Deseret Ward News

Managing Your Money

"Most people spend on their yearning rather than their   earning".

The combined priesthood/relief society lesson on managing money was both timely (given the current global economic crisis) and inspirational. The message was grounded in basic economic principles that resonated with spiritual teachings such as self-reliance, increasing our capacity to serve others, being accountable and responsible for our earthly blessings, saving in times of plenty in preparation for the famines of income that may strike upon us suddenly.

Key teachings included:

1. Have  a budget: Know how much you get, and what your fixed and variable expenses are. Prevent leakage (eg... too many chocolate bars and pies)

2. Save regularly towards short term goals (car repairs, registration, medical emergencies), medium term goals (house deposit, having 12 months food storage), and long term goals (superannuation, property, assets that provide life-long security)

3. Understand the miracle of compounding interest: One need look no further than the example given of the $112,00 savings on a house loan of $200,000 simply by paying it off in fortnightly rather than monthly instalments in 20 rather than 25 years.

 

Announcements

Relief Society Christmas Activity. "An Unexpected Christmas"

This Wednesday 3rd December, 7pm - Relief Society Room

Join us for a night of friendship, service and Christmas Cheer

Dress: Tidy casual

Please bring:

* A permanent marker or fabric marker if you have one

* An ice - cream container lid

* A plate for Supper that includes an ingredient from your food storage (sugar, condensed milk, honey etc etc)

· Ward Council—Sunday 7th December

· Deseret Ward Christmas Activity—19th December from 6.30pm

· YSA National Conference– 31 December– 4 Jan 2009

 

Message from Bishopric

The Prophet Joseph Smith received two very specific "thanksgiving prayer" revelations. The first was, "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things" D&C 59:7

Next was, "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks" D&C 98:1

Things were not going well when the Lord gave these "thanksgiving" commandments to the early Saints; in fact, all hell was breaking loose. At the time the Prophet received Section 59, the Kirtland Safety Society had failed; most of the Saints, as well as the Prophet and his family, were in dire poverty. The attempt of Zion 's Camp to rescue the beleaguered Missouri Saints and restore them to their lands and homes had seemingly been for naught. Many key leaders had left the Church and were adding fuel to the fires of persecution.

The Kirtland Saints experienced such severe persecution that they had to leave comfortable homes and travel to Missouri in miserably cold and difficult conditions—and in Missouri they were anything but welcome. Agitated locals, chafing at the rumors of their land being chosen as the Mormon's " Zion " were like a volcano about to explode. Nothing seemed to be going right for the Saints—yet it was at this time the Lord commanded them to "thank the Lord thy God in all things"

So in your next prayers, no matter your circumstances, be grateful for everything.