American Foundations Lesson 7 Journal Activity.

American Foundations
Lesson 7 Journal Activity
06/12/2012


Economic virtue includes a set of standards and disciplines which allow an individual to prepare for the future and prepare for any trials that he or she may face. As member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints we are encouraged to live within our means, to save a portion of our income and to become self-reliant bothtemporally and spiritually. Avoiding the sin of entitlement, avoiding being a “gullible gull”, being honest in our dealings with our neighbors and working for what we want and living an economically virtuous life among others are a way to help each of us to live a full provident life.

Entitlement is the spirit or attitude of believing that we are owners of something just because of who weare. It is thinking that we are entitled to special treatments and privileges and that certain rules do not apply to us. It’s an attitude of pride and superiority. It demands much and it gives little or nothing.
In many ways the spirit of entitlement can affect a person. Personally I believe the spirit of entitlement has affected and can affect further in two areas of my life: 1) as a member ofthe church and 2) as the younger member of my family. First, I know that in many instances I have come to believe that as a member of the church I would be entitled to certain protection or certain privileges just because I am a baptized member of the church, or even worst, I would be given certain blessings without having to work for them. It is a false idea because obedience is always requiredeven after baptism.
Second, as a member of a family and in this case as the younger member of my family, it is very easy to think that just because I’m the youngest that rule does not apply to me or I don’t have to obey it because I’m the spoiled one, even further when properties or wealth appear in a family certain members feel that they are entitled to more or all just because they are theoldest, the one closest to the parents, or the smartest ones in the family. In both cases the spirit of entitlement can affect my life.

Differently to the spirit of entitlement, self-reliance allows me to put aside the feelings of pride and ownership of something without having to work for them. For me the principle of self-reliance is key to the development of my family and myself. Since theprinciple of self-reliance is not only a economical matter, it helps me and my family work in areas such as our individual testimonies to become spiritually independent dependent of the Lord, in our daily duties at home to help keep our homes in order, in our finances to become prepared for the future and in our health to enjoy life and be able to serve others. As president Marion G Rommeyexplained, “Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse. Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned. And most important of all, spiritual guidancecannot come from the spiritually weak.”(1) Service and self-reliance are so closely related that we must have one in order to do the other. Ultimately service will help a person develop himself or herself more than any other principle in this life.

I believe the role of work in our life as members of the church is described so perfectly in the words of Elder D. Todd Chrsitofferson when he says,“God has designed this mortal existence to required nearly constant exertion….. By work we sustain and enrich life. It enables us to survive the disappointments and tragedies of the mortal experience. Hard-earned achievement brings a sense of self-worth. Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God. A consecrated life is filled...