Self-reliance highlighted in DVD, pamphlet
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The Church has released a DVD and pamphlet to re-emphasize its long-standing principles of welfare and to bring to the attention of priesthood and Relief Society leaders their responsibility to help bishops seek out and care for the poor.
The "Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance" DVD and pamphlet were produced earlier this year and feature messages on self-reliance by President Thomas S. Monson, Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton and Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.
The DVD and pamphlet were sent to local priesthood leaders in North America and other English-speaking countries along with the booklet "Providing in the Lord's Way, Summary of a Leaders' Guide to Welfare." This booklet is a summary of a former booklet produced in 1990.
All the information is intended to be complementary to the Church Handbook of Instructions, said Bishop Burton, speaking to the Church News about the information.
"Given the worldwide global situation as it relates to self-reliance, we decided it was timely to update and re-emphasize some of the basic principles relating to the care of the poor and the needy," he said.
The information wasn't intended to introduce any new program or any new aspects of welfare, "it was to re-enthrone the basic principles that have supported Church assistance for many, many years," he said.
In addition, the information emphasizes the need for Church members to become, if they are not presently, self-reliant. "It reminds them of what aspects of their life they need to work on to become self-reliant," said Bishop Burton.
Church leaders encourage members, through the DVD, to get back to the basics: to avoid debt, be prepared with savings and food storage and to learn to budget and cook — the kinds of things, said Bishop Burton, "that have been important and will be important as people prepare for the eventualities that occur during the normal course of life."
Stake leaders were instructed to meet with ward leaders as soon as was practical to review the materials. In turn, bishops were instructed to call ward councils together and do the same. "This was an attempt to give all priesthood and Relief Society leaders training on welfare matters," said Bishop Burton.
By the end of April, he estimated two-thirds of stakes in North America had presented the material. "There has been an overwhelming response," he said. "We had many favorable comments from priesthood and Relief Society leaders on this training."
Perhaps, he said, that is because the information may be "a little more needful" at this time than in the past. "This is a time of unsettledness that has caused a lot of people to ... give some serious thought to what needs they may have."
Bishop Burton said because local leadership in the Church turns over every five or so years, it is important to remind bishops of their responsibility to not only take care of the poor, but also to seek out the poor. "Bishops have that sacred responsibility to find those who stand in need and help them become self-reliant," he said. "Stake presidents can be great teachers, listening ears and good consultants, but it is the bishops who have the mantle to look after the poor."
The "Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance" DVD and pamphlet were followed up with instruction from Bishop Richard C. Edgley, given during the priesthood session of April general conference.
In addition, the information is in concert with recent direction from the First Presidency to include welfare as a discussion topic in stake and ward councils.
The ward council becomes the "command post" where everyone is gathered who can help a person become self-reliant, said Bishop Burton.
Ultimately, however, the institution of the Church can do only so much, said Bishop Burton. "The real preparation has to be in the hearts and homes of members," he said.
