Welfare and Self-Reliance Committee
The Stake Welfare and Self-Reliance Committee meets regularly to discuss ways to help the bishops and ward councils provide needed assistance and support. More information can be found at https://providentliving.lds.org.
Self-Reliance Courses

Our stake enthusiastically supports the Church’s self-reliance initiative by offering support for semi-annual self-reliance groups. There are five different courses available to members and neighbors:
Emotional Resilience – Finding Strength in the Lord (10 weeks)
Building Emotional Resilience through: Healthy Patterns for Our Body and Emotions, Managing Stress and Anxiety. Understanding Sadness and Depression, Overcoming Anger, Managing Addictive Behaviors, Building Healthy Relationships, and Providing Strength to Others,
Emotional Resilience for Older Youth (6 weeks)
This class is a shorter version of the adult Emotional Resilience group and designed for the older youth (15 – 18) to help provide skills to help them deal with the ups and downs of life.
Personal Finance (12 weeks)
This class is for those who want better control over their finances. Group members will learn how to eliminate debt, protect against financial hardship, and invest in the future. They will create a financial plan and follow a budget.
Starting and Growing Your Own Business (12 weeks)
This self-reliance class will help you learn to make wise business decisions as you start or grow a business. Members learn key business skills such as identifying customer needs, finding customers, and keeping good business records.
Find a Better Job (10 weeks)
This class is for those who are looking for work or a better job. Group members will learn to identify opportunities, network, present themselves professionally, and prepare for job interviews. They will also set goals for contacts and interviews.
Contact Jan Keim or Norm Johnson for class start dates and other information.
Emotional Resilience for Youth
Using the Church self-reliance materials, our stake has developed six life skills ‘pilot’ lessons for older youth. These courses are to organized and facilitated by the wards, with assistance from stake leaders. Please contact Jan Keim or Norm Johnson for more details.
- Life Skills 1: Building Emotional Strength in the Lord/ Healthy Thinking Patterns
- Life Skills 2: Managing Stress and Anxiety
- Life Skills 3: Overcoming Anger
- Lesson 3 pdf
- Video: “A Bigger Truck”
- Life Skills 4: Managing Addictive Behaviors
- Life Skills 5: Our Bodies and Emotions
- Life Skills 6: Building Healthy Relationships
- Lesson 6 pdf
- Video: “Creating Lift”
- Life Skills 7: Understanding Sadness and Depression
- Life Skills 8: Providing Strength to Others
- Lesson 8 pdf
- Video: “In the Lord’s Way”
- Life Skills 9: Moving Forward with Faith
- Life Skills 10: Finances 1
- Life Skills 11: Finances 2
BYU Pathway
BYU-Pathway Worldwide is the Church’s program of online higher education for those who can’t attend a Church university on campus due to cost, time, and location. The first year – called PathwayConnect – is a one-year program that helps people of all ages start or return to university studies. After completing the first year, students can earn a job-ready certificate, and then continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree – all at the same low tuition rate of $71 per credit hour. All certificates and degrees are offered through BYU-Pathway Worldwide and accredited through BYU-Idaho.
Signup is underway for next semester.
Contact Gabriel Chard for more information.
Addiction Recovery
Those struggling with addiction or compulsive behaviors can attend a recovery support group to receive support, help, and fellowship from others in similar circumstances as well as from volunteer Church-service missionaries and facilitators. Meetings are free and confidential and do not require a referral. Leaders and other members are also welcome at the meetings and can help the member feel comfortable attending.
Search here to find a recovery meeting in your area. A general addiction recovery meeting is held in South Weber each week. Please contact Elder and Sister Malais for more information:
Who: General addiction recovery, friends and family
When: Thursdays at 7:30 pm MDT
Where: South Weber Stake Center (7989 S 2250 E, South Weber, Utah 84405)
Contact: Elder and Sister Malais (SW 1st Ward)
Employment
Prepare for and find a job by identifying opportunities, networking, presenting yourself professionally, and preparing for job interviews.
- LDSjobs.org and Employment Centers
- Self-Reliance Courses (Find a Better Job, Education for Better Work, Starting and Growing My Business, Personal Finance)
- BYU Pathway Worldwide
Contact Jim Golding for more information.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
South Weber Stake Emergency Plan
Our Stake Emergency Plan is to be used in conjunction with the Church’s Emergency Preparedness Planning Guide located at https://providentliving.lds.org. The stake president and bishops are responsible to direct the stake and ward efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies (Handbook 1, Section 2.4). This plan should be reviewed and updated regularly. The Stake Council, High Councilor over emergency preparedness and stake emergency preparation specialists should ensure that lists and other information are kept current.
Contact Norm Johnson or Doug Bitton for more information
Other Welfare and Self-Reliance Resources
- Help for Ward Leaders (bishops, elders quorum presidents, Relief Society presidents, stake and ward specialists)
- Self-Reliance Plan (assessing current needs and plans for self-reliance)
- Bishop’s Storehouse (food and supplies for those in need)
- LDS Family Services (short-term professional counseling for individuals, couples, and families)
- Suicide Prevention and Ministering (how to help)
- Welfare Help Lines (for bishops)