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This year marks the 75th anniversary of The Welfare Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The plan is meant to teach us the true value of freedom, so our existence on this earth is as sound and happy as possible.
Pres. David O McKay, then a Counselor in the First Presidency when the Welfare Program began, used this story to explain the reason and benefits of the program. A train was getting ready to take its passengers to their destination in spite of a dark and stormy night. One of the passengers asked the engineer if he was afraid of the storm. The engineer replied, "When I pull out of this station tonight I am going to run just to the edge of that light, and when I get there, that light will be extended several hundred yards ahead, and I shall run to the end of that light and so on throughout the night. I’ll be running in the light all the way." This program runs by the light of a prophet who is inspired to direct the matters of the Church, as well as those living within its tenets.
Self-reliance is the foundation of this program. Sister Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society president, says, "Self-reliance means using all our blessings from Heavenly Father to care for ourselves and our families to find solutions to our problems." That is the basic difference between our program and any other program in the world.
And there are other programs available to choose from. Logical solutions rest among men who rely on their own resistance against the allures of the world. One popular group calls themselves the Voluntary Simplicity Movement. Their main philosophy is to spend less than they earn, stay out of debt, live off the land, and live green. Their goal is to be financially independent while protecting the earth and its resources.
Governments have adopted the system of the dole, which teaches a completely different philosophy, one where a person can be completely financially dependent on someone else for their livelihood.
The LDS Welfare Program promotes work, as everyone takes on the responsibility to care for themselves first, then they are able to care for others. This temporal self- sufficiency supports a spiritual self-sufficiency in worshiping the God of their choice. This was what this country was founded on, and what the pioneers continued searching for as they moved westward.
What constitutes the Welfare Program?
The areas of welfare are: LDS Family Services, employment, addiction and recovery, family finances, combating pornography, family home storage, emergency response, humanitarian aid, counseling, adoption, and LDS Charities. Church-paid Professionals operate each of these areas are, so they can offer their services with the sole purpose of strengthening families when they are going through a difficult time.
The welfare plan is not meant to save us when the economy goes bad. In fact, as much as the church has stored, it could only supply commodities for 3-5 percent of the church membership for any extended length of time. What makes the welfare program so unique is that it supplies training and helps people to help themselves on a daily basis. This way difficulties are minimized, everyone can lead out in their own light -- recall the story at the beginning, -- and the true strength of the program lies within the independence of its members.
The program is a long-term plan to live a lifestyle that brings happiness. The welfare plan teaches people to live within their means, keep themselves employable, teaches families to be whole, complete, and happy in whatever situation they find themselves, teaches how to live the gospel better, and how to plan ahead to avoid any problems that would throw them off course.
It was Ezra Taft Benson, past prophet of the LDS Church, who taught us, "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."
The blessings of the Welfare Program are that a man can have honor in caring for himself and his family. A mother can feel secure in her home, without pressures of instability. And children can be raised with love and confidence.
There is an unfortunate stigma when it comes to the Welfare Program. Many are resistant to ask for help when they need it. On the other hand, some may ask for help too quickly. As a bishop seeks out the poor, with all of its many definitions according to the Beatitudes, it is wise to set his ward up as a training ground, where friends can gather together to strengthen, teach, share, and comfort one another. According to the new church handbook of instructions, this is to be encouraged.
Bishops learn quickly that many families will run into some kind of difficulty at one time or another. What many don’t realize is that everyone has need of welfare, as a means to uplift families and keep them separate from the vipers of the world that would poison our loved ones. Because of this inspired plan, families are saved, protected, and returned to safety. Pride, shame, and judgment should not be allowed to deter anyone’s attempt to better their life.
In the 1920s, according to a National Conference of Social Work study, the greatest concerns for children under 16 years of age were malnourishment, tuberculosis, other diseases, and abject poverty. It was the church, and in particular, the Relief Society, who taught families there was a better lifestyle available to them through medical, and sanitation, knowledge and training.
In 2008, the greatest concerns for children were obesity, drug abuse, bullying, Internet safety, child abuse and neglect, and teen pregnancy. Times have definitely changed, but the Welfare Program is still available to help church members deal with these difficulties, and help get families back on track. There may be a stigma in asking for help, but the risk to the children will be upon the heads of parents if they don’t allow the welfare plan to work for them.
The Welfare Program has blessed my life and those around me, even in little ways. Years ago, as a young married, I attended Homemaking class where I learned how to cut hair. Granted, a little knowledge can do more damage than no knowledge, but this simple class gave me the courage to cut my husband’s hair, as well as my four boys for the next thirty years, saving me several thousands of dollars. In spite of some bad haircuts along the way, this simple example has actually been a great blessing in our home. Now, my children are continuing by cutting their own hair, as well as that of their children.
A student at BYU, was given the calling of employment specialist in his ward. He was able to help some fellow students find jobs. What an interesting opportunity to serve others.
A newly divorced sister needed help starting a new life, so a plan was set up for her. The church would pay for her schooling, and basic necessities, until she could graduate, get a job, and care for her family. It took two years, but the plan successfully got her back on her feet.
What are the real benefits of the Welfare Program?
This is an interesting question with an interesting answer. The entire world of governments has come to see how the church performs this program for the benefit of so many people, but the answer is sometimes difficult for them to understand and accept. The answer is that this is a spiritually-based program that is led by a prophet of God.
Said Spencer W. Kimball, past president of the LDS Church, "Our success, individually and as a church, will largely be determined by how faithfully we focus on living the gospel in our homes." And from Marion G. Romney, a former member of the First Presidency, "What is the most important item to have stored in your year’s supply? My response was seriously given---personal righteousness."
It is clear that the Welfare Program is first and foremost a spiritual safeguard. Church members live the gospel better when they use the principles of welfare as a guide for their families, to teach eternal principles of self- reliance and work, and to avoid living according to the dictates of the world, but by these honorable, faithful, guidelines.
For those who are able to live within their means, enjoy a wholesome lifestyle, and worship as they may, they are experiencing the best fruits of the welfare plan—divine freedom.
Jan Tolman is a mother of six, who enjoys researching the history of the Relief Society. For more information about this women's organization you can read more at www.ldswomenofgod.com/blog.
