Self-Reliance

This week our Pathway general studies lesson is on self-reliance.  The priesthood lesson this past Sunday was on self-reliance.  I think that I'm supposed to acknowledge self-reliance.

The Pathway lesson has us reading a talk from President Marion G. Romney titled The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance.  The talk was written so many years ago but, like all counsel from our priesthood leadership, is so relevant to today (emphasis mine).

"The practice of coveting and receiving unearned benefits has now become so fixed in our society that even men of wealth, possessing the means to produce more wealth, are expecting the government to guarantee them a profit. Elections often turn on what the candidates promise to do for voters from government funds. This practice, if universally accepted and implemented in any society, will make slaves of its citizens.
We cannot afford to become wards of the government, even if we have a legal right to do so. It requires too great a sacrifice of self-respect and political, temporal, and spiritual independence.
In some countries it is extremely difficult to separate earned from unearned benefits. However, the principle is the same in all countries: We should strive to become self-reliant and not depend on others for our existence."

That being said there is nothing wrong with graciously accepting aid from others when the need arises.  Whenever we are in a position to help others we must do so.  It doesn't necessarily have to be monetary aid.

Don't let the prospect of someone taking advantage keep you from helping them.  If someone is taking advantage of the help of others then they will have to answer for that behavior.

Give of our time if that's all we have.  Give physical aid.  Bear one another's burdens.  Galatians 6:2 and Mosiah 18:8