This is My Church

On Monday, we toured Welfare Square as part of our Welfare and Humanitarian Service training. I am so very proud to be a member of a church which - through the inspiration of the Lord - has re-enthroned work as a ruling principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Church’s welfare program - a model of efficiency throughout the world which has been viewed by kings and presidents - was implemented in 1936, during the Great Depression, when unemployment rates nationwide ranged from 50 - 70% with a guiding principle which allows men and women the opportunity to earn - by the sweat of their brow - what they need for themselves and their families.

Today, the 13-acre Welfare Square includes a dairy, wet pack cannery, home storage center, bakery, employment center, Deseret Industries store and a testing laboratory to guarantee quality and safety - and they ship millions of pounds annually of clothing, household goods and other materials to meet the needs of those in poverty or distress all over the world.

Here are some of the statistics surrounding these amazing programs:

* The Bishops’ Storehouse produces - in-house - 60% of the products needed “to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide for the widow, dry the tear of the orphan, and to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other - or in no church at all - wherever he finds them" (Joseph Smith, 1842).

* The other 40% of all that is needed for this purpose is purchased with tithing and fast offering funds.

* The Church has been one of the first on-the-scene to more than 200 disasters in 84 countries in the past decade - providing food, funds and volunteers - to help in the recovery of nations

* The Church owns - and 3 times a day milks - more than 4800 head of cows

* The Church provides most of the food used by Salt Lake Catholic Services in their soup kitchen

* The Church Bakery creates almost 3000 loaves of bread a day for distribution to 30 non-profit organizations around the Salt Lake Valley

* The Church, in partnership with BYU, created Atmit, a creamy food supplement used to fight famine and severe malnourishment in children and adults in Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, South Africa, Haiti, Gaza, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Niger. Made from rolled oats, powdered milk, powdered sugar, vitamins and minerals, it is easily digestible, high in protein and calorie content - and has saved the lives of MILLIONS of children around the world.

* The Church currently has 16 million pounds of wheat in a grain silo on Welfare Square, which is refreshed every five years

According to D&C 82:18, “And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold” that each may learn, grow and reach the full measure of their creation.

I am so pleased to be able to say, “this is my church!!!”