Lesson 9: Church Welfare Operations

Objective

Members of welfare committees will better understand how Church welfare operations can help care for the poor and needy and help members become more self-reliant.

Statement from the Church Handbook of Instructions

Invite a participant to read the following statement, and talk with the group about the welfare operations that exist in their area:

Welfare operations and contracted services (where available) provide resources that bishops can use to help the poor and needy. (See Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics [2006], 18-19).

Key Points

Help participants understand the following points and discuss them as needed:

1. More good works can be accomplished by concerted effort than by individual effort. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “the greatest temporal and spiritual blessings which always come from faithfulness and concerted effort, never attended individual exertion or enterprise” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 183).

Ask participants: Why is it true that more blessings come from “concerted effort” than from “individual exertion”?

2. Since the early days of the Church, members have combined their efforts to care for their less-fortunate neighbors (see D&C 136:8).

3. Before the Great Depression of the 1930s, various wards and stakes operated storehouses, employment offices, and grain storage efforts independently. In 1936 the modern welfare program began to combine these efforts together to make the services of welfare operations available to help more bishops care for the poor.

4. Various welfare operations now provide food, clothing, employment assistance, work training, adoption services, and counseling services.

5. The purposes of welfare operations are to:

• Help people become self-reliant.

• Provide commodities and services that bishops can use to help the poor.

• Provide opportunities for people to work for assistance they receive.

• Provide opportunities for people to serve others.

• Provide production capacity and inventories for Church preparedness.

Using the information accompanying this lesson (“Types of Welfare Operations”), review with the participants the functions of the welfare operations that exist in their area.

Invite participants to share an experience in which a member of their ward or stake benefited from the services of welfare operations. (Remind them not to disclose confidential information.)

Case Study

Present the following case study for participants to discuss. If the group is large, divide participants into smaller discussion groups; then invite participants to report on the ideas generated in their discussions.

Several years ago, Brother DeSilva passed away, leaving Sister DeSilva a widow with six children. They lived very modestly on his income. She has worked since that time in a small shop that retails nonperishables to tourists (hats, purses, sandals, jewelry, and so on).

By combining all their efforts, the family barely gets by. The children wear clothing that is tattered but clean. They can afford no entertainment outside the home. They often take turns riding public transportation to church meetings because they do not have enough money to go together. Sister DeSilva sends the two smallest children to school when she can afford the tuition. At other times they stay with a grandmother.

Sister DeSilva is hardworking, thrifty, and faithful in Church attendance. She is concerned that her boys are becoming discouraged and embittered by their continuing struggles, seeing no reason for hope in the years ahead.

The Church welfare operations in the city where they live include a home storage center (dry pack), a Church employment resource center, and a small surplus clothing distribution center.

Ask participants: What could be done to provide effective welfare assistance for this family? How could the local Church welfare operations be used to help this family? (Answers could include: this bishop should use a Needs and Resources Analysis: Self-Reliance Plan to help Sister DeSilva make a plan to become more self-reliant; the Relief Society president could visit Sister DeSilva, permitting her to express her feelings and her needs; the bishop could discuss Sister DeSilva’s needs in a ward welfare committee meeting, if appropriate; Sister DeSilva could be given help in strengthening her business; the bishop could refer her to the employment resource center for help learning how to grow her business and gain new business skills; the bishop could provide temporary, short-term assistance from fast offerings and the clothing distribution center to meet any immediate needs of the family.)

Practice

As desired, arrange for participants to visit and tour local welfare operations to become better acquainted with the services and products they provide.

Bear testimony that Church welfare operations are an important resource in helping members become self-reliant, caring for the poor and needy, and encouraging service to others.

"Types of Welfare Operations"

The following information describes the various Church welfare operations. Not all of the operations described here are available in every area of the Church. Further information about welfare operations can be obtained from the regional welfare specialist.

Employment Centers

Employment centers help members with their employment needs. They help Church leaders and employment specialists coach members in planning careers and accessing resources that will provide employment, vocational training, or assistance in self-employment.

Bishops’ Storehouses

Bishops’ storehouses distribute commodities to the poor and needy as requested by bishops. Storehouses stock only approved items. Some commodities may be purchased in bulk and repackaged by the storehouse. Storehouses do not sell commodities. Where a storehouse is not available, needed commodities are purchased from local merchants using fast offerings, under the direction of the bishop.

Home Storage Centers

Home storage centers are established to help members package food for home storage and use and to teach members basic food-storage skills. Home storage centers are typically established in conjunction with bishops’ storehouses. Individuals, families, and groups may use home storage centers to package basic commodities such as grains and legumes.

Clothing Distribution Centers

Clothing distribution centers distribute clothing to the poor and needy through the contributions and service of others. Donated clothing is processed by volunteers and is given to those in need as requested by bishops.

Canneries and Processing Plants (United States and Canada only)

The Church establishes canneries and other facilities to process welfare commodities for distribution to the needy through bishops’ storehouses. In some canneries, families may use the facilities to process, package, and purchase basic, life-sustaining commodities such as meats, vegetables, and fruits for home use.

Deseret Industries (United States and Canada only)

Deseret Industries is a nonprofit vocational rehabilitation facility and thrift store. Deseret Industries provides trainees the opportunity to work, receive training, and find long-term employment. It also provides the public with inexpensive, quality merchandise in a clean, safe retail environment. To those in need, merchandise is provided at no cost. In addition, Deseret Industries provides people the opportunity to give meaningful service by donating their time and merchandise.

LDS Family Services (United States, Canada, England, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand only)

LDS Family Services is a private, nonprofit corporation that provides adoption, unwed parent, and counseling services and referrals to Church members in accordance with gospel principles. LDS Family Services also provides consultation services to priesthood leaders to help assess the social and emotional needs of individuals and families in the leaders’ wards and stakes.