President Reagan spends some time in Utah visiting the
LDS Welfare system and learning how it works. Here's
a photo with him and the former (center) and current LDS Church Presidents (right).
Posted on 08/23/2012 4:08:17 PM PDT by Starman417
With the selection of Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee for the office of President of the United States, a lot of attention has come to his church (and mine) - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was asked if I would write a post that detailed the church's welfare program. This post isn't meant to recruit or convert people to my church. Rather, it's to convince people that work requirements as a condition of receiving welfare or other benefits have positive results and benefit society.
When we conservatives hear the word welfare, we almost cringe. Not because we don't think it's important to care for the poor, but because of HOW we care for the poor. President Obama has been called the "Welfare President" and the "Food Stamp President." Last month, he ended the work requirement for welfare recipients, turning the program into a one-way benefit that incentivized laziness.
Since the President took office in 2009, food stamp use has jumped 46%! Spending on the welfare program has more than doubled to nearly $76 billion annually. As of last month, nearly 5% of ALL AMERICANS are on some form of welfare.
While our politicians like to battle with each other about the efficiency and future of these programs, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ("the LDS Church" or "Mormons") has successfully managed a fully funded, non-governmental program for more than 76 years. The thing that distinguishes this program from state and federal programs is something that I'd like to highlight here in the hopes that the talking heads in Washington see how a good welfare program can actually make people more productive and less dependent.
The program was started in 1936 by then-First Counselor David O. McKay. During the inauguration, McKay stated that “[The welfare program] is established by divine revelation, and there is nothing else in the entire world that can so effectively take care of its members”
I'm a firm believer that America needs to get back to its roots. Families are no longer expected to take care of their own because the government has taken over that role. Non-profits and churches serve to merely augment those government programs. The roots of the LDS welfare program begin with the individual church member.
We follow the admonition in Proverbs to "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase." Our Doctrine and Covenants - an additional set of scriptures that is canonized alongside the King James Bible and Book of Mormon - clarifies a proper tithe to be 10%. Without these tithes, the church would not be able to take care of its own and others suffering through disasters.
In the early 1930s, the country was suffering the worst depression in its history. Unemployment was rampant across the country. In Utah, where the LDS Church is headquartered, unemployment was over 36%. Many people were clamoring for government assistance because they knew it would not have to be paid back. The President and prophet of the church at the time, President Heber J. Grant, said that this mentality "is all wrong."
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...
ping
All the Mormons I’ve worked with have been upstanding people.
Their welfare system is very good.
“While our politicians like to battle with each other about the efficiency and future of these programs, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (”the LDS Church” or “Mormons”) has successfully managed a fully funded, non-governmental program for more than 76 years”
Well duh, they require 10 percent of your income pre-tax, pre-any kind of spending on essentials, not to mention all the “volunteer” work they call their people to do in their businesses or other economic ventures.
And now know of a couple that are fake's.
Funny how things go..isn't it?
I know of one who is running for President. He invented ObamaCare and is a pathological liar. Funny how things go, indeed.
That was before I was saved from the cult by Christ.
Unfortunately, for Romney to win the votes of Christians, what will first happen is that conservative writers, radio hosts, columnists, social conservative leaders, all of our talking heads, thinkers, and millions of rank and file conservatives and Christians will be drawn into the largest collection of, the most diverse collection of, the most creative collection of Mormon apologists, in history.
Mormonism will be daily rationalized, ways to smooth over Christian concerns will be thought of and delivered on the air waves, just as Hugh Hewitt and Michael Medved already do. Limbaugh and others will fall into a daily routine of countering and defeating Christian protests against Mormonism. New creative thoughts and reasoning will come from National Review, and Fox
The right will be sucked into becoming the foot soldiers of mainstreaming and rationalizing Mormonism.
And how they do beat you over the head with it too.....
Won't get into, and I don't think you really won't to go there...how the D & C is "canonized".
BTW...let's talk about the probable 40-60 BILLION dollars that LDS, Inc. has.
Starman417...why don't you start asking where these monies are...and what is LDS, Inc. doing with them?
They certainly aren't giving 10% away....not even close.
Just like mormonism is Christ+ to get to heaven, membership is an audited 10% +.
Good article.
Thanks for posting here.
“Funny...I’ve worked with one that was a cheat...and another that was a racist.”
The ones I’ve worked with are so conservative they make typical conservatives look liberal. They don’t smoke or drink and have some very strict rules.
Funny isn't it?
One of the good mormon's..I liked and was friends with until he found out I was a Christian...One day he gruffly asked me..what was so SPECIAL about JESUS!!??
I started looking into mormonism then....and figured out why he was antagonistic towards me..and Christ.
Take care....
NhNoNuts, can you stop stalking me across the forum just because you disagree with me and want Akin destroyed?
Instead of bashing Mormons, more religious groups need to COPY their model. Instead of just setting up food banks, set up food banks and canneries and farms and require productive action in return for help.
Yeah...the ones I worked with didn’t smoke or drink around me...But bragged about cheating others, and their church...and one was a racist prick and a “bishop”..besides “being an nice guy” to most of his co-worker’s.
“Funny isn’t it?
One of the good mormon’s..I liked and was friends with until he found out I was a Christian...One day he gruffly asked me..what was so SPECIAL about JESUS!!??
I started looking into mormonism then....and figured out why he was antagonistic towards me..and Christ.
Take care....”
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Sorry, I just don’t believe these are your experiences. It goes totally against all my experiences with Mormons.
Of course if your co-workers were all your fellow prisoners working with you in the laundry of the Salt Lake City jail, maybe it could be true. Of course, I don’t believe you were incarcerated in the Salt Lake City jail either.
My kids hung around with the Mormon kids in high school since they did not drink or do any drugs. The Mormon families of these kids seemed very nice and tolerant of all religions/faiths. My daughter did a Young Life Christian lock-in overnight event and invited a Mormon classmate/friend. Much to my surprise, her Mormon classmate was allowed to attend.
Thru my children’s friendships with Mormon classmates, I have become friends fairly good friends with a couple of the Mormon families, and they seem to be non-judgemental and quite accepting of all regardless of differing faiths. Perhaps it varies depending on their particular area/region?
Shouldnt this thread be in the Religion Forum ???
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