Our nation is experiencing economic hard times, putting strain
on government and private resources available for the needy. One
group which is notable for the charitable work it does in this area
is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons are
famous for an ethic of rugged self-reliance, developed during the
church’s early history when members were often persecuted and tamed
a Western wilderness.
Our nation is experiencing economic hard times, putting strain on government and private resources available for the needy. One group which is notable for the charitable work it does in this area is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons are famous for an ethic of rugged self-reliance, developed during the church’s early history when members were often persecuted and tamed a Western wilderness.
Today, Mormons are still taught that “the responsibility for each person’s social, emotional, spiritual, physical or economic well-being rests first upon himself, second upon his family and third upon the church if he is a faithful member thereof.”
This teaching leads members to place a high value on education, so that they will be prepared for productive work. It leads to Mormons’ noted willingness to cultivate vegetable gardens and store supplies at home to use in case of emergencies. And it is reflected in members’ avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, accounting for health statistics better than the general population.
But circumstances can arise making people unable to support themselves: Anyone can fall victim to unemployment, serious illness or death in the family. This is when the LDS Church demonstrates its ability to help members help itself.
The church is divided into geographic congregations called “wards,” each of which has about 400 to 500 members and is presided over by a bishop. In addition to his spiritual duties, this self-supporting lay leader has the responsibility of ministering to the material needs of the members of his ward.
The bishop seeks to know the condition of his congregation. Each family has assigned home and visiting teachers who contact them monthly, discussing faith issues and reporting back to the bishop whenever any help seems to be warranted.
The bishop has a vast array of resources available to meet members’ needs. He has access to financial help through the “fast offerings” contributed each month for this purpose. He can refer people to LDS Social Services, a professional, state-licensed agency providing counseling, foster care, assistance to unwed parents and adoption services.
Church-owned Deseret Industries (similar to Salvation Army or Goodwill) collects unwanted articles and sells them inexpensively, providing employment and training opportunities to those in need.
Across the country the church operates enterprises which provide items for “bishops’ storehouses.” For example, a farm might grow beans, a cannery might process peaches, a factory might make shoes – all warehoused until a bishop requisitions them for people in need. Then they become tangible symbols of the “time, effort, and love generously contributed for the common good.”
Two principles seem to make the LDS welfare program an outstanding success. First, nearly everyone involved donates time and talent. There is no expensive bureaucracy as with government-run programs.
And, while the concept of “work-fare” is sometimes controversial in the society, it is central to the LDS system. The bishop has the responsibility of offering welfare recipients the opportunity to work in return, thus keeping their self-respect in tact.
Tel Helvey, bishop of the Morgan Hill First Ward, emphasizes the confidentiality of the process. Although there could be six to eight families in the ward receiving LDS help at any given time, only he and the head of the Relief Society know the names of those involved.
