Provident Living

By Deborah Haynie....
Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually

Elder Robert D. Hales, Saturday Morning Session, April 2009

Elder Hales addressed his remarks “to all whose freedom to choose has been diminished by the effects of ill-advised choices of the past. Specifically of choices that have led to excessive debt and addictions to food, drugs, pornography, and other patterns of thought and action that diminish one’s sense of self worth.” He reminds us that the hopeful solution to debt and addiction is to turn to the Lord and follow His commandments.

In both temporal and spiritual things, we must ask for help from our Heavenly Father and seek strength through the atonement.
To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living:
Joyfully living within our means
Being content with what we have
Avoiding excessive debt
Diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies

Elder Hales stresses that “when we go into debt to buy things we can’t afford and things we really don’t need, we become poor temporally and spiritually. We do not have the time, energy, or interest to seek spiritual things.” We must say to ourselves “We can’t afford it, even though we want it!” or “We can afford it, but we don’t need it – and we really don’t even want it!”

The foundation of provident living is the law of the tithe. Tithing helps us overcome our desires for the things of this world and willingly make sacrifices for others. The payment of fast offerings helps us draw closer to the Lord and can bless others all over the world. We should also help our children learn to be provident providers by having a family budget and teaching our children the difference between wants and needs.

Elder Hales leaves us with his testimony, “I testify that the appetite to possess worldly things can only be overcome by turning to the Lord. The hunger of addiction can only be replaced by our love for Him. He stands ready to help each one of us.”