As I was preparing for this coming week's Relief Society lesson, I was reminded of the above video. I love how the most loving words you can say are "We can't afford it." When you think about that statement, I hope it rings true like it did for me.
The Lord said in D&C 29:30, "all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal." This may seem strange to us as we are living in a temporal world and being given counsel from the leaders of the church regarding debt. But our Father in Heaven wants us to be happy! "Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). He knows perfectly that we can't be happy when we are captive. Heavenly Father wishes us to be free - and that includes free of financial burdens.
Ezra Taft Benson gave great insight on this subject. Comparing the Parable of the Virgins with our temporal preparation, he said, "The scriptural parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins [see Matthew 25:1–13] is a reminder that one can wait too long before he attempts to get his spiritual and temporal house in order. Are we prepared? We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared."
We KNOW that there will be calamities ahead. The Lord has told us and the Lord has asked us to prepare because He loves us. I believe that when those times come, the righteous won't just be spared challenges because they've made covenants. I believe that the righteous WILL face challenges, but because they heed the counsel of the Lord's servants, they will be prepared.
I want to share one more quote by President Benson. "I would respectfully urge you to live by the fundamental principles of work, thrift, and self-reliance and to teach your children by your example. … Live within your own earnings. Put a portion of those earnings regularly into savings. Avoid unnecessary debt. Be wise by not trying to expand too rapidly. Learn to manage well what you have before you think of expanding further...Save now and buy later, and you will be much further ahead."
I know that this principle is true. When we exercise the Christ-like attribute of patience and decide to "save now and buy later" we will be prepared for the future and will therefore be blessed with a spirit of peace in our families.
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