The Lord has always asked His people to be self-reliant; to be capable, prepared, and willing to lift others. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught that "self-reliance is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices."
In our stake, self-reliance means caring for ourselves and our families spiritually, temporally, emotionally, and financially — and being ready to help our neighbors do the same. None of us does this alone. The Church offers a remarkable set of free courses and resources to help, and our stake actively sponsors them.
The Church offers five core self-reliance courses, each running roughly twelve weeks in small groups (in person or online), facilitated by trained members of the stake. All are free, and all are open to members and non-members alike. You're welcome to invite friends and neighbors to join you.
Personal Finances — budgeting, eliminating debt, building savings, and planning for the future
Find a Better Job — practical job search skills, networking, interviewing, and résumé development
Education for Better Work — choosing and pursuing further education or training that leads to better employment
Starting and Growing My Business — for those running or planning a small business
Emotional Resilience — building healthy thinking patterns, managing stress, strengthening relationships, and responding well to setbacks
If you are interested, contact your elders quorum or Relief Society President for more information.
The Church provides important learning opportunities through EnglishConnect and BYU-Pathways Worldwide. Please visit the Durham North Carolina Stake Learning Opportunities site for more information.
Self-Reliance Services — overview of the program with course descriptions and short videos
Self-Reliance Manuals — free course materials
EnglishConnect — free English language courses at three skill levels
BYU–Pathway Worldwide — affordable online certificates and degrees from BYU–Idaho and Ensign College, designed for working adults