Lesson 15: Social And Emotional Needs

Objective

Members of stake or ward welfare committees will be motivated to reach out and help members with social and emotional needs.

(Note: Remind participants not to disclose confidential information as they discuss this topic.)

Statement from the Church Handbook of Instructions

Invite a participant to read the following statement:

“Church members who seek spiritual guidance or have weighty personal problems should make a diligent effort, including earnest prayer and scripture study, to find solutions and answers themselves. If they still need help, they should counsel first with their bishop. If necessary, he refers them to the stake president. These leaders are entitled to the discernment and inspiration necessary to be a spiritual adviser and temporal counselor to members who need such help” (Church Handbook of Instructions Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 324).

Scripture

Invite a participant to read the following scripture, and discuss how it applies to helping those with emotional and social needs.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).

Key Points

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

1. The principles of self-reliance apply to the emotional needs as well as to temporal needs. As individuals come to Christ through righteous and provident living, social and emotional problems will improve. As Elder Boyd K. Packer taught: “Fortunately, the principles of temporal welfare apply to emotional problems as well” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1978, 136; or Ensign, May 1978, 91).

2. When members have used all of their own resources, they should not feel shame or embarrassment in seeking welfare assistance to help with social and emotional problems.

3. Bishops and ward welfare committees have responsibilities to help members who are struggling with social and emotional problems.

4. Professional counseling through LDS Family Services or other licensed professionals can be a resource to help those with emotional and social needs.

Invite participants to discuss the resources available in their community that can provide help and professional counseling.

5. Some of the social and emotional issues that deserve the attention of the bishop include:

• Adoption and unwed pregnancies

• Pornography and sexual addictions

• Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse

• Homosexual behaviors

• Substance abuse

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.

Amy, a recent high school graduate, approached her bishop, requesting an interview. The bishop quickly discerned that Amy was in trouble and saw her that same evening. As they sat down, she immediately started to cry and soon disclosed that she was pregnant. She told the bishop she had been dating a boy she knew in school for the past few months and they had become progressively intimate. She said she never intended to “go all the way” with this boy and still hoped to marry in the temple someday. When the bishop asked Amy if she thought there was a possibility of a future with this young man, she quickly responded she could never marry him. Her family would never approve; besides that, he didn’t attend church and had no goals for the future. Amy said she was scared and didn’t know what to do.

Ask participants: What could be done to help a young woman experiencing the crises of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy? What could be done to help this young woman understand and follow the counsel of Church leaders regarding these situations?

Explain to the participants that LDS Family Services is available as a resource to help with out-of-wedlock pregnancies as well as a wide range of other social and emotional problems. It is important that counsel and information on social and emotional topics be consistent with gospel teachings. LDS Family Services can assist leaders in identifying appropriate resources in the community.

Information about local LDS Family Services agencies can be found at their Web site, www.ldsfamilyservices.org. In areas where an LDS Family Services office is not accessible, bishops should consult with stake presidents when counseling unwed parents.

Additional Teachings from Church Leaders

Share the following statements with participants as desired:

“The prepared family has developed social-emotional strength through righteous living, gospel study, and loving family relationships. They can deal resiliently with life’s inevitable opposites of sorrow and joy, deprivation and abundance, failure and success, through their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and conversion to the reality of eternal life. As each family in the Church strives to accomplish this degree of family preparedness, many of the problems of life will be solved. The [Latter-day Saint] family that develops this kind of family preparedness will experience serenity in the midst of upheaval, security in the midst of uncertainty, and sustenance in the midst of want” (Victor L. Brown, “An Overview of Church Welfare Services,” Ensign, Nov. 1975, 115).

“In areas where LDS [Family] Services agencies do not exist, bishops should maintain a list of reputable professional personnel who provide similar services and who conform to the standards of the Church. With regard to licensed services, priesthood leaders should be careful to conform to local, state, and federal laws when adoption, unwed parent, or foster care services are provided. When professional counseling is being given, the bishop should remain close to the individual to be aware of progress being made or any additional problems” (Victor L. Brown, “Rendering Assistance in the Lord’s Way,” Ensign, May 1977, 80).

Practice

Ask participants to take a few minutes to think of members for whom they have responsibility who may need help with social and emotional issues. Invite them to discuss these matters in their next welfare committee meeting or other appropriate setting where confidentiality will be maintained. (Remind participants about using care in discussing names of people with serious social or emotional problems. Serious offense can occur if this kind of personal information is inappropriately disclosed in a welfare committee meeting.)

Encourage participants to more diligently search out and help those who are in need of social and emotional help. Bear testimony of the blessings that come from serving those in need in the Lord’s way.