The Doctrines and Principles of Self-Reliance

When we received our mission call we were excited that we would be working with the Perpetual Education Fund. Like so many in the Church we rejoiced when President Hinckley announced this wonderful plan to provide a way for members to get an education. Over the last year we have truly learned that the Perpetual Education Plan is not a plan to go to school, but a path to self-reliance.

Likewise we have gained a new appreciation for the Lord's Plan for Self-Reliance. Prior to our mission we understood the principles of the Welfare Plan of the Church, but we had no idea of the all encompassing plan of the Lord. We have been studying the Doctrine and Principles of Self-Reliance for our gospel study recently. It is amazing to understand how long the leaders of the Church have been teaching about self-reliance, but our ears were not tuned to understand them.

We have learned that with the Lord the Temporal and Spiritual are the same. We also understand the importance of Self-Reliance in our own personal exaltation. And that the Lord has commanded each of us to be Self-Reliant. Elder Oveson wished that he had the principles taught in the My Foundation manual when he was a stake president.

 Even though it is spring in Cambodia, March and April are the two hottest months of the year. Today it was suppose to be 102* F here in Phnom Penh. In May Cambodia will start the raining season so the temperature does not get as hot.

We are still enjoying our morning walks and this morning Sister Oveson got one of those very amazing pictures that is unbelievable. Even though we have already posted many of our walk pictures, this one still needed to be our picture of the day.