Leader’s Guide to Welfare Released

The release of a new leader’s guide to welfare marks a landmark event for the Church—resource material being released simultaneously in nineteen different languages.

“A miracle of sorts has enabled us for the first time, to my knowledge, to introduce in final printed form, in the many languages which you use, the new publication,” President Thomas S. Monson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, told a group of regional representatives gathered for April general conference. “In these tumultuous times in which we live, we must pursue anew our learning and our teaching of divinely given welfare principles.”

The new guide, Providing in the Lord’s Way: A Leaders’ Guide to Welfare, has been several years in production. The emphasis in the new guide is that members of the Church can live according to welfare principles wherever they live and whether or not they have any physical facilities. The guide focuses on scriptures and doctrine relating to welfare.

According to the guide, “a storehouse is established the moment faithful members give to the bishop of their time, talents, skills, compassion, materials, and financial means in caring for the poor and in building up the kingdom of God on earth.”

Also in the new guide are quotes from Church leaders and pictures illustrating welfare principles.

The new guide is designed for use by Area Presidencies, regional representatives, directors for temporal affairs, area welfare directors, and all members of stake and ward welfare committees. The guide is divided into three main sections. The first section explains the way the Lord has revealed for his Saints to care for themselves and the poor and needy. Part two discusses principles of the gospel that apply to welfare and the welfare responsibilities of each member of the Church. Part three explains responsibilities of Church leaders in providing Church welfare assistance.

In area training meetings and regional welfare committee meetings during 1991, stake presidents throughout the Church will receive instructions on the use and policy implications of the new welfare manual.

In turn, local leaders will be instructed to teach the principles and responsibilities found in the first two sections to the leaders and members under their jurisdiction. Those sections are designed to be used for lessons in family home evenings, priesthood quorum or Relief Society classes, and training in ward, stake, and regional welfare committees.

“Providing in the Lord’s way for ourselves and others is a sign of the true Church and evidence that we are disciples of Christ,” the new guidebook states. “Church leaders should teach and testify of the principles contained in this leader’s guide by precept, by personal example, and by ensuring that the cries of the poor and needy do not go unheeded.”

A supplement to the leader’s guide, Church Welfare Resources, was also introduced and distributed to leaders in the United States and Canada to explain the appropriate use of Church welfare resources in those countries.