Self-Reliance & Self-Respect

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Severalweeksagothenewshighlightedaneventofgreatinteresttotheworkofeconomicdevelopment.TheNobelPeacePrizefor2006

wasawardedtoMuhammadYunusofBangladeshforhisrevolutionarymicrocreditprogram.HisGrameenBankhasloanedalmost$6billiontomorethan6mil-lionborrowers.TheNobelcommittee’snewsreleasestatesthatYunus’simple,yetrevolutionaryideaofloaningtinysumstopoorpeoplelookingtoescapepovertybystartingbusinesses“hasspreadaroundtheglobeinthepastthreedecadesandissaidtohavehelpedmorethan100millionpeopletaketheirfirststepstoriseoutofpoverty.”1

Yunuswashonoredin1998byBrighamYoungUniversitywithanhonorarydegree.Reportedly,thiswasthefirsthonorarydegreehehadreceived,atleastinthewesternworld. Yunus’GrameenBankhaditsbeginningsinasmallBangladeshvillagein1974.Yunus,ayoungeconomicsprofessoronafieldtrip,sawthepossibilityofmakingverysmallloanstohelppoorpeopleriseoutofpoverty.Heassumedthattheseborrowerswouldworkhardandpaybacktheloans.Thatassumptionprovedcorrect. TheNobelPeacePrizecitationstates,“Lastingpeacecannotbeachievedunlesslargepopulationgroupsfindwaysinwhichtobreakoutofpoverty.Microcreditisonesuchmeans.”2

EnterpriseInternationalknowsthetruthofthatstate-mentand,initsownway(enlightenedbytheprinciplesof

therestoredgospel),hasmadeitsowngreatcontributiontothatblessedgoal.IwasthrilledtoreadinyourannualreportthatEMIpartnersprovidedmorethantwenty-threethousandloanstosmallbusinessesin2005,loansbeginningaslowasUS$40andaveragingjustUS$139.Thatismicrocreditinagreatcause!

Yourchairman,MenloSmith,askedifIwouldspeakabouttheimportanceandvalueofhumanitarianassis-tanceforbothgiversandreceivers,perhapsflavoringmyremarkswithsomeofmypersonalexperiencesandinsights.Iamverypleasedtodoso. Thecommandmenttogivetothepoorhasbeenwithusthroughoutrecordedhistory.WereadintheOldTestament:“Forthepoorshallneverceaseoutoftheland:thereforeIcommandthee,saying,Thoushaltopenthinehandwideuntothybrother,tothypoor,andtothyneedy,inthyland.”3PartofJohntheBaptist’smessageofrepentancewas“hethathathtwocoats,lethimimparttohimthathathnone;andhethathathmeat,lethimdolikewise.”4

Notwithstandingtheimportanceofthisdutytowardthepoor,itcomessecondtoanotherduty.TheLord’splanforthecareofthepoorandneedycommandsandthenpresupposesthateachofuswillprovideforour-selvesandourfamilies,asfarasweareable.Thisincludescaringforthemembersofourownhouseholds—par-entscaringforchildrenandchildrencaringforparents.

by dallin h. oaks

Self-Reliance & Self-Respect

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Thereafter,wecareforthepoormembersofourfaith,andthenextendourassistancetoothersasfarasourmeanspermit. Traditionally,religionshavetaughtmenandwomentoworshipagodwhocommandsthemtoloveoneanotherandtoserveoneanother.Buttodaythereareahostofpseudoreligionsthatteachmenandwomentoworshipthemselvesandtocelebratetheirworshipwiththesacramentofself-indulgence.Truereligionpreachesresponsibility,teachingustogive.Moderncounterfeitspreachrights,teachingustotake.Truereligionproducesacitizenryeducatedtoserve;moderncounterfeitsproduceacitizenryeducatedtodemandservice. Self-reliancemeanstoworktoprovideforoneselftothemaximumextentofone’sability.“Inthesweatofthyfaceshaltthoueatthybread,”theLordtoldAdam.5OurresponsibilitytoprovideforourselvesandourfamiliesisavitalprincipleinourrelationshiptoGod,tooneanother,andtocivilgovernment.Latter-daySaintsexpecttoworkforwhattheyreceive;theonlyhandouttheydesireisopportunity. InTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaintswehavethreedifferentwaysofgivingtothepoor,eachofwhichisconsistentwithourguidingprincipleofself-reliance. 1.First,wehaveawelfareprogram,whichmemberssupportbyfastofferings.Thiswelfareprogram,whichistargetedalmostexclusivelytomembersoftheChurchofJesusChrist,ismanagedthroughlocalleadersandthroughgeneralchurchofficersandprofessionalstaff. Thekeypersonamongourlocalleadersisthebishopoftheward,alay-priesthoodshepherdofhisflockwhodetermineswhichmemberswillreceiveassistanceandhowmuch.Thebishopalsogivesworkassignmentstothosewhoareassisted.Thisarrangementcounterswhatoneexperthascalleda“psycho-logicaldependency”that“haspervertedbothpublicandprivatemorality,[and]foster[ed]aclimateofpowerlessness,irre-sponsibility,andresentment.”6Ithonorstheprincipleofself-relianceandhelpswiththelargerspiritualobjectivesofthiskindofassistancetothepoor,namely,that“independence,industry,thrift,andself-respectbeoncemoreestablished

amongstourpeople.Theaimofthechurchistohelppeoplehelpthemselves.”7

Thegeneralofficersandprofessionalstaffofthechurchfacilitatethechurch’swelfareprogrambyprovid-inganextensivenetworkofproduction,storage,anddistributionfacilities.Wedothissothatassistancecanbegiven,asmuchaspossible,bythedistributionoffoodratherthanbythedisbursementofmoney. Theprimaryfocusofchurchassistanceforthepoorandneedyhasalwaysbeentoalleviatedistressonatem-porarybasis.Consistentwiththatmission,theassistancegiventoeachrecipientistailoredtotheneedsofthatparticularindividual.Unlikemostpublicassistancepro-grams,thereisnostandardizedamountorentitlementandnofixeddurationforassistance. 2.Second,thechurchhasaveryextensivehumani-tarianservicesprogram,whichisadministeredinawaytomakeitdistinctfromchurchwelfare.Iwanttohighlightthedifferencesbetweenwelfareandhumanitar-ianassistancebecauseIhavenotedthatmanywhoareawareofthesetwoprograms,evenincludingmanywhocontributetothem,arenotawareoftheirdifferences.

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Incontrasttowelfareassistance,churchhumanitarianaidisintendedprimarilyforthosewhoarenotmembersofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints.Itisdistributedwithoutanystringsattached.Toavoidanyriskthathumanitarianaidmightbemisunderstoodasasubtleinducementforrecipientstojointhechurch,humani-tarianaidisnotdistributedbybishopsnorotherlocalleaders,byproselytingmissionaries,northroughthechurch’smission-aryorganization.Thechurchdoesnotseek“riceChristians.”HumanitarianassistanceisalovinggifttohelpthoseinneedwithoutregardtotheirreligiousbeliefsorinterestinMormonism.Itisseparatelyadministeredbyprofessionalworkersandbyspecially-calledhumanitarianmissionaries. Ourchurch’shumanitarianassistanceisveryexten-sive.Afewyearsagoweannouncedthatsince1985thechurchhadbeeninvolvedinmorethan2,300humani-tarianprojectsin137countries,contributingmorethan$170millionworthofhumanitarianassistance.Sincethatannouncementthosefigureshaveincreasedsignificantly. Churchhumanitarianaidinvolvesawidevarietyofinitiatives,includingcashgrantstorepairthedevastationofearthquakes,medicalassistance,wheelchairs,vocationalandskilltraining,cleanwaterprojects,neonatalcare,clothing,foodtorelievehunger,bodybagsfollowinggreatnaturaldisasters,andtherebuildingoffacilitiesaftertidalwavessuchasthetsunamithatdevastatedSoutheastAsia. Wherepossible,thechurch’shumanitarianprojectsaredesignedtohelpstrengthenindividualself-relianceandlocalautonomyinsteadofmerelyprovidingahand-out.Whethertheassistanceiswelfaretomembersorhumanitariantononmembers,weareconvincedthatwemustalwaysgiveinwaysthatdonotdegrade.Andwedonotpublicizeourhumanitarianefforts.AsGordonB.Hinckley,formerpresidentofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,saidlastyear,“Intheterribletsunamidisaster,andinotherdisastersincidenttoconflict,disease,andhunger,wehavedoneagreatandmarvelousworkassist-ingotherswithoutworryingaboutwhogetsthecredit.”8

3.IcomenowtothethirdtypeofgivingtothepoorbyLatter-daySaints.Thisisnotdonebythechurch.Thisisthetypeofpeople-to-peoplehelpepitomizedbytheworkofindividualsaintsandbytheworkoforganizationslikeEnterpriseMentorsInternational. TherearethousandsofexamplesofassistancetothepoorbyindividualLatter-daySaints,hundredsknown

andaccomplishedbypeoplepresentinthisgather-ing.Icitebutone,atouchingexampleIobservedinthePhilippines.WhileholdingalocalconferenceinCebu,Imetanolderladywhowasintroducedtomeasareturnedmissionary.Latersomeonetoldmeabouthercase.Shedesiredtoserveaneighteen-monthmission,but

shehadnosavingsorincometosupportherself,andthechurch’smissionaryfundisnotavailabletosupportseniormissionaries.Shedidhaveasmallhome,inwhichsheexpectedtoliveoutherremainingyears.Inamarvelousexampleofthespiritofself-reliance,shesoldherhomeandusedtheproceedstosupportherselffortheentireperiodofhermissionaryservice.Whenshecompletedhermission,shereturnedtonothing,butothersaintsfilledthegapwithanindividualproject.TheElder’sQuoruminherward,honoringhergreatexampleofsacrificeandservice,joinedtheireffortstobuildahomeforher.Shelivesinthathometoday. Someofthegreatest—perhapseventhemostextensive—assistancegivenbyLatter-daySaintsisthroughorganizationsnotspecificallyrelatedtothechurchbutsupportedbythegenerosityofgreatpeoplemotivatedbyChristiandoctrine.WereadintheDoctrineandCovenantsofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints:“Forbehold,itisnotmeetthatIshouldcommandinallthings;forhethatiscompelledinallthings,thesameisaslothfulandnotawiseservant;whereforehereceivethnoreward.VerilyIsay,menshouldbeanxiouslyengagedinagoodcause,anddomanythingsoftheirownfreewill,andbringtopassmuchrighteousness.”9

HereIpraisethemarvelousworkofEnterpriseMentorsInternational—notjustthequantityofitbutthewayitisdone. Yourremarkableworkinassistingfamiliesthatstruggleforself-sufficiencybyprovidingtraining,char-acterdevelopment,counseling,mentoring,andsmallloans,isnotableforthefactthatitisdoneinsuchawayastohelpthoseyouassist“toattainaself-reliantliveli-hoodthroughsmallenterpriseactivitiesandeducational

Self-reliance means to work to provide for oneself to the maximum extent of one’s ability.

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assistance.”10AsfounderMenloSmith’smostrecentletterstates:“EMIcontinuestocure poverty worldwide,onefam-ilyatatime.”11

EarlierthisyearMenloSmithoutlinedsomebasicprinciplesoffosteringself-reliance: • Helppeoplehelpthemselves. • Giveahand-up—notahandout. • Self-respectisanessentialelementofcharacter. • Animprovedlifeisdependentuponimproved

character. • Characterdevelopmentisaspiritualprocessthat

canonlybelearnedbyexampleinfusedwithlove.12

Headded,“Wejuststicktothoseprinciplesessentialtosuccessinhelpingpeoplewhilestrivingtoavoidmak-ingthemcasualtiesofourcompassion—aneverpresentriskinthisbusiness.”13

Theseprinciplesandpracticesareentirelyconsis-tentwithChristianteachings,andIsaluteyouforthat.RichardC.Edgley,amemberoftheChurchofJesusChrist’sPresidingBishopric,gaveawonderfulstatementofthisprinciple:

“Self-relianceisabasicconditionofself-esteem.Itaffectsourconfidenceandourabilitytoachieve.Itisdifficultforustofeelgoodaboutourselvesandtofeelourdivinenaturewhenweinappropriatelyrelyonotherstosustainandsupportusforourtemporalorspiritualneeds.”14

AsIsaidinaworldwideconferencetalkthreeyearsago:“Thegrowthrequiredbythegospelplanonlyoccursinacultureofindividualeffortandresponsibility.Itcan-notoccurinacultureofdependency.Whatevercausesustobedependentonsomeoneelsefordecisionsorresourceswecouldprovideforourselvesweakensusspirituallyandretardsourgrowthtowardwhatthegospelplanintendsustobe.”15

Thecultureofdependencyhurtsthespiritualprog-ressofmanymembersandretardsoureffortstoestablishthechurchinsomedevelopingnations.TheChristiancultureofindividualresponsibilityisonlypossiblefora

peoplewhoseektoovercomedependency.Weseemanyexamplesofsucheffortsamongourmembers.Thus,inarecentvisittoourMissionaryTrainingCenterinthePhilippines,Imetamissionarywhosemotherhadsavedallherlifetopayforherchild’smission.WhenshebroughtthismissionarytotheMTC,shealsobroughttheentirecostofherchild’smissionandpaiditinadvance.

Theprinciplesofself-relianceandgivingthatseektoavoidacultureofdependencyarenotuniquetoourLatter-daySaintculture.Theyhavebeenrecognizedandappliedbymanyothers.Forexample,myfriend,RobertWoodson,whohasdonesuchnotableworkinhisblackcommunityinWashington,D.C.,andthroughoutthenation,hassaid:“Atrueactofcompassiondoesnotrequirethesurrenderofself-respectinexchangeforassistance.Theprincipleofreciprocityshouldguidethephilanthropicexchangejustasitguidesexchangeinthemarketplace.Peoplewhoareconstantlyonthereceivingend,whohaveneverbeengiventheopportunitytorecip-

rocate,willinduetimedespisenotonlythegift,butalsothegiftgiver.Grassrootsleadersandhealersalwaysrequireanddemandareturnontheirinvest-mentfromthepeopletheyassist.Passiverecipientsmake‘goodclients’but‘poorcitizens.’”16

Onthissamesubject,Dr.RachelNaomiRemen,aclinicalprofessoratthe

UniversityofCaliforniainSanFrancisco,California,hasmadeapersuasivedistinctionbetweenhelpingpeopleandservingpeople:“Whenwehelpweinadvertentlytakeawayfrompeoplemorethanwecouldevergivethem;wemaydiminishtheirself-esteem,theirsenseofworth,integrity,andwholeness....Whenyouhelpsomeonetheyoweyouone.Butserving,likehealing,ismutual.Thereisnodebt.IamasservedasthepersonIamserving.WhenIhelpIhaveafeelingofsatisfaction.WhenIserveIhaveafeelingofgratitude.Theseareverydifferentthings....Wecanonlyservethattowhichweareprofoundlyconnected,thatwhichwearewillingtotouch.ThisisMotherTeresa’sbasicmessage.Weservelifenotbecauseitisbrokenbutbecauseitisholy....IthinkIwouldgosofarastosaythatfixingandhelpingmayoftenbetheworkoftheego,andservicetheworkofthesoul.Theymaylooksimilarifyou’rewatchingfrom

Humanitarian projects are designed to help strengthen individual self-reliance and local autonomy instead of merely providing a handout.

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about the speaker

Dallin H. Oaks is a member of the Quorum of the

twelve apostles of the church of Jesus christ of

latter-day Saints. Prior to this calling in 1984, oaks

was a justice on the Utah Supreme court. oaks has

served as president of Brigham Young University and

on the boards of numerous organizations, such as

the Public Broadcasting Service and the Polynesian

cultural center. from 2002 to 2004, oaks served as

area president in the Philippines, but his work in the

church includes interaction with welfare and humani-

tarian services throughout the world.

this article is adapted from oaks’ speech given to

Enterprise mentors International on 27 october 2006.

theoutside,buttheinnerexperienceisdifferent.Theout-comeisoftendifferent,too....Onlyserviceheals.”17

Theultimategoalofthechurch’swelfareandhumani-tarianservicesistoprovideneededassistanceinsuchawayastocorrectspiritualdeficiencies:doingawaywiththeevilsofadoleandhelpingpeoplebyprovidingoppor-tunitiestoworkinordertoenjoyindependenceandself-respect.ThisprinciplewastaughteloquentlybyMarionG.Romney,aformerleaderoftheChurchofJesusChrist:

“Theprimedutyofhelptothepoorisnottobringtemporalrelieftotheirneedsbutsalvationtotheirsouls.”18

Endnotes1 “Micro-creditLeadstoNobelPeacePrize,”Salt Lake Tribune,

October14,2006,SectionA14.2Ibid.3Deuteronomy15:11(KingJamesVersion)4Luke3:11(KJV)5Genesis3:19(KJV)6RobertL.Woodson,“RaceandEconomicOpportunity,”

Vanderbilt Law Review42(May1989):1026.7Conference ReportOctober1936:2–3.8GordonB.Hinckley,“ClosingRemarks,”EnsignMay2005:102.9DoctrineandCovenants58:26–2710Annual Report2005.11MenloSmith,lettercorrespondence,29September2006.12MenloSmith,lettercorrespondence,25April2006.13Ibid.14RichardC.Edgley,CESSatelliteBroadcast,3November2002.15DallinH.Oaks,“RepentanceandChange,”EnsignNovember2003:39.

16RobertL.Woodson,Sr.,The Triumphs of Joseph: How Today’s Community Healers Are Reviving Our Streets and Neighborhoods(NewYork:FreePress,1998),132–33.

17RachelNaomiRemen,“IntheServiceofLife,”Noetic Sciences ReviewSpring1996,no.37:37;emphasisadded.

18MarionG.Romney,“TheRoleofBishopsinWelfareServices,”EnsignNovember1977:81.

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