Exploring the Church's journey towards creating a Zion society with no poverty, starting from the Great Depression. Learn about the evolution of financial consecration, the development of the Church welfare program, and the unseen acts of welfare that quietly bless many lives. Discover how the Church empowers individuals through self-reliance and community support, while showcasing community unity in action during times of need.
Church welfare program aims to eliminate poverty through self-reliance assistance.
Principles of consecration underpin Church welfare initiatives for long-term self-sufficiency.
Church welfare program offers holistic support through various initiatives and volunteerism.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Church Welfare
The podcast discusses how the current Church welfare program has evolved from its origins in the 1930s and how it is grounded in the principles of consecration. The program aims to eliminate poverty by assisting individuals and families in becoming self-reliant. The Church provides various resources such as Bishop's Storehouses, Deseret Industries, employment services, and self-reliance classes to help those in need. Church members are encouraged to participate in voluntary service and contribute to fast offerings to support the welfare program. The podcast highlights the importance of combining temporal and spiritual assistance to bless lives and build the character of individuals in the Church.
The Principles of Consecration in Church Welfare
The podcast emphasizes that the principles of consecration are a foundational aspect of the Church welfare program. It explains that the law of sacrifice and consecration are still in effect and that church members are invited to live these principles through practices such as paying tithing, contributing to fast offerings, and actively participating in welfare and humanitarian services. The podcast showcases how the Church implements these principles in various ways to assist individuals and families in need, from providing food and commodities through Bishop's Storehouses to offering employment training and self-reliance classes. It emphasizes the holistic approach of welfare, addressing not only immediate needs but also working towards long-term self-sufficiency.
Examples of Church Welfare Initiatives
The podcast highlights several specific initiatives within the Church welfare program. It mentions community projects, humanitarian services, immigrant services, family services, and Deseret Industries as avenues through which the Church assists individuals and families. It explains that these initiatives aim to provide various forms of support, from counseling and job training to emergency assistance and disaster relief. The podcast also underlines the importance of service and volunteerism within the Church welfare program, with members offering their time, talents, and resources to help those in need. It concludes by reiterating that these initiatives are guided by the principles of consecration and the goal of eliminating poverty among Church members.
The Impact of Church Welfare
The podcast shares personal stories and testimonials to illustrate the impact of the Church welfare program. It describes instances where individuals and families have been provided with essential resources, support, and opportunities to improve their lives. It emphasizes the role of local leaders, such as bishops and Relief Society presidents, in assessing and meeting the needs of individuals in their wards. The podcast also points out that the Church welfare program operates discreetly, ensuring confidentiality and respecting the dignity and privacy of those receiving assistance. It concludes by highlighting the transformative effect of the program and its ability to uplift and bless lives within the Church community.
The Continuity of Doctrine and Covenants Principles
The podcast emphasizes that the principles underlying the Church welfare program can be traced back to the revelations found in the Doctrine and Covenants. It explains that the principles of consecration, self-reliance, and care for the poor have been present since the early days of the Church. Through the years, Church leaders have studied and implemented these principles creatively, adapting them to modern contexts and evolving societal needs. The podcast affirms that the core principles of consecration and the commitment to helping others endure, supporting the idea that the doctrine and covenants continue to shape and guide the Church's welfare efforts today.
Zion has been defined as God’s people being of one heart and one mind, dwelling together in righteousness, and having no poor among them. Since Joseph Smith’s day Latter-day Saints have made continuous efforts toward this Zion ideal, including not only assisting the poor and needy, but going even further to help them eliminate poverty from their lives by becoming self reliant.
In this episode of Church History Matters we want to trace the fascinating story of our current Church system for helping the poor—beginning at its origins where it was serendipitously born of necessity in the mind of a Stake President amidst the Great Depression, to its current multi-pronged offerings where, though most of it goes unseen, it quietly blesses countless lives.
