Rudd, Pure Religion: The Story of Church Welfare Since 1930

Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:35 AM
Kevin Black wrote:

Pure Religion: The Story of Church Welfare Since 1930, by Glen L. Rudd. Salt Lake: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, c1995.
The irony is that this book sat on my desk at church for the last couple of years of my tenure as bishop--unread. Much of the history was somewhat dry, but Bishop Rudd includes 3 chapters that by themselves are worth the price of admission. Chapters 11 and 14 contain numerous quotes from Church leaders, gleaned and carefully stockpiled over a lifetime of welfare work by the author. A number of them were new to me, and every one was useful. Examples: "The principles of the welfare plan, when applied, will lift us out of this worldly life. The welfare plan is the most spiritual program in the Church. It is the final program and preparation for us to live. If and when properly lived, it will usher in the millennium." (Marion G. Romney) "The poor may be poor in spirit, manner, habits or lifestyle. If they are given money, food, or clothing, they may remain poor. They have difficulty handling their money or managing their homes. They are usually remiss in their church attendance. Their needs require assistance from compassionate people, and even then, a long healing process is often required. ... The poor of the Church need leaders who are understanding and patient. Charity, the pure love of Christ, must be in the heart of every bishop and Relief Society president." (Glen L. Rudd) "It is better to feed nine unworthy persons than to let one worthy person--the tenth, go hungry." (Brigham Young). "Men and women of wealth, use your riches to give employment to the laborer! ... embark in enterprises that will give work to the unemployed. . . ." (Lorenzo Snow). "The welfare plan is a permanent plan for the purpose of extending temporary assistance to the individual, so far as his temporal needs are concerned, but permanent benefits so far as his spiritual welfare is involved." (J. Reuben Clark, Jr.) "The love of work is an attitude that members of the Church must develop. Every family should have a plan for work that touches the lives of each family member. . . ." (M. Russell Ballard) "Members who receive Church welfare assistance should be expected to work to the extent of their ability for what they receive. Bishops who do not provide this opportunity or fail to expect it do the recipient a disservice in terms of retaining their industriousness, maintaining their self-respect, and increasing their ability to be self-reliant." (Robert D. Hales)
I opened Chapter 13, "Welfare success stories," with jaundiced skepticism, imagining that they would all say "this poor hard-working chap just needed a chance and now he is a CEO." Rather, these stories almost all started with, "so-and-so was a welfare failure story--had been given numerous opportunities and lots of help but refused to do anything for himself." Yet they are true success stories. Oh, how I wish I had read this chapter 5 years ago!
Strongly recommended!!