saviour Jesus Christ for our spiritual needs however for temporal needs we are encouraged to be “self-reliant”.
In the Book of Mormon, King Bingaman, the leader of the Nephite people, taught this valuable principle. In Mosiah 2:14 we read:
“And even I, myself, have laboured with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.”
He taught that others should not be burdened by his own temporal needs and that we need to take self-control over our own needs and not burden others by our needs.
The world gives us a very different story, in that it teaches us that the world owes us something and that we are entitled to resources without or with little effort. We are also constantly told by the world that we should “buy now, and pay later”.
This thought process teaches us bad habits and removes the self-control over ability to manage our wants and needs. It teaches us if we want something we should get it now, and puts the consequences to another time. It removes the thought of if one can afford it because you don’t have to worry about that until sometime in the future, and until that time, you can we can enjoy item.
There are countless references from the Prophets, Apostles and church leaders about the issues of debt and how we need to avoid “Unnecessary” debt.
President Gordon B Hinckley (To Men of the Priesthood, October 2002) said often that we need to “Get out of debt and rid yourself of the terrible bondage that debt brings.”
He also encouraged us to “Save a little money regularly” and how we will “be surprised how it accumulates.”
The scriptures forewarned of this issue. In Doctrine and Covenants 89:4 as part of the instruction about the Word of Wisdom we are told about in the last days there would be conspiring men with evil designs.
“Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation”
When I was at University some years ago I studied Marketing and in my studies was taught that marketing was about changing ones desires. It was about creating wants when they did not exist, and blurring the distinction of a want and need, by attempting to turn peoples wants into a perceived need.
For us to stay away from this design, we need to be strong and ensure that we live within our means, and exercise self-control over our wants and needs.
Sometimes doing things in the Lords way is harder and requires a greater sacrifice, however is far more rewarding.
Kirsty and I have had a want for some time, to get a people mover. At this stage it is not a need, and I might add there certainly are no plans to make it a need either. We have sufficient seats for our family and when we need to transport others whilst incontinent and not ideal we often take two cars.
We want a larger vehicle for good wholesome reasons. We want to be able to travel to church as a family and be able to have room for others. We want our children to be able to invite a friend from time to time on a family outing and travel together. When our children are older we want to be the ones that transport our children and their friends to places. We don’t mind being parental Taxi’s as we want to know our children during those years, and be a part of their lives. In addition we want to know our children’s friends and they know us.
No matter how good our reasons are, it is still a want, rather than a need.
If we followed the world’s council, we should do what we can to satisfy our want now and worry about the consequences later. I am certain that we would have no issue in obtaining the funds required to purchase such a vehicle from a financial institution tomorrow, however what would we learn, and what would we teach our children.
Our children are aware of our want, and they want it too. To not have to sit so close to a sibling with sticky fingers, one who likes to pull hair or one who touches without notice would be a “dream come true” for them. Whilst they are aware of the plan they are also aware of how we are going about saving for it.
When Kirsty and I decided getting a larger vehicle was what we wanted to do, we made plans to fulfil our want in a timeframe that would fit some of our reasons. It has meant that the end result might not be exactly what we want. It may not be our first choice in brand, or age however it will be what we can afford. To reach the timeframe we desire some projects have been put on hold, holidays reduced and by the time we get our people mover it will have been years since we started saving.
In trying to live in the Lords way to ensure that our wants and needs are put into perspective, we are not only following good guidance, we are also teaching our children a way of life that contradicts the advice of the world to. This method ensures that no matter what happens when the time comes we will be more than satisfied with the outcome and we will be freeing ourselves from the potential consequence of being in debt. It also makes it easier for us to teach our children how they need to save to satisfy their wants, and how many choices will come up during that time that will test and question how much you really want something.
Elder Robert D. Hales in the 2009 Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting - Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance(February 2009) said:
“Preparing for the future includes making a spending and savings plan with our income. Carefully making and keeping a family or personal budget can help us recognize and control the difference between our wants and needs. Reviewing that budget in a family council will allow our children to learn and practice wise spending habits and to participate in planning and saving for the future.”
This was repeated in his following conference address ( Elder Robert D. Hales - Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually, April 2009).
There is a saying that indicates we should “Keep up with the Jones’s”. It is my view that we should let the Jones’s pass us by and travel at our own pace. There is no harm in not having a rental property or pay tv. There is no harm in having an old TV, an old couch, clothes that are a year old, or a modest car, even when others have them.
It is my prayer that we may be able to avoid the conspiring men of this world, that we may be able to be in control of our worldly wants. I hope our quest for Temporal Welfare will not significantly impact on our abilities to grow spiritually.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Enjoy!
Craig
-----------------------------------
When I think of the words Temporal Welfare I think firstly about the words. To me the word Temporal means something that is not long lasting, something that is temporary, like food, water, sleep, worldly or material positions. None of these items are long lasting.
When I think of welfare, I think about wants and needs.
Putting them together, gives me an impression that our Temporal Welfare relates primarily to our ability to decipher and control our temporary worldly wants and needs.
Temporal Welfare is about learning to exercise self-control over our wants and needs. The moment we have allowed our wants to drive our thoughts and desires we have started on a path that can cause us to forget their true purpose.
In most cases the scriptures uses the term Temporal in conjunction with the word Spiritual suggesting that there is a strong link between the two.
If we are out of balance in respect to our management of our temporal needs it can significantly impact on our abilities to grow spiritually. For instance mismanagement of our desires for food, drink, inappropriate images, and finances can entice us into a bondage that we find difficult to change.
In this state our abilities to seek after the things of God are numbed and as our focus to seek after the things of real importance is put to one side, because we become consumed with satisfying our temporal desires.
Temporal welfare differs from Spiritual Welfare in that we are encouraged to look to the Saviour Jesus Christ for our spiritual needs however for temporal needs we are encouraged to be “self-reliant”.
In the Book of Mormon, King Bingaman, the leader of the Nephite people, taught this valuable principle. In Mosiah 2:14 we read:
“And even I, myself, have laboured with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.”
He taught that others should not be burdened by his own temporal needs and that we need to take self-control over our own needs and not burden others by our needs.
The world gives us a very different story, in that it teaches us that the world owes us something and that we are entitled to resources without or with little effort. We are also constantly told by the world that we should “buy now, and pay later”.
This thought process teaches us bad habits and removes the self-control over ability to manage our wants and needs. It teaches us if we want something we should get it now, and puts the consequences to another time. It removes the thought of if one can afford it because you don’t have to worry about that until sometime in the future, and until that time, you can we can enjoy item.
There are countless references from the Prophets, Apostles and church leaders about the issues of debt and how we need to avoid “Unnecessary” debt.
President Gordon B Hinckley (To Men of the Priesthood, October 2002) said often that we need to “Get out of debt and rid yourself of the terrible bondage that debt brings.”
He also encouraged us to “Save a little money regularly” and how we will “be surprised how it accumulates.”
The scriptures forewarned of this issue. In Doctrine and Covenants 89:4 as part of the instruction about the Word of Wisdom we are told about in the last days there would be conspiring men with evil designs.
“Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation”
When I was at University some years ago I studied Marketing and in my studies was taught that marketing was about changing ones desires. It was about creating wants when they did not exist, and blurring the distinction of a want and need, by attempting to turn peoples wants into a perceived need.
For us to stay away from this design, we need to be strong and ensure that we live within our means, and exercise self-control over our wants and needs.
Sometimes doing things in the Lords way is harder and requires a greater sacrifice, however is far more rewarding.
Kirsty and I have had a want for some time, to get a people mover. At this stage it is not a need, and I might add there certainly are no plans to make it a need either. We have sufficient seats for our family and when we need to transport others whilst incontinent and not ideal we often take two cars.
We want a larger vehicle for good wholesome reasons. We want to be able to travel to church as a family and be able to have room for others. We want our children to be able to invite a friend from time to time on a family outing and travel together. When our children are older we want to be the ones that transport our children and their friends to places. We don’t mind being parental Taxi’s as we want to know our children during those years, and be a part of their lives. In addition we want to know our children’s friends and they know us.
No matter how good our reasons are, it is still a want, rather than a need.
If we followed the world’s council, we should do what we can to satisfy our want now and worry about the consequences later. I am certain that we would have no issue in obtaining the funds required to purchase such a vehicle from a financial institution tomorrow, however what would we learn, and what would we teach our children.
Our children are aware of our want, and they want it too. To not have to sit so close to a sibling with sticky fingers, one who likes to pull hair or one who touches without notice would be a “dream come true” for them. Whilst they are aware of the plan they are also aware of how we are going about saving for it.
When Kirsty and I decided getting a larger vehicle was what we wanted to do, we made plans to fulfil our want in a timeframe that would fit some of our reasons. It has meant that the end result might not be exactly what we want. It may not be our first choice in brand, or age however it will be what we can afford. To reach the timeframe we desire some projects have been put on hold, holidays reduced and by the time we get our people mover it will have been years since we started saving.
In trying to live in the Lords way to ensure that our wants and needs are put into perspective, we are not only following good guidance, we are also teaching our children a way of life that contradicts the advice of the world to. This method ensures that no matter what happens when the time comes we will be more than satisfied with the outcome and we will be freeing ourselves from the potential consequence of being in debt. It also makes it easier for us to teach our children how they need to save to satisfy their wants, and how many choices will come up during that time that will test and question how much you really want something.
Elder Robert D. Hales in the 2009 Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting - Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance(February 2009) said:
“Preparing for the future includes making a spending and savings plan with our income. Carefully making and keeping a family or personal budget can help us recognize and control the difference between our wants and needs. Reviewing that budget in a family council will allow our children to learn and practice wise spending habits and to participate in planning and saving for the future.”
This was repeated in his following conference address ( Elder Robert D. Hales - Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually, April 2009).
There is a saying that indicates we should “Keep up with the Jones’s”. It is my view that we should let the Jones’s pass us by and travel at our own pace. There is no harm in not having a rental property or pay tv. There is no harm in having an old TV, an old couch, clothes that are a year old, or a modest car, even when others have them.
It is my prayer that we may be able to avoid the conspiring men of this world, that we may be able to be in control of our worldly wants. I hope our quest for Temporal Welfare will not significantly impact on our abilities to grow spiritually.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
1 comment:
Thanks Craig. I really enjoyed it.
While I generally practice what you have just spoken about it's good to be reminded. You can learn something new or be reminded of goals in every situation if you're open to it.
I love you and I miss you. While I wish there were more opportunities for us to see each other often I'm glad we're both sensible and don't overspend unnecessarily.
Tammy
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