H.C.R. 301

1

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 75TH
2 ANNIVERSARY OF THE WELFARE SYSTEM OF THE
3 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
4 2011 THIRD SPECIAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove
7 Senate Sponsor: Michael G. Waddoups
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor recognizes the 75th
12 Anniversary of the Welfare System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
13 and the significant impact the system has had, both in Utah and throughout the world,
14 in helping people in need.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This resolution:
17 . recognizes the 75th Anniversary of the Welfare System of the Church of Jesus
18 Christ of Latter-day Saints;
19 . recognizes the significant impact the system has had, both in Utah and throughout
20 the world; and
21 . recognizes the many efforts made by the church and its members, through its
22 welfare system efforts, to serve others regardless of religious affiliation.
23 Special Clauses:
24 None
25
26 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
27 WHEREAS, in 1936, seven years into the Great Depression, Heber J. Grant, President

28 of the Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced the creation of what came to
29 be known as the church's welfare system;
30 WHEREAS, President Grant explained, "Our primary purpose was to set up . . . a
31 system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole
32 abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self respect be once more established amongst
33 our people . . . The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be
34 re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership";
35 WHEREAS, today, the welfare system has expanded to all corners of the globe and
36 assists people of all faiths;
37 WHEREAS, the church's welfare system cares for the needy while teaching principles
38 that will help people become self-reliant and retain their self respect;
39 WHEREAS, the system also provides all church members opportunities to serve others;
40 WHEREAS, funding for the welfare system is provided by donations from church
41 members, who go without two meals one Sunday each month and give the money they would
42 have spent on food to the church;
43 WHEREAS, needy people are identified by the leader of local church congregations,
44 with the assistance of the president of the Relief Society, a woman from the congregation who
45 serves as the leader of the women's organization;
46 WHEREAS, food and household items are provided to those who cannot afford them
47 and who bring a written requisition, signed by the leader of their local congregation, to a
48 facility called the Bishop's Storehouse;
49 WHEREAS, there are 129 storehouses located around the world;
50 WHEREAS, these storehouses provide commodity needs from the consecrated
51 sacrifices of church members;
52 WHEREAS, recipients of commodities are given the opportunity to work for what they
53 receive, to the extent of their ability;
54 WHEREAS, employment resource service centers are also part of the church's welfare
55 system and provide a place where people can receive job training, learn to enhance their
56 resumes, and find job opportunities;
57 WHEREAS, there are nearly 300 employment resource service centers around the
58 world, where every year volunteers help hundreds of thousands of people to find jobs, a large

59 percentage of which are not members of the church;
60 WHEREAS, the church's welfare system also includes Deseret Industries, which serves
61 as an employment training facility and operates thrift stores;
62 WHEREAS, these stores provide on-the-job experience for refugees or others who need
63 help qualifying for long-term employment;
64 WHEREAS, these stores are stocked by individual donations, which are stored and
65 stocked by the workers and then offered to the public at inexpensive prices;
66 WHEREAS, the church's welfare system also includes LDS Family Services, a private,
67 nonprofit organization that provides counseling, adoption services, addiction recovery support
68 groups, and resources for social, emotional, and spiritual challenges;
69 WHEREAS, the influence and power for good exerted by the welfare system of the
70 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has greatly expanded over its 75-year history; and
71 WHEREAS, the positive impact of the church's welfare system in the state of Utah has
72 assisted untold numbers of Utah's citizens:
73 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
74 Governor concurring therein, recognize the 75th Anniversary of the Welfare System of the
75 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
76 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recognize the
77 significant contribution that the Welfare System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
78 Saints, and the implementation of its guiding principles, has had on the citizens of the state of
79 Utah and many people throughout the world.
80 WHEREAS, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor
81 recognize the many efforts made by the church and its members, through its welfare system
82 efforts, to serve others regardless of religious affiliation.
83 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Office of the
84 First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to the Office of the
85 Presiding Bishopric.

Legislative Review Note
as of 9-30-11 4:51 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel