Visiting
Teaching August 2013
Welfare
The purposes of Church welfare are to help members become
self-reliant, to care for the poor and needy, and to give service. Welfare is
central to the work of Relief Society. President Henry B.
Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, has taught:
“[The Lord] has from the beginning of time provided ways for His
disciples to help. He has invited His children to consecrate their time, their
means, and themselves to join with Him in serving others. …
“He has invited and commanded us to participate in His work to
lift up those in need. We make a covenant to do that in the waters of baptism and in the holy
temples of God. We renew the covenant on Sundays when we partake of the sacrament.”1
Under the direction of the bishop or branch president, local
leaders assist with spiritual and temporal welfare. Opportunities to serve
often begin with visiting teachers who seek inspiration to know how to respond
to the needs of each sister they visit.
From the Scriptures
From Our History
On June 9, 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith
charged the sisters in Relief Society to “relieve the poor” and to “save
souls.”2 These goals are still at the heart of
Relief Society and are expressed in our motto, “Charity never faileth” (1 Corinthians
13:8).
Our fifth Relief Society general president, Emmeline B.
Wells, and her counselors launched this motto in 1913 as a reminder of our
founding principles: “We do declare it our purpose to … [hold] fast to the
inspired teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith when he revealed the plan by which
women were to be empowered through the calling of the priesthood to be grouped
into suitable organizations for the purpose of ministering to the sick,
assisting the needy, comforting the aged, warning the unwary, and succoring the
orphans.”3
Today the Relief Society has a worldwide reach as sisters extend
charity, the pure love of Christ, to their neighbors (see Moroni
7:46–47).
What Can I Do?
1. How am I preparing to care for myself and for my family
spiritually and temporally?
2. How can I follow the Savior’s example as I help meet the needs
of the sisters I watch over?
“Welfare is to Lift”
cji
8/1/13
Without burden or
restraint
caring for another to
lift
helping one to learn
skills
able to thus
self-provide
teaching one to fish
alone
thus having for times
of need
the Scriptures able
to heed
giving of manna and
not stone
lengthening another’s
stride
their personal larder
then fills
giving freedom’s
awesome gift
without burden or
restraint!
Copyright © 2013 –
cji
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