An Employment Message from our Stake President

One of the fundamental responsibilities we have as church members is to be self reliant; that is, to rely on ourselves to provide for our own welfare--through preparation, through wisdom, and through hard work.  Whether we have our own businesses or work for others, we need to do all we can to provide for ourselves and our families. Nevertheless, because of the nature of mortality, there will always be someone facing hardship and someone looking for employment. And times of unemployment can be some of the most discouraging and challenging times of a person’s life. Thus, the unemployed person and everyone one else needs to do everything possible to assist in the job-seeking process.

When unemployment occurs, here are some tips to remember:

For the unemployed or underemployed person:

• Prepare a professional resume, with the help of ward, stake, and church employment specialists.
• Seek help in preparing for job interviews.
• Let others in your network know you are looking for employment so they can help look for openings.
• Spend time in the LDS Church’s “Home and Family Employment” website, studying the materials provided there.
• Spend time each day looking for employment, searching the stake employment website, other employment websites, job boards, and anywhere else employment opportunities might be listed.

For others:

• On the stake website, list all job openings you are aware of.
• Give words of encouragement, since unemployment is an emotionally difficult time.
• Use the Bishop’s Ward Council to generate ideas for helping the unemployed person.
• Every week in Elders Quorum and Relief Society meetings, ask members to list on the website any employment opportunities they are aware of.

In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord tells us that “every man [should be] seeking the interest of his neighbor….” Times of unemployment are especially critical times when we should all apply this counsel. May the Lord help us to do so.

President William H. Baker