Self reliance

1) "I testify that you will remove barriers to happiness and find greater peace as you make your first allegiance your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, and His teachings the foundation of your life." (April 1998 removing barriers to happiness)
When your energies are harnessed, when your dreams are focused, marvelous things happen.(President  Hinckley to boys and to men Oct 1998)

2) "I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order.
So many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings.[...]There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed."(President Hinckley to boys and to men Oct 1998)

3) "We are carrying a message of self-reliance throughout the Church. Self-reliance cannot obtain when there is serious debt hanging over a household. One has neither independence nor freedom from bondage when he is obligated to others.[...]I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage." (to boys and to men Hinckley 1998 Oct)

5) "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, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others."(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

6) " the four most caring words for those we love are “We can’t afford it.”"(Becoming provident providers temporally and spiritually elder hales April 2009)

7)“Once you have studied the doctrines and principles of the Churchwide welfare plan, seek to apply what you have learned to the needs of those within your stewardship. What this means is that, in large measure, you’re going to have to figure it out for yourself. […]There is no one-size-fits-all answer in Church welfare. It is a self-help program where individuals are responsible for personal self-reliance. Our resources include personal prayer, our own God-given talents and abilities, the assets available to us through our own families and extended family members, various community resources, and of course the caring support of priesthood quorums and the Relief Society. This will lead us through the inspired pattern of self-reliance.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  PROVIDING IN THE LORD’S WAY General Conferences October 2011)

8)"Principles of love, work, self-reliance, and consecration are God given. Those who embrace them and govern themselves accordingly become pure in heart." (Come to Zion! Come to Zion! KEITH B. MCMULLIN OCTOBER 2002)

9)"We are sons and daughters of God and are truly dependent upon Him for all that we have. If we keep His commandments, He will never forsake us. But Heavenly Father does not do for us what we can and should do for ourselves. He expects us to use the means we receive of Him to care for ourselves and our families. When we do so, we are self-reliant." (Come to Zion! Come to Zion! KEITH B. MCMULLIN OCTOBER 2002)

10)"The Lord does help when we go to Him in times of need, especially when we are committed to His work and respond to His will. But the Lord only helps those who are willing to help themselves. He expects His children to be self-reliant to the degree they can be." (Becoming Self-Reliant L. TOM PERRY OCTOBER 1991)

11)"We become more self-reliant when we study the holy scriptures, which teach the principles that provide a divine center to our lives here in mortality."  (Becoming Self-Reliant L. TOM PERRY OCTOBER 1991)

Why does it matter?: Our mortal existences is a test to see what choice we will make with our agency. Part of what we are here to learn is how to take care of ourselves and others. Can we take care of ourselves and our family temporally and spiritually. At times we might not be able to accomplish this, but I have a testimony that if we are trying to be self reliant we will have more opportunities in life. This isn't about just standing alone and not accepting help from others, but getting the help you need striving to be self reliant.