Avoiding crisis living

***Before I get started on my post, a few pictures are on the cookie blog...***

Who me? Live in crisis? Nah. Couldn't be me!

In my church ward, I work with the 'Young Women', the gals ages 12-18. Today we had an awesome lesson on Avoiding Crisis Living. Probably written just for me. No one could need that lesson as much as I do. :) But just in case some of you are as overwhelmed as I am during the holidays, I thought I'd share. Here is an except:


1. Establish priorities. Each week or each day, consider what you have to do; then decide which things are most important. Do the most important things first.

2. Eliminate unimportant things. You may find that some of your activities only waste time and do not add much to your life. Eliminate the unimportant things.

3. Improve work and study habits. Discipline yourself to work and study hard. Start on long-term projects well before they are due.

4. Recognize your limitations. Remember that no one can do everything. Be realistic in your expectations of yourself. Avoid comparing your abilities with those of others.

In Doctrine and Covenants 10:4 it says. "Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided..."

We also talked a little bit about money management. Again, maybe I'm the only one with money issues, but if not:


1. Church Contributions

“I often wonder if we realize that paying our tithing does not represent giving gifts to the Lord and the Church. Paying tithing is discharging a debt to the Lord. The Lord is the source of all our blessings, including life itself.

“The payment of tithing is a commandment, a commandment with a promise. If we obey this commandment, we are promised that we will ‘prosper in the land.’ This prosperity consists of more than material goods—it may include enjoying good health and vigor of mind. It includes family solidarity and spiritual increase. I hope those of you not presently paying your full tithe will seek the faith and strength to do so. As you discharge this obligation to your Maker, you will find great, great happiness, the like of which is known only by those who are faithful to this commandment” (N. Eldon Tanner, in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, p. 119; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 81).

2. Debt

“The First Presidency would like to urge every member of the Church to follow the example set by the Church and to live within his income. Anyone who lives beyond his income is inviting disaster. Borrowed money is not income. … Borrowing to live on is unsound, whether it be an outright loan or installment buying. We urge the members to be frugal, thrifty, industrious, temperate, saving, and to live righteously” (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., quoted in “Making Money More Valuable,” Relief Society Magazine, Oct. 1957, p. 695).

“You should do everything you can to get out of debt and to stay solvent. I realize you need credit to buy your homes, or possibly advance your education, and sometimes transportation, but outside of this, you should pay as you go” (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Gospel Teacher and His Message,” address given to religious educators, 17 Sept. 1976).

3. Savings

“If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage” (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941], p. 292).

“I would respectfully urge you to live by the fundamental principles of work, thrift, and self-reliance. … Live within your own earnings. Put a portion of those earnings regularly into savings” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], pp. 262–63).

“Whether early in life or late, we must all eventually learn to discipline ourselves, our appetites, and our economic desires. How blessed is he who learns to spend less than he earns and puts something away for a rainy day” (N. Eldon Tanner, “Constancy Amid Change,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 81).

4. Self-Discipline

“If you cannot obtain all you wish for today, learn to do without that which you cannot purchase and pay for; and bring your minds into subjection that you must and will live within your means” (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 293).

“I have discovered that there is no way that you can ever earn more than you can spend. I am convinced that it is not the amount of money an individual earns that brings peace of mind as much as it is having control of his money. Money can be an obedient servant but a harsh taskmaster. Those who structure their standard of living to allow a little surplus, control their circumstances. Those who spend a little more than they earn are controlled by their circumstances. They are in bondage. … The key to spending less than we earn is simple—it is called discipline” (N. Eldon Tanner, “Constancy Amid Change,” p. 81).

5. Budgeting

“No matter how much or how little we have to live on each week or month, it needs to be used wisely. We need to decide on a budget and live within it. Some claim living within a budget takes the fun out of life and is too restrictive. But those who avoid the inconvenience of a budget must suffer the pains of living outside of it. The Church operates within a budget. Successful business functions within a budget. Families free of crushing debt have a budget. Budget guidelines encourage better performance and management” (Marvin J. Ashton, “It’s No Fun Being Poor,” Ensign, Sept. 1982, p. 75).

6. Honesty

“Be honest in all your financial affairs. The ideal of integrity will never go out of style. It applies to all we do. As leaders and members of the Church, we should be the epitome of integrity” (N. Eldon Tanner, in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, p. 121; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 82).

“It is a sin to lie. Being trapped in the snares of dishonesty and misrepresentation does not happen instantaneously. One little lie or dishonest act leads to another until the perpetrator is caught in the web of deceit. …

“In all of our words and deeds we should ask ourselves, ‘Is it right? Is it true?’ not ‘Is it expedient, satisfactory, convenient, or profitable?’ ” (Marvin J. Ashton, in Conference Report, Apr. 1982, pp. 11, 13; or Ensign, May 1982, pp. 9, 11).

Hope this can help you as much as it helped me!