[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7584-S7585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 323, which was submitted
earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 323) recognizing the 75th anniversary
of the Welfare Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints and the significant impact of the Welfare
Program in the United States and throughout the world in
helping people in need.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I support this resolution recognizing the
75th anniversary of the welfare program of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, LDS. This resolution recognizes and commends the
LDS Church and its members for 75 years of donating their time, energy,
and resources to benefit people across the Nation and throughout the
world.
Since its creation in 1936, the LDS welfare program has matured to a
point where its reach can be felt across the globe by people of all
nations and religious affiliations. Founded to help others achieve
self-reliance, the program has remained true to its founding values as
it has grown. To date, a remarkable 63,000 tons of food has been
distributed by the welfare program to people in need across the globe.
In addition to food distribution, the program has provided much needed
clothing, medical aid, and services to help people gain long-term
stability in the workforce and in the home.
Over 300 LDS Employment Research Service Centers around the world
provide people with jobs skills training, resume-writing workshops,
interviewing classes, and assistance in finding employment. In
addition, Deseret Industries, an LDS Church-run group of thrift stores,
provides refugees and the disabled with the employment they need to
gain on-the-job experience before moving on to long-term employment.
Another arm of the welfare program, LDS Family Services, provides
adoption services, support groups for addiction recovery, and
counseling for a variety of emotional, social, and spiritual
challenges.
There is a common assumption that if the Federal Government does not
address a problem, no one else will. The LDS welfare program is
evidence that private charities play a vital role in providing for the
social, mental, physical, and spiritual welfare of this Nation's
citizens. President Ronald Reagan recognized this truth.
He believed that government could not provide a solution for every
problem. He also understood that there is much that the government can
learn from the sound management of the LDS welfare program and other
private charitable organizations. In fact, President Reagan said of the
LDS welfare program, ``If, during the period of the Great Depression,
every church had come forth with a welfare program founded on correct
principles . . . we would not be in the difficulty in which we find
ourselves today.''
As I look at the surging national debt driven largely by poorly
structured entitlement programs, I can't help but think that President
Reagan's words are as true today as they were in 1982.
The LDS welfare program is an inspirational example of what a private
organization can accomplish as ordinary people give of their money,
time, and talents. I wish to congratulate the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, its leadership, and its world-wide membership on the
success of this great program.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider
be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 323) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 323
Whereas in 1936, while the United States was mired in the
Great Depression, Heber J. Grant, President of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred to in this
Resolution as ``the LDS Church''), announced the creation of
what came to be known as the Welfare Program;
Whereas President Grant explained, ``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, industry, thrift and self
respect be once more established amongst our people . . . The
aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves.
Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the
lives of our Church membership.'';
Whereas, the LDS Church's Welfare Program, which is based
on the principles of self-reliance and industry, has expanded
throughout the world and assists people of all faiths by
caring for the needy while simultaneously teaching principles
to help them become self-reliant and retain their self
respect;
Whereas funding for the LDS Church's Welfare Program is
provided by the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, who routinely fast for 2 consecutive meals
every month and make donations to the LDS Church's Welfare
Program that is at least equal to the money they would have
spent on food;
Whereas the LDS Church's Welfare Program provides
opportunities for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints to help the less fortunate by working at
dozens of farms and canneries located throughout the United
States and Canada that produce food for needy people;
Whereas needy people in the community are identified by the
leader of each local church congregation, in consultation
with other local leaders, including the Relief Society
President (a woman from the congregation who serves as the
local leader of the LDS Church's women's organization);
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Whereas people in need are provided free food and household
items at facilities called Bishop's Storehouses after
receiving a written requisition from the leader of their
local congregation;
Whereas the 129 Bishop's Storehouses, which are located
throughout the world, provide needed commodities from the
consecrated sacrifices of members of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints;
Whereas recipients of these commodities are given service
opportunities, to the extent of their ability, which allow
them to demonstrate their gratitude for what they have
received;
Whereas employment resource service centers, which are also
part of the LDS Church's Welfare Program, provide a place
where people can receive job training, learn to enhance their
resumes, and find job opportunities;
Whereas there are nearly 300 employment resource service
centers throughout the world, at which volunteers help
hundreds of thousands of people to find jobs every year, a
large percentage of whom are not members of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints;
Whereas the LDS Church's Welfare Program also includes
Deseret Industries, which serves as an employment training
facility and operates thrift stores;
Whereas these thrift stores provide on-the-job experience
for refugees or others who need help qualifying for long-term
employment and are stocked by individual donations, which are
offered to the public at inexpensive prices;
Whereas the LDS Church's Welfare Program also includes LDS
Family Services, a private, nonprofit organization that
provides counseling, adoption services, addiction recovery
support groups, and resources for social, emotional, and
spiritual challenges;
Whereas the influence and power for good exerted by the
Welfare Program of the LDS Church has greatly expanded over
its 75-year history; and
Whereas the positive impact of the LDS Church's Welfare
Program in the United States has assisted untold numbers of
United States citizens:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the 75th Anniversary of the Welfare Program
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints;
(2) congratulates the members of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints for the significant contribution that
its Welfare Program has had on United States citizens and
many people throughout the world; and
(3) commends the many efforts made by The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members, through its
Welfare Program, to serve others regardless of religious
affiliation.
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