LEADERSHIP: Very few people know that habits of the world’s best leaders. Knowing HOW to lead as a habit is game changing!
(OPTIONAL) If you want to take this year’s values to the next level, you can get the audio book, “The 6 Habits of Growth” by Brendon Burchard and listen to the chapter on LEADERSHIP (47 min) this month.
Know
Do the following:
- Watch these videos, Treaty Law Clause & Summary
Economics
How did we get to the last week of your introduction to economics? However it happened, here we are.
This week we are going to delve into the idea of helping the poor. Many people in society believe that the government should bear the burden of this responsibility. So many programs and initiatives are pushed with the idea that they will benefit the needy. You may already have some thoughts on this topic after last month’s readings but let’s go more in depth.
My purpose today is to make the case that the government has little to no role in relieving the suffering of the poor. Wish me luck!
First, we’ll start with the arguments of our old friend Milton Friedman against government involvement in welfare.
Watch this video, this video, and this video. (Enjoy the clothing styles from the 70s, by the way!)
Let’s go back a little further in history and read the argument of Davy Crockett. Print, read and mark the article Not Yours to Give
Watch this video. What ideas does he present?
Understand
So, if Government isn’t the answer, what is?
Remember the article “I, Pencil”? Here is the same author on this topic. Print, read and mark this article. If Government Does Not Relieve Distress, Who Will?
Watch or read this talk. Providing in the Lord’s Way. In your own words, describe in writing the Lord’s way of providing for the poor. What is your role in that?
Imagine that you have $100 to give to your charity of choice. Choose a charity organization to research. What is it’s stated purpose? Who started it? How does it get it’s funding? What percentage of your $100 actually goes to the cause for which it was organized? Where does the rest of the money go? Visit charitynavigator.org and see what this site has to say about your chosen organization. We will break into groups for you to share what you learn here.
Become
All the learning in the world won’t do you, or the poor and suffering around you, any good until you choose to take action. After completing the following four assignments, take some time to ponder what the Lord would have you do. Then complete the writing assignment below. Decide now ways that you will prioritize caring for the poor in your lifetime.
- Watch or read this forum address: Why Giving Matters.
- Print, read and mark this article: The Lord’s Goods.
- Spend 30 minutes serving someone you wouldn’t otherwise serve.
- Spend 30 minutes studying scriptures, conference talks or hymns of your choosing about the Lord’s guidance on caring for the poor and needy. You might read from chapter 22 in the General Handbook or look at the footnotes from Elder Uchtdorf’s talk above if you need ideas on how to get started.
In your journal or commonplace book, write what you learned. I will not ask you to turn this in as it is likely to be quite personal but please take this assignment seriously. Seek to understand what the Lord would have you learn and do. And make a commitment to yourself about how you will serve and strive to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands throughout your lifetime.
On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that you are willing to share with me. This could be a summary of your service experience, something that you learned from your personal study, or a commitment that you have made to yourself.
See you Thursday!
–Jodi Zabriskie
