I am about to broach a touchy subject; one that has been ignored by many.  You don’t need to hear my opinions, so I have collected various quotes from the Brethren; they have been warning us for a very long time.  I have listed the references for these quotes, so you can look up the entire talk and read more of what they had to say.

“Independence and self-reliance are critical to our spiritual and temporal growth. Whenever we get into situations which threaten our self-reliance, we will find our freedoms threatened as well. If we increase our dependence on anything or anyone except the Lord, we will find an immediate decrease in our freedom to act. As President Heber J. Grant declared, ‘Nothing destroys the individuality of a man, a woman, or a child as much as the failure to be self-reliant.’” (Relief Society Magazine, Oct. 1937, p. 627.) L. Tom Perry, “Becoming Self-Reliant,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 64

“As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son…I do not know what the future holds. I do not wish to sound negative, but I wish to remind you of the warnings of scripture and the teachings of the prophets which we have had constantly before us…Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God.” Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Times in Which We Live,” Liahona, Jan 2002, 83–86

“I love the simple gospel truths as taught by the holy prophets. Since the beginning of time man has been counseled to earn his own way, thereby becoming self-reliant. It is easy to understand the reason why the Lord places so much emphasis on this principle when we come to understand that it is tied very closely to freedom itself…On this subject, Elder Albert E. Bowen said, “The Lord must want and intend that His people shall be free of constraint whether enforceable or only arising out of the bindings of conscience. … That is why the Church is not satisfied with any system which leaves able people permanently dependent, and insists, on the contrary, that the true function and office of giving, is to help people [get] into a position where they can help themselves and thus be free.” (The Church Welfare Plan, Gospel Doctrine manual, 1946, p. 77.)    “The shrimpers had created a Welfare State for the … sea gulls. The big birds never bothered to learn how to fish for themselves and they never taught their children to fish. Instead they led their little ones to the shrimp nets.  Now the sea gulls, the fine free birds that almost symbolize liberty itself, are starving to death because they gave in to the ‘something for nothing’ lure! They sacrificed their independence for a hand-out. “Let’s not be gullible gulls. We … must preserve our talents of self-sufficiency, our genius for creating things for ourselves, our sense of thrift and our true love of independence.” (“Fable of the Gullible Gull,” Reader’s Digest, Oct. 1950, p. 32.)  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.” Marion G. Romney, “The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance,” Tambuli, Oct 1984, 1

Elder Ezra Taft Benson stated: “A large proportion of families with personal debt have no liquid assets whatsoever to fall back upon. What troubles they invite if their income should be suddenly cut off or seriously reduced! We all know of families who have obligated themselves for more than they could pay.” (Pay Thy Debt, and Live, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, Provo: 28 Feb. 1963, p. 10.)  “Many young people have become so hypnotized by the rhythm of monthly payments they scarcely think of the total cost of what they buy. They immediately want things it took their parents years to acquire.  Most of us will never be rich, but we can feel greatly unburdened when we are debt-free. What are we to fear when the Lord is with us? Can we not take the Lord at his word and exercise a particle of faith in him? Our assignment is positive: to forsake the things of the world as goals in themselves; to desist from idolatry and press forward in faith; to carry the gospel to our enemies, that they might no longer be our enemies.” Spencer W. Kimball, “The False Gods We Worship,” Tambuli, Aug 1977, 1

“As an indication of the magnitude of the problem, more people declared bankruptcy in the United States in 1987 than ever before, and welfare rolls throughout the world swelled at unprecedented rates. Ever since the first jolt of worldwide inflation in 1972, people have spent and enjoyed, then borrowed and enjoyed, and then borrowed some more.  Poor financial management can destroy an otherwise stable family, and many divorces can be traced to quarrels over money.  Money is like a carpenter’s saw. It can build you the most beautiful financial castle or it can cut you up in a thousand financial pieces. You must learn to use it wisely in order to benefit from it.” W. Steve Albrecht, “Making Money Your Ally,” Ensign, Dec 1988, 49