The Blessings of a Debt-Free Life

Aug 2007 Issue

By Jonathan H. Westover

Where is much emphasis in the church placed on provident living and financial self-reliance. Indeed, we have been warned and admonished in modern scripture and by the words of modern prophets to release ourselves from the bondage of debt (see D&C 19:35) and get our houses into order (D&C 88:119 and D&C 132:8). How do we learn to live a debt-free life and what are the blessings we can experience as we strive for greater financial freedom?

Tithing and Generous Offerings

Experiencing the blessings of a debt-free life all starts with learning to put the Lord first and paying an honest tithing. Being obedient to the Lord’s law of finance helps to put us into the correct frame of mind—recognizing that all we have comes from the Lord.

When we learn to discipline ourselves enough to return a tenth of all our increase to the Lord by paying a full and honest tithing first, before worrying about all other financial responsibilities, we simultaneously demonstrate our complete reliance on God and our faith that he will provide for our needs.

When we go a step further and donate a generous fast offering, we demonstrate to the Lord our selflessness and willingness to sacrifice our own wants and desires to help others in need. This qualifies us for even greater blessings.

Food Storage

Another important way to show our obedience to God and his word, as we strive to live a debt-free life, is to build up our food storage. Just like paying our tithes and offerings, following the counsel of modern-day prophets and building up a storeroom of food and supplies takes discipline and faith—two key characteristics necessary to achieve financial freedom.

This supply of food and everyday necessities can provide an economic buffer to help us get through challenging times. Without temporal supplies, we might have to resort to using credit cards or other undesirable means to provide the essentials for our families.

Living within our Means

From there, we must continue to discipline ourselves to better live within our means. This often requires that we seek innovative ways to stretch our budget, utilizing such things as coupons, hitting the local thrift shop and garage sales, or shopping for worthwhile sales.

Most importantly, it means understanding the difference between needs and wants and developing the ability and discipline to prioritize those things we really do need. Such discipline does not come easily and can only be developed over time. It is best to start developing such habits of frugality and self-restraint at a young age.

Additionally, we must learn to be happy and satisfied with what we do have because more “stuff” will not make us any happier. Indeed, coveting others’ possessions and “seeking false [material] Gods” takes our focus off the Lord and becomes a false god. When we choose to free ourselves from covetous desires, we begin to appreciate what the Lord has already given us.

The Blessings of Financial Freedom

It is hard to fully articulate my appreciation for the many blessings and the sense of freedom that can be had through living a debt-free life. Through the faithful paying of tithes and offerings, I know that I have been blessed with multiple sources of income and the financial self-discipline that have enabled me to provide the necessities for my growing family.

The food storage my wife has so diligently built up has provided us with an increased sense of security and actually enables us to save greatly on our monthly food budget and actually eat more healthy foods.

Learning to live within our means and feel gratitude for what the Lord has already blessed us with has helped us to avoid the debt trap that is ready to ensnare the careless or unaware. Though my family is certainly not wealthy, we have never felt poor or felt like we have had to go without. Rather, we know that we have been greatly blessed for our efforts to “get our house in order” and free ourselves from the bondage of debt. That makes us rich indeed.

Jonathan Westover is a member of the Maple Hills Ward, Tooele Utah Valley View Stake.