Welfare program impacts Mormons in different ways

SALT LAKE CITY — The introduction of the LDS Church's formal welfare program 75 years ago — on April 6, 1936 — provided a focus for several speakers during the 181st general conference.

First known as the Church Security Plan, the program was introduced by then-President Heber J. Grant and his counselors, J. Reuben Clark and David O. McKay. Elder Melvin J. Ballard was the first chairman and Harold B. Lee, who later became church president, the first managing director.

In its 75 years, the program has touched virtually every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, especially through its primary principle of fostering self-reliance. Most have been either a contributor or recipient of the program's goods and services that support individuals and families when their needs outstrip self-reliance.

Benefits have extended as well to numerous people outside church ranks in times of exceptional needs such as natural disasters. Devastating earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and other natural disasters in recent times have generated enormous needs.

In the Sunday morning general session, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton spoke on both the temporal and spiritual aspects of welfare. "As sons and daughters of God, we cannot inherit the full measure of eternal life without being fully invested in caring for each other while we are here on earth," he said. "Since the foundation of the world, the cloth of righteous societies has ever been woven from the golden threads of charity. … The prophetic welfare plan is not merely an interesting footnote in the history of the church. The principles on which it is based defines who we are as a people. It is the essence of who we are as individual disciples of our Savior and exemplar, Jesus the Christ."

Also addressing the welfare aspect of the church were:

Sister Silvia H. Allred, first counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency: "(Welfare service) is, in fact, the essence of discipleship in the true Church of Jesus Christ. … Relief Society has always been at the heart of welfare. … When love becomes the guiding principle in our care for others, our service to them becomes the gospel in action. It is the gospel in its finest moment. It is pure religion."