Some thoughts on Debt from Elder Joseph B Wirthlin

Elder Wirthlin gave a talk in May 2004 on "Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts".  He had some very wise advice to give.  He was talking to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but the general advice is very sound.  Here is what he said on the 'Earthly Debt' topic: 


Brothers and sisters, beware of covetousness. It is one of the great afflictions of these latter days. It creates greed and resentment. Often it leads to bondage, heartbreak, and crushing, grinding debt.

The number of marriages that have been shattered over money issues is staggering. The amount of heartbreak is great. The stress that comes from worry over money has burdened families, caused sickness, depression, and even premature death.

Earthly Debts


In spite of the teachings of the Church from its earliest days until today, members sometimes fall victim to many unwise and foolish financial practices. Some continue to spend, thinking that somehow the money will become available. Somehow they will survive.

Far too often, the money hoped for does not appear.

Remember this: debt is a form of bondage. It is a financial termite. When we make purchases on credit, they give us only an illusion of prosperity. We think we own things, but the reality is, our things own us.
 Some debt—such as for a modest home, expenses for education, perhaps for a needed first car—may be necessary. But never should we enter into financial bondage through consumer debt without carefully weighing the costs.

We have often heard that interest is a good servant but a terrible master. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. described it this way: “Interest never sleeps nor sickens nor dies; it never goes to the hospital; it works on Sundays and holidays; it never takes a vacation. … Once in debt, interest is your companion every minute of the day and night; you cannot shun it or slip away from it; you cannot dismiss it; it yields neither to entreaties, demands, or orders; and whenever you get in its way or cross its course or fail to meet its demands, it crushes you.” 2


The counsel from other inspired prophets in our time on this subject is clear, and what was true 50 or 150 years ago is also true today.

President Heber J. Grant said, “From my earliest recollections, from the days of Brigham Young until now, I have listened to men standing in the pulpit … urging the people not to run into debt; and I believe that the great majority of all our troubles today is caused through the failure to carry out that counsel.” 3

President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Do not leave yourself or your family unprotected against financial storms. … Build up savings.” 4



President Harold B. Lee taught, “Not only should we teach men to get out of debt but we should teach them likewise to stay out of debt.” 5

President Gordon B. Hinckley declared: “Many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings. …

“… I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.” 6

My brothers and sisters, many have heeded this prophetic counsel. They live within their means, they honor the debts they have incurred, and they strive to reduce the burden they owe to others. We congratulate those who are doing so, for the day will come when they will reap the blessings of their efforts and understand the value of this inspired counsel.

However, others struggle when it comes to finances. Some are victims of adverse and often unforeseen events that have financially damaged them. Others are in financial bondage because they have not learned to discipline themselves and control their impulses to spend. Consequently, they have made unwise financial choices.

May I suggest five key steps to financial freedom for your consideration.



First, pay your tithing. Do you want the windows of heaven opened to yu? Do you wish to receive blessings so great there is not room enough to receive them? 7 Always pay your tithing and leave the outcome in the hands of the Lord.

Obedience to God’s commandments is the foundation for a happy life. Surely we will be blessed with the gifts of heaven for our obedience. Failure to pay tithing by those who know the principle can lead to heartache in this life and perhaps sorrow in the next.

Second, spend less than you earn. This is simple counsel but a powerful secret for financial happiness. All too often a family’s spending is governed more by their yearning than by their earning. They somehow believe that their life will be better if they surround themselves with an abundance of things. All too often all they are left with is avoidable anxiety and distress.

Those who live safely within their means know how much money comes in each month, and even though it is difficult, they discipline themselves to spend less than that amount.

Credit is so easy to obtain. In fact, it is almost thrust upon us. Those who use credit cards to overspend unwisely should consider eliminating them. It is much better that a plastic credit card should perish than a family dwindle and perish in debt.

Third, learn to save. Remember the lesson of Joseph of Egypt. During times of prosperity, save up for a day of want. 8



Too often, people assume that they probably never will be injured, get sick, lose their jobs, or see their investments evaporate. To make matters worse, often people make purchases today based upon optimistic predictions of what they hope will happen tomorrow.

The wise understand the importance of saving today for a rainy day tomorrow. They have adequate insurance that will provide for them in case of illness or death. Where possible, they store a year’s supply of food, water, and other basic necessities of life. They set aside money in savings and investment accounts. They work diligently to reduce the debt they owe to others and strive to become debt free.

Brothers and sisters, the preparations you make today may one day be to you as the stored food was to the Egyptians and to Joseph’s father’s family.

Fourth, honor your financial obligations. From time to time, we hear stories of greed and selfishness that strike us with great sorrow. We hear of fraud, defaulting on loan commitments, financial deceptions, and bankruptcies.



We hear of fathers who financially neglect their own families. We say to men and women everywhere, if you bring children into the world, it is your solemn obligation to do all within your power to provide for them. No man is fit to be called a man who gathers around himself cars, boats, and other possessions while neglecting the sacred financial obligations he has to his own wife and children.

We are a people of integrity. We believe in honoring our debts and being honest in our dealings with our fellow men.

Let me tell you the story of one man who sacrificed greatly to maintain his own financial integrity and honor.

In the 1930s Fred Snowberger opened the doors of a new pharmacy in northeastern Oregon. It had been his dream to own his own business, but the economic turnaround he had hoped for never materialized. Eight months later, Fred closed the doors of his pharmacy for the last time.

Even though his business had failed, Fred was determined to repay the loan he had secured. Some wondered why he insisted on repaying the debt. Why didn’t he simply declare bankruptcy and have the debt legally forgiven?

But Fred did not listen. He had said he would repay the loan, and he was determined to honor his word. His family made many of their own clothes, grew much of their food in their garden, and used everything they had until it was thoroughly worn out or used up. Rain or shine, Fred walked to and from his work each day. And every month, Fred paid what he could on the loan.
 Years passed and finally the wonderful day arrived when Fred made the last payment. He delivered it in person. The man who had loaned him the money wept and with tears streaming down his face, said, “You not only paid back every penny, but you taught me what a man of character and honesty is.”

To this day, nearly 70 years after Fred signed his name to that note, descendants of Fred and Erma Snowberger still tell this story with pride. This act of honor and nobility has lived through the decades as a cherished example of family integrity.

Fifth, teach your children to follow your example. Too many of our youth get into financial difficulty because they never learned proper principles of financial common sense at home. Teach your children while they are young. Teach them that they cannot have something merely because they want it. Teach them the principles of hard work, frugality, and saving.


If you don’t consider yourself informed well enough to teach them, all the more reason for you to begin learning. Abundant resources are available—from classes, to books, to other resources.

There are those among us who have been blessed abundantly with enough and to spare. Our Heavenly Father expects that we do more with our riches than build larger barns to hold them. Will you consider what more you can do to build the kingdom of God? Will you consider what more you can do to bless the lives of others and bring light and hope into their lives?

The rest of his talk is found here: http://lds.org/ensign/2004/05/earthly-debts-heavenly-debts?lang=eng

Week 31 of the 2011 Food Storage Challenge

$10 Plan
Store 4 cans corn

$20 Plan
Store 4 cans corn and 2 cans peas

We're storing tinned veggies now.  These veggies require no pre-cooking.  They're ready to go.  If you don't have the resources to heat them up, they can be eaten straight out of the can in a desperate situation.  Of course, in a 'normal' situation you could use them in a Tuna Mornay, in a Risotto, a meat pie/shepherd's pie, in savoury mince, fritters or in a soup.

Cans last longer than frozen vegetables if you are without power.  Personally, I have both.  I don't use my canned veggies as much but I am glad they are there.  They will lose nutritional value over time, just as all canned and jars of food will do so it is a good idea to keep rotating your food storage.

If you don't like these canned veggies, you can always store something that you will use.  There are so many alternatives; carrots, mushrooms, beans, capsicum, baby corn, creamed corn, beetroot, asparagus etc.

Week 30 of the 2011 Food Storage Challenge

$10 Challenge
Store 2 large cans of tuna

$20 Challenge
Store 4 large cans of tuna

Yes folks, we are storing more tuna.  This is the last of it though, I promise!

We actually go through a lot of tuna in my household, even though my husband doesn't particularly like the stuff.  My children and I would quite happily eat tuna mornay a few nights a week and my son definitely loves the small tins of flavoured tuna with crackers.

To digress, because we are so tuna'd out already...

I realised today I am very glad I am doing this food storage challenge.  My husband (and in no way am I bagging him out...but it dawned on me today) that he very much lives in the here and now.  Sadly he has very little concept of meal planning and shopping on a budget.

He wanted to know why we didn't have any garlic bulbs in the cupboard with the onions today.  Well...because I don't cook with them, and he only does about twice a year.  Why would I purchase something that we wouldn't use and would have to be thrown out?  His answer "Well, because I like garlic and would like to use it sometimes".

My compromise: I will purchase him a tube of garlic and keep it in the freezer for such occasions. 

He had a similar whinge about basil about this time last year (our basil died off over Winter).  I had managed to freeze some and they came in handy today.  Deary me *puts on a Texas accent* It seems I have some educatin' to do!

So it is my job to organise the family food storage, ensure we have enough resources to get us through difficult times.  It does make sense to me.  I am the better spouse at Home Management, and he is the better spouse at providing (money-wise).  Yes, I have worked full time and he has been a stay-home Dad so we could 'cover' each other if we needed to, but I'm happy with the 'roles' that we have.  They work to our strengths.

But I will seriously donk him over the head with that frozen tube of garlic if I purchase it and he can't find it in the freezer (right in front of his nose)!

And then I can get him this T-shirt :D  (It's a line from Star Trek, folks).

Migraines and Hallucinations

Does anyone else suffer the same thing; when you wake up with a migraine and your brain is halfway between the real world and the world of Nod?

A couple of weeks ago I had the distinct feeling that there was a man in my room. Trying to kiss me!

In my non-coherent state I had taken a trip back 13 or so years ago and was dreaming a former boyfriend was trying to kiss me goodbye but my conscious state was telling me I was married and there was no way this young man's face should be anywhere near me, let alone in my bedroom!

Finally I saw reason and realised it was PHIL trying to kiss me goodbye, as he does every morning and that I didn't have anyone there who shouldn't be.

Ahhh poor Phil.  What he has to put up with.  Lucky I didn't resort to defending myself!

I'm asking Spring to hurry up and arrive.  I need that weather pattern in order to my head to be in some sort of 'normal' again.

Week 29 of the 2011 Food Storage Challenge

$10 challenge
Store 2 kgs milk powder

$20 challenge
Store 4 kgs milk powder and 5 kgs lentils

Check the use by dates on the powdered milk you have stored.  Make sure you are able to use it up because when it goes off, it doesn't smell very nice, and certainly won't be pleasant in your tummy!

Here are some ideas for using it up: http://denleydiaries.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-to-do-with-powdered-milk.html

It is your choice as to which lentils you store.  There are many different varieties and they come dry or canned.  I love canned as I don't have to worry about pre-soaking them.  You can rinse them under the tap and they're good to go straight away.  I have some dried lentils as well, but my family doesn't eat them very often.

If you don't want to store lentils, how about something like barley, rye or oats?

Week 28 of the 2011 Food Storage Challenge

$10 Plan
Store 1 kg honey

$20 Plan
Store 2 kgs honey and 2 kgs sugar

Yay!  More honey and sugar.

I won't be storing the honey this time though because I have LOTS of the stuff.  I will get more sugar because I use that in my baking.

Don't forget that there are different sugars out there - not just white sugar.  You can store raw sugar, brown sugar, caster sugar, icing sugar if you really want to.  It depends really on what you use as a family and what will work best for you.  You can also store things like maple syrup, golden syrup, glucose syrup.  I classify these under 'sugar'.  My children would live on pancakes and maple syrup if they could!

I was fortunate enough to get good quality honey just before honey prices went through the roof.  I purchased a few kilos of it (4 or 5 - I can't remember) and it is stored away until we go through the bucket of honey I have in my pantry cupboard.  That bucket has lasted us 5 years so far (it was a 2 kg bucket).  Mmmm I can feel some honey jumbles needing to be cooked!

Honey doesn't go off, but it may crystalise.  Simply leave it out in the sun for a little bit (with the lid on).  I don't really recommend putting it in the microwave but it is possible.

This will be the last of the honey and sugar we store for this year.

Saving my hands...

Some of you may know that I have arthritis and RSI in my hands.  This can make many things I do incredibly painful and just plain difficult.

I don't do much gardening these days.  I hire some wonderful menfolk who maintain my yard and do a great job.  Phil just cannot do it with the hours he works, so I swallowed my pride and called 'Strong Steve' (my kids nicknamed him that).  They have been doing my lawn for over a year now and I think it's one of the best decisions I've made.  Something I don't have to worry about.

I can't give up teaching music - that's my 'pocket money' but it also keeps my musical talent up and running.  I love being able to share my knowledge with others, and that's the main reason I do that.

Cooking...hmmm now there was a problem.  I love cooking, but with the arthritis spreading to my shoulders and back, I couldn't stand and stir things anymore.  Phil decided that I needed something to 'help' me with my work.  Perhaps a really good food processor?

We searched around for a bit but weren't happy with the cheaper ones we saw.  Phil wanted something that would crush ice easily - apparently the sign of a really good processor!  That, and he really likes Slushies.

Then I got wind of Thermomixes.  I did a bit of research and found I really liked them but didn't know where to get hold of one, how much they were or how they actually worked.  A year later when a friend had a demonstration and unfortunately I was unable to attend, I booked in my own demonstration

The funny thing was that Phil was already sold on them.  He had watched videos and read the information I showed to him and he was completely hooked.  It was me the demonstrator needed to impress.  Needless to say we have been the proud owners of a Thermomix for about a year now and I don't regret purchasing it at all.

It's about the price of a laptop.  Not cheap at all, but as Phil said "If I can have a laptop (or two), you can have a cool kitchen appliance.  Nice thinking Phil!

Yes, it really does take a lot of the work out of mixing, and my hands and shoulders are thankful for it. 

I made beef chow mein in it tonight, and all I had to do was peel some carrots and an onion (it acts as a slow cooker too, and a steamer).

Thank you Phil, for agreeing to purchase my kitchen 'toy'.  I LOVE it!!