Above Yourself

Welcome to Above Yourself, a blog about self-improvement and faith. If you're new here, you may want to subscribe in a reader or subscribe by email. Many of the topics here are related to my faith in Jesus Christ and Mormonism, but all are welcome to share their own beliefs. Thanks for visiting!

From the LDS Church pamphlet “If Ye Are Prepared”, the first step to family finances is to pay tithes and offerings. This pamphlet is accompanied by an online lesson financial course entitled “Peace in Your Hearts“.

Paying tithing shows our faith

As seen in the Bible, tithing is a commandment from God. When we fulfill any of God’s commandments with purpose, we show our faith in Him. Also, his promises are great for us. As the apostle Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin reminds us,

“First, pay your tithing. Do you want the windows of heaven opened to you? Do you wish to receive blessings so great there is not room enough to receive them? 7 Always pay your tithing and leave the outcome in the hands of the Lord.

Obedience to God’s commandments is the foundation for a happy life. Surely we will be blessed with the gifts of heaven for our obedience. Failure to pay tithing by those who know the principle can lead to heartache in this life and perhaps sorrow in the next.”

Giving Offerings helps you rise above yourself

Offerings are other donations given to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to benefit others. There are several types of offerings that one can give to the church, and each of these are in turn given to those in need.

Fast offerings are one of the most common types of these donations, and we are encouraged to give a generous fast offering to accompany our monthly fasts. During these periods of fasting, we can give of ourself temporally (through these offerings) as well as spiritually (in dedication to the Lord and through prayer). This helps us to rise above ourselves and to increase our focus to those around us who might not have the means financially to provide for themselves.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, our current prophet, said:

“Think … of what would happen if the principles of fast day and the fast offering were observed throughout the world. The hungry would be fed, the naked clothed, the homeless sheltered. Our burden of taxes would be lightened. The giver would not suffer but would be blessed by his small abstinence. A new measure of concern and unselfishness would grow in the hearts of people everywhere” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1991, 73; or Ensign, May 1991, 52–53).

Follow the other sections in the Family Finance Overview.

In February, the leadership of the Mormon Church issued a pamphlet entitled “All is Safely Gathered In” to help families and individuals learn the basic principles of how to plan family finances. Although it does not go into a lot of detail, it provides basic principles on which finances can be rooted. Without this base, it is easy for us to become lost in debt or even bankruptcy. In explaining the purpose of this family finances overview, the First Presidency said:

“We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt. . . . If you have paid your debts and have a financial reserve, even though it be small, you and your family will feel more secure and enjoy greater peace in your hearts.”

I can echo this statement wholeheartedly. Although ours wasn’t a drastic change, since my wife and I began implementing these steps with a budget and an emergency reserve, we have been able to focus on living life rather than worrying about it. Although much of it is echoed on the Family Finances channel on Provident Living.org, each of these principles from the pamphlet is essential, and I will look at them in more detail over the coming few days:

• Pay Tithes and Offerings
• Avoid Debt
• Use a Budget
• Build a Reserve
• Teach Family Members

I am very excited that the church has addressed this so straightforwardly. It has definitely become a problem in our credit card society where we can spend much more than we earn, so having a resource so straightforward as this pamphlet helps greatly as our families try to live debt-free.

Every once in a while, I have the privilege to read something that echoes exactly what I have been thinking about a topic. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to watch a two-part documentary by PBS on Mormonism. Many other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had that same privilege, and the church noted these commentaries in a release from the Church’s Newsroom that clarifies many of our basic beliefs. As a Mormon myself, this caused a lot of inward thinking about what exactly I believe.

I believe in God. I believe that he is our Heavenly Father and that he loves us very much. I’ve come to understand this at new depth recently since I’ve become a father myself. Our Heavenly Father truly cares for each of us and for our own well being, but he also understands that each of us need to grow up, just like my little girl needs chances to learn things for herself, even if it means falling down a few times.

I believe in Jesus Christ. I had the opportunity to serve the people of Argentina as a missionary for two years, and during those two years I gained an incredible sense of wonderment and awe for our Savior Jesus Christ. Although I could never express it fully in words, I believe that he loves us very much and that he died so that we can live again. He was resurrected so that we, too, can one day rise again after death. His sacrifice for us was immeasurable.

I believe in the Holy Ghost. Through the Holy Ghost we can receive a personal conviction of the gospel. This means that God loves me so much that he has given me a chance to find out his truths for myself. I can receive a witness for myself that is not based on the beliefs of others, but is rooted in my faith in Jesus Christ.

Although gospel truths certainly touch on many more subjects than these, all doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is founded on our belief in Jesus Christ:

Based on the scriptures, Joseph Smith declared: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

Would you like to see more testimonies of members of the Mormon Church? You are also welcome to discuss it with me here, or you can learn more about Mormonism online.

We live in a time where we’re blessed to have access to God’s word through the scriptures. These holy books contain God’s word written by his prophets. Many of us have read some part of the scriptures before, but why should we read the scriptures on an ongoing basis? Elder Henry B. Eyring replied to that question in a discussion on scripture study:

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, and we learn about Him in its pages. We know that it has great power. It has the power to change lives. It has the power to convert. If you read it with an open heart, you will know that it is the word of God and that it is true.

Through the Book of Mormon the Lord can also teach us about being with and serving people. This book reveals the will of the Lord for family life in a way that the other scriptures don’t even approach. I believe that is largely because of its interesting structure. It’s about families; it’s about people’s relationships. It starts with families, it ends with families, and we come to love these families.

Like any habit, daily scripture reading takes practice. To start, it’s best to decide on a time each day that you can read the scriptures. If you can make a habit of getting up early, beginning your day with scripture reading can have a profound effect on your life. Keep track of your progress and set goals, perhaps using the online tools at Readthescriptures.com. My wife and I are on a scripture-reading “team” that lets us keep track of each others’ reading, as well as to keep track of our family scripture reading.

Let us know of any tips you may have for daily scripture reading in the comments.