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 ...
When I was a kid, our Baptist family frequently took in persons who found themselves homeless (usually women with kids who found themselves homeless through separation) who came to our church for help. There were five of us kids plus my mom and dad in a small two bedroom house, plus 2 to 3 extras. We paid for their food while there even though we were lower middle class. Very crowded but we made it work. I often slept on the floor with other kids. Others in our church also took in people. All races. This was in the 50’s and 60’s.
Living in South MS, I saw the Mormons and many other churches do great work during the aftermath of Katrina and we are very grateful for their assistance.
Yes. I gave it the wrong name. It has been 40 years since I had a Mormon friend involved in it. It should be Relief Society — not Ladies’ Aid. Memory grows dim, but I always admired what they accomplished — I had peripheral contact with them in 2 different states. I don’t think I know any Mormons in Wisconsin, but I knew plenty of them in CA, TX, and WA. I did NOT ever hold the negative view of them that is expressed on this forum. I always wished that the Catholic Church had something comparable.
>>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.<<
We do something like that at my parish. We do charge for things the first two days but two hours before it ends, it’s a “bag sale”. 10 cents for a grocery bag and you get anything you can stuff into it. Tons still goes to St. Vincent de Paul after.
So as not to be misunderstood, yes LDS inc. may do wonderful works, this is not the primary disagreement of the majority of people with it but more along the lines of...
KJV Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Lord Love you!
Thanks for the ping!
Those tender mercies, shown through the spirit of Christ to others can change hearts and lives...and who knows, perhaps change entire communities, states and nations.
From little things, God proceeds to do great works amongst His children.
>>So as not to be misunderstood, yes LDS inc. may do wonderful works, this is not the primary disagreement of the majority of people with it but more along the lines of...<<
Oh well.
Some people quote the Bible, some people live the Bible.
That’s what is so nice about being Catholic. I see when someone is living Christianity, over what someone thinks they should be.
I tend to pull “good ideas” from other faiths/cultures and use them as my own, the one thing I pulled from the LDS was their “having one year supply of food on hand” thing.
I have one year of food that I rotate through and also use to help some of my friends when they need food.
I have yet to pull anything from the “ROP”.
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
We try and do that, and to do as our Savior bid us to, "Love one another, even as I have loved you," and, "If ye love me, keep my Commandments."
IMHO, anyone who professes Christ and is sincere in that witness, will do these things...though we all be imperfect in the accomplishment of it, our hearts are convicted by Him to try our best and then let His arm be revealed as He fills in the gaps.
God's speed and blessings to you and yours as you seek to help others through Christ, Jesus.
Nothin wrong with that...and God bless you for it.
We can find good all around us if we just look...and there’s never anything wrong with incorporating good into our lives.
Whether for times when we lose a job, or when we’re sick, or if there’s as storm that knocks out power for a few days, or in a natural catastophe or other more long term emergency, being prepared can save your life, and those of your loved ones.
Ping.
Sorry, in my last post I quoted Peter as the source of the “undefiled religion” quote. As you pointed out to me privately (thanks), it was James, in James 1:27.
My bad.
Again, thanks, and God’s speed.
You are quite welcome.
You see plenty of Taliban Fundies out there constantly ridiculing both of them for thinking they can "work their way into heaven." But you never see Catholics or LDS ridiculing the Taliban Fundies for thinking they can "beleive their way into heaven."
(Incidentally, I'm well aware that neither Catholics nor Mormons think they can get to heaven through works alone. They just consider it an important part of their faith, which includes faith in Jesus Christ. IOW, John 3:16 is a good place to start, but it isn't everything.)
The non-stop hatred spewed by these ignoramuses actually does a service of pointing out which sects are closest to the truth because low-lifes aren't going to waste time and effort ridiculing a sect like Rev. Wright's "hate whitey" church.
Reformation era (i.e., Martin Luther, et al) pretty much covered this. The Word of God stands.
We have twice made appointments to use the LDS cannery near where we live. There are many staples available along with the canning equipment. The workers at the cannery are very friendly and helped us learn the process.
I would estimate that the cost of the food we bought and canned was perhaps twice what we would have paid retail for the food alone, but the advantage is that these foods are canned so as to be preserved for about 25 years. We only have about a four months supply for our family, but that is far, far better than the average person.
Should Obama's people succeed in generating nation-wide riots, we will be able to keep our heads down for an extended time.
>>Reformation era (i.e., Martin Luther, et al) pretty much covered this. <<
Yup, sure did. Glad I’m Catholic!
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