Posted on 05/07/2012 7:57:49 AM PDT by Jeff Head
SALT LAKE CITY — Ever since Mitt Romney said he was “not concerned about the very poor” but would fix the safety net “if it needs,” conservatives and liberals have been frantically making suggestions. Gov. Romney says he would consider options. But if he wants to see a welfare system that lets almost no one fall through the cracks while ensuring that its beneficiaries don’t become lifelong dependents, he could look to his own church.
As I ride in a golf cart through a new 15-acre warehouse on the outskirts of Utah’s capital, I can’t help but wonder: How many Walmarts would fit in here? How many burgers can you make from 4,400 pallets of frozen meat? And how do they keep this place cleaner than my kitchen floor?
In addition to goods from canned peaches to emergency generators, the facility houses the church’s own trucking company, with 43 tractors and 98 trailers, as well as a year supply of fuel, parts and tires.
The storehouse is not only a physical marvel, it's been built to withstand an 7.5 magnitude earthquake with – but also a symbol of strength and self-sufficiency.
Launched during the Great Depression, the Mormon welfare system was designed as a way to match the armies of the unemployed faithful with some of the nearby farms that needed temporary labor.
In 1936, Heber Grant, stated: “Our primary purpose was to set up a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished and independence, thrift and self respect be established among our people. The aim is to help people help themselves.”
(Excerpt) Read more at utsandiego.com ...
“Our primary purpose was to set up a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished and independence, thrift and self respect be established among our people. The aim is to help people help themselves.”
Though it may well be attacked and maligned by some simply because it is LDS, these are good sentiments...and much needed in today's society.
I've seen them work and the program is formed around getting people who need help the immediate help they need, but then weaning them off of it and making them poroductive in society.
Clearly, some are disabled, very young, etc. and cannot do a lot of work, but an effort is made to find them something in as many cases as possible...it is the goal of the system (as opposed to the federal system where the real goal is to keep them enslaved and established as a voting block) because it increases self-esteem.
If such sentiments could somehow be applied across the nation through the voluntary offerings (charitable contributions) of the people as opposed to the Government take-away and waste program, would break the back of the liberal/socialist hold on so many of our fellow citizens.
Preparation is never a bad thing.
Good stuff
Good article about a prgram that could be emulated to help the nations welfare system and get it based on worthy principles.
Exactly...and one should ensure that their own defense is provided for in that preparation as well.
I will gladly share what I have with those in need as much as I can and within reason of ensuring my family continues to be able to get by based on our preparation...but I will fight to defend it from those who would forcibly take it.
The Anti-Mormons will be here any minute.
Thanks for the info! One of my favorite YouTube channels is LDSprepper. He has a great auto watering system that I’m going to try this year.
I was unaware of that program. On YouTube? I’ll look into it. Thanks. Learn something good every day if you wat to.
I was unaware of that program. On YouTube? I’ll look into it. Thanks. Learn something good every day if you want to.
Ironically, some LDS member on a financial forum where I hang out were under the impression that the Storehouse was only available to tithers. It was one of the justifications for tithing.
The guy who works next to me said that wasn’t true (he’s LDS).
It’s not true. I’m not Mormon, and I have used the local warehouse to buy in bulk, and can. Saves me a TON of money.
The local LDS doesn’t advertise this, and the locals require a referral from a local LDS to get in.
Refreshing to see something positive posted here about LDS.
Thank you.
netmilsmom, You’re right. Counting down their arrival...three, two.....
It isn’t true. I have been involved in Bishoprics and the welfare program, my wife in Relief Societ Presidencies. We routinely help inactive mebers of the Church, part members, and even full-on non-members in our communities who come to us for that help.
It is paid for in part by tithing, but the vast majority of this program is paid for by seperate offerings where members give, each month, the quivalent dollar worth of two hearty meals for their families to be used to help others.
We usually give $50 or so dollars a month to this fund.
Now, those in charge of distributing the help (the Bishops and Relief Society Presidents) in eah congregation sit down with the recipients and go over work ethic, finances, and the need for those receiving to help pay for what they get. The Church has canneries, farms, racnhes, and uses Deseret Industries (a thrift store type operation sponsored by the church) to not only give work, but also to train people.
If someone is able, and unwilling to do anything, it will not be long before their help stops in favor of someone whi is willing.
Those who are disabled, or mothers with several children with no father in the home, will be asked to do what they can...but the help in those cases usually does not stop unless the people do not want to be involved anymore (which involvement means regular meetings with the church leaders to review and assess their situation).
These are generalities about how the program works...each case is individual and will vary.
Or how it isn't really charity because they make people do some work for it.
It's so much better that we all compete for handouts from Fedzilla and let wise annointed dictators like ObaMao decide who should get what.
Seriously, Jeff. thanks for posting. Every church ought to be doing something like this. One of our local churches here just put on a "Free Market," a play on the popular "Flea Markets" held around here. People brought their gently used but still usable cast-offs and took whatever they wanted home. Anything left over was donated to Goodwill.
Loved it! Splendid idea compared to the work of organizing a garage sale, dickering with the nitwits who are already being offered stuff for pennies on the dollar, kill an entire Saturday to earn a pittance plus people who just come to case the joint and the early birds who show up to cherry pick.
Like "single moms" who are actually polygamist wives?
Sadly, this is so. But we try to ween them off of that and onto the Church program wherever folks are willing.
Like any large organization with millions of adherants, there are those who will not and who themselves are hooked on the dole.
At least we have an alternative and help others re-establish their own self-esteem and self-reliance wherever we can.
No referal necessary in the DC area, at least not currently. At one point in the recent past, the stocks were at a really low level and there was some restriction.
I have always admired the Mormons for their preparedness and their Ladies’ Aid missions. Which, as I understand it, is not a bunch of women solely engaged in charity work —it is an educational effort aimed at teaching all of the women in the church how to “do” for themselves and their families. Since the goal is for every family to have a year’s supply of food stored, some of the food is very basic — canned, unsprouted wheat, for instance. The women need to know what to do with it, should the need arise. After their own families are secure, their attention turns to their neighbors in need. Good people.
Outstanding...that sounds like a GREAT program and I wish that Church much luck with it.
Watch for the overlords (Government) to want to get a hand in it if it is made official though).
God’s speed.
The Relief Society (a woman’s organization within the church) does some unbelievably outstanding work in their local communities and congregations.
Started in the late 1830s or early 1840s it was one of the first such woman’s organizations in the country at the time.
My wife loves working with it and helping others. They have weekly compassionate service efforts geared towards helping members and non-members alike.
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