[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);

[[Page S7585]]

       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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