Should there be a new calling to focus on the "Poor and Needy"?

[cinepro]

In 2009, the Church officially added "Care for the Poor and Needy" as the fourth mission in what was commonly called the "Threefold Mission of the Church." 

The other three are:

1. Proclaim The Gospel,

2. Redeem the Dead

3. Perfect the Saints

The recent fiasco in Draper and other concerns that some people have about the way the Church allocates resources to the "poor and needy" got me thinking about why LDS aren't better known for this aspect of our faith.

I'm open to the argument that the Church (and its members) already do as much as God's True Church(tm) should be expected to do and no change is needed.  If that's your opinion of the subject, that's great, but please share it briefly and move on.  I'd like this thread to focus on ideas from people who think the Church could and should do better.

Ultimately, I think it would be awesome if one of the things the Church members were known for was our care for the poor.  When people on the street get asked "What do you know about Mormons?", the answer would be "They used to practice polygamy, they are really nice, and they really do a lot to help out poor people."   

When a mayor in a big city with a Temple finds out the Church is planning on building a Temple in another city, he calls that city's mayor and says "You are so lucky.  When that Temple gets built, you will see the Mormons increasing their efforts to help the poor in your city to such a degree that you won't believe it.  Fasten your seatbelt, because when it comes to caring for the poor and needy, Mormons are a machine."

But as far as I know, that's really not the perception.  And it occurs to me that it won't change in the culture of the Church without the Church making a conscious effort to plan for that change, and implement that plan.  And it also occurs to me that while we have callings that focus on missionary work and family history and Temple work, we really don't have a calling that focuses on caring for the poor and needy.  Yes, there are many callings that include this (RS President, Bishop, EQP, Home Teacher etc.)  But could we do more if we had someone who spent as much time and focus as the Ward Mission Leader looking for ways to help the poor in the community and creating opportunities for ward members to give their time and money to these causes?

And what if the Temple was more closely tied to this goal?  What if efforts in this regard were mandatory to Temple attendance? 

To take it to the next level, what if Book of Mormon teachings about "riches" and "costly apparel" were incorporated in the message, and the counsel included living frugally and donating the excess to worthy causes?  Could we one day have meetinghouse parking lots devoid of expensive cars because everyone bought less expensive cars and donated the difference to the locals in need?  What if it was embarrassing to wear expensive clothes to Church because the wearer knew that they could have bought something more frugal (but still high quality and stylish) and helped out the local poor and needy?

And obviously, the Missionary force could be refocused to spend more time in this area, working with other community groups to perform service in ways that benefit the poor and needy (more than they already do.)

What do you think?  What could the Church (and Church members) do to systematically make big improvements in "caring for the poor and needy"?

 

[thesometimesaint]

Sure. All of us can do better. But at what cost. Do we ignore building Ward buildings and Temples, and/or how about our schools and universities, and/or our effort to spread the Gospel? On the personal level are all of us required to sell all we own and give the proceeds to the poor? Don't we become poor because of it?

Edited April 12, 2017 by thesometimesaint

[T-Shirt]

Are you more concerned with changing hearts or looking good to the rest of the world?

[bcuzbcuz]

8 minutes ago, T-Shirt said:

Are you more concerned with changing hearts or looking good to the rest of the world?

Looking good or doing good. Isn't there a difference?

[cinepro]

19 minutes ago, T-Shirt said:

Are you more concerned with changing hearts or looking good to the rest of the world?

I don't think the poor and needy care.

[thesometimesaint]

23 minutes ago, T-Shirt said:

Are you more concerned with changing hearts or looking good to the rest of the world?

I'm more concerned about how well I do in following the Lord.

[Jeanne]

Just my perception..and I am so guilty of not doing enough for the needy; but a calling or an assigned friend of the needy doesn't come from the heart ya know??  It shouldn't have to be this way..in any religion, in any community..it should just be.

[stemelbow]

55 minutes ago, cinepro said:

In 2009, the Church officially added "Care for the Poor and Needy" as the fourth mission in what was commonly called the "Threefold Mission of the Church." 

The other three are:

1. Proclaim The Gospel,

2. Redeem the Dead

3. Perfect the Saints

The recent fiasco in Draper and other concerns that some people have about the way the Church allocates resources to the "poor and needy" got me thinking about why LDS aren't better known for this aspect of our faith.

I'm open to the argument that the Church (and its members) already do as much as God's True Church(tm) should be expected to do and no change is needed.  If that's your opinion of the subject, that's great, but please share it briefly and move on.  I'd like this thread to focus on ideas from people who think the Church could and should do better.

Ultimately, I think it would be awesome if one of the things the Church members were known for was our care for the poor.  When people on the street get asked "What do you know about Mormons?", the answer would be "They used to practice polygamy, they are really nice, and they really do a lot to help out poor people."   

When a mayor in a big city with a Temple finds out the Church is planning on building a Temple in another city, he calls that city's mayor and says "You are so lucky.  When that Temple gets built, you will see the Mormons increasing their efforts to help the poor in your city to such a degree that you won't believe it.  Fasten your seatbelt, because when it comes to caring for the poor and needy, Mormons are a machine."

But as far as I know, that's really not the perception.  And it occurs to me that it won't change in the culture of the Church without the Church making a conscious effort to plan for that change, and implement that plan.  And it also occurs to me that while we have callings that focus on missionary work and family history and Temple work, we really don't have a calling that focuses on caring for the poor and needy.  Yes, there are many callings that include this (RS President, Bishop, EQP, Home Teacher etc.)  But could we do more if we had someone who spent as much time and focus as the Ward Mission Leader looking for ways to help the poor in the community and creating opportunities for ward members to give their time and money to these causes?

And what if the Temple was more closely tied to this goal?  What if efforts in this regard were mandatory to Temple attendance? 

To take it to the next level, what if Book of Mormon teachings about "riches" and "costly apparel" were incorporated in the message, and the counsel included living frugally and donating the excess to worthy causes?  Could we one day have meetinghouse parking lots devoid of expensive cars because everyone bought less expensive cars and donated the difference to the locals in need?  What if it was embarrassing to wear expensive clothes to Church because the wearer knew that they could have bought something more frugal (but still high quality and stylish) and helped out the local poor and needy?

And obviously, the Missionary force could be refocused to spend more time in this area, working with other community groups to perform service in ways that benefit the poor and needy (more than they already do.)

What do you think?  What could the Church (and Church members) do to systematically make big improvements in "caring for the poor and needy"?

 

If the Church focused on the poor and needy I'd guess the other three missions as we call them would get done at a better rate. 

I don't know how to do it exactly.  I'd love it if half the callings in the ward changed to callings for the poor and needy.  We can drop 3/4s of the things that local wards do, i'd think, and spend our time and resources serving people.  That probably doesn't sound fun to some though.  I'd feel much better about Church if we did.  As for what the half the callings would do?  Not sure exactly.  I'd love to try and figure it out though.

[thesometimesaint]

All are called to serve the poor and needy, the living and the dead. They can not be saved without us and we can't be saved without them.

[juliann]

43 minutes ago, cinepro said:

 

1. But as far as I know, that's really not the perception.  And it occurs to me that it won't change in the culture of the Church without the Church making a conscious effort to plan for that change, and implement that plan.  And it also occurs to me that while we have callings that focus on missionary work and family history and Temple work, we really don't have a calling that focuses on caring for the poor and needy.  Yes, there are many callings that include this (RS President, Bishop, EQP, Home Teacher etc.)  But could we do more if we had someone who spent as much time and focus as the Ward Mission Leader looking for ways to help the poor in the community and creating opportunities for ward members to give their time and money to these causes?

 

2.  To take it to the next level, what if Book of Mormon teachings about "riches" and "costly apparel" were incorporated in the message, and the counsel included living frugally and donating the excess to worthy causes?  Could we one day have meetinghouse parking lots devoid of expensive cars because everyone bought less expensive cars and donated the difference to the locals in need?  What if it was embarrassing to wear expensive clothes to Church because the wearer knew that they could have bought something more frugal (but still high quality and stylish) and helped out the local poor and needy?

 

 

1. Well, there is a calling. The church has humanitarian missions. My sister is on one in Fiji to counter the high rate of diabetes there. Her husband is a doctor and they are bringing in prosthetics (sp?) because when they have foot issues, they amputate. It requires traveling for hours to get to one village to fit one person. 

So my first reaction to this is....have you been tracking humanitarian services on LDS.org? My second is, why should this be publicized? Guess what my sister was told at the training center....do NOT give out information to reporters, as in church news reporters. They wanted these efforts to be private. I think tooting our horn to be seen by others might be secondary to gaining the trust of the people and officials involved. 

To be blunt, I had no idea that this kind of thing was going on at a steady pace and I can only assume that those who criticize don't know what the heck they are talking about either. So the first order of business is to become very informed at what is already in place. And you have to hunt for it. As it should be.  And obviously, more can be done. 

2. OK, what will be considered expensive?  Which country will be the gold standard? Would this mean we would all have to buy used cars? Would we be grandfathered in or have to sell our expensive stuff?   Should we be making our own clothes and canning our own food again? How many outfits can we have? (I strongly suggest you leave women's shoes alone.)  Will there be a ward economist calling? Might it be more economical to simply require people to send in proof of income and make darn sure they are forking over every tithing cent?

[Ahab]

First there should we some way to determine who is poor and needy. It may be easy to determine that in some cases, but in other cases it may take some careful analysis.

Then there should be some way to determine HOW to help. Giving food and  clothing would be 2 ways to help, either giving it away for free or for a very small cost. 

I'm aware of many ways we already help the poor and needy. There should probably also be some way to determine HOW MUCH to give, either for free or for a very small cost. And I'm aware of many ways we already do that too.

[MorningStar]

I would think that caring for the poor and needy would be part of perfecting the saints. 

[thesometimesaint]

5 minutes ago, Ahab said:

First there should we some way to determine who is poor and needy. It may be easy to determine that in some cases, but in other cases it may take some careful analysis.

Then there should be some way to determine HOW to help. Giving food and  clothing would be 2 ways to help, either giving it away for free or for a very small cost. 

I'm aware of many ways we already help the poor and needy. There should probably also be some way to determine HOW MUCH to give, either for free or for a very small cost. And I'm aware of many ways we already do that too.

It is not easy to determine even in our own country. Does having a refrigerator in point Barrow; Alaska count? The Inuit actually use a refrigerator to keep food from freezing.

[why me]

1 hour ago, cinepro said:

What do you think?  What could the Church (and Church members) do to systematically make big improvements in "caring for the poor and needy"?

 

The church would need to become more political if it wishes to do something about the poor. Poverty is a political problem, which becomes a social problem. We need to ask why is poverty increasing? What is it about capitalist social relations that increases poverty? The church would need to ask such questions if it wishes to do something about poverty.

[CA Steve]

5 minutes ago, juliann said:

1. Well, there is a calling. The church has humanitarian missions. My sister is on one in Fiji to counter the high rate of diabetes there. Her husband is a doctor and they are bringing in prosthetics (sp?) because when they have foot issues, they amputate. It requires traveling for hours to get to one village to fit one person. 

So my first reaction to this is....have you been tracking humanitarian services on LDS.org? My second is, why should this be publicized? Guess what my sister was told at the training center....do NOT give out information to reporters, as in church news reporters. They wanted these efforts to be private. I think tooting our horn to be seen by others might be secondary to gaining the trust of the people and officials involved. 

To be blunt, I had no idea that this kind of thing was going on at a steady pace and I can only assume that those who criticize don't know what the heck they are talking about either. So the first order of business is to become very informed at what is already in place. And you have to hunt for it. As it should be.  And obviously, more can be done. 

 

Why publicize this? Well for the very reason you state in your second paragraph here, so that members themselves will be more aware of what other members and the church are doing. I would think that would bring a lot more participation at least if it were more publicly known within the church.

How about this for a suggestion. I am not active as far as attendance or tithing go. I have a lot of family members who are active, including a very active wife who would love to serve a mission. I have no desire to serve another mission focused on missionary work but would be interested in participating in a service mission if the church would consider service mission callings for people who would not meet the qualifications for a missionary mission. Why can't we have service missions for members who are interested in such and make them available for couples like my wife and I? She could be called and set apart for the mission and I could accompany here with the expectation I would be performing the same service as she?

Maybe there could be service callings at a stake and ward level that were similar, where inactive members were asked if they wanted to participate?

[ksfisher]

15 minutes ago, CA Steve said:

Why publicize this? Well for the very reason you state in your second paragraph here, so that members themselves will be more aware of what other members and the church are doing. I would think that would bring a lot more participation at least if it were more publicly known within the church.

How about this for a suggestion. I am not active as far as attendance or tithing go. I have a lot of family members who are active, including a very active wife who would love to serve a mission. I have no desire to serve another mission focused on missionary work but would be interested in participating in a service mission if the church would consider service mission callings for people who would not meet the qualifications for a missionary mission. Why can't we have service missions for members who are interested in such and make them available for couples like my wife and I? She could be called and set apart for the mission and I could accompany here with the expectation I would be performing the same service as she?

Maybe there could be service callings at a stake and ward level that were similar, where inactive members were asked if they wanted to participate?

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/topics/service/church-service-missionary/Recommendation for CSM--English 2012-09-05.pdf?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/church-service-missionary/faq?lang=eng#what_are_csms

The church does require service missionaries to be worthy to hold a temple recommend.  This would seem appropriate as they are representatives of the church.

Edited April 12, 2017 by ksfisher

[bluebell]

I think we individually can always do better.  But i'm encouraged by what I see the church doing, that I don't think a lot of people are aware of.

This article on working with refugees is a good example-

Record Year for LDS giving...

[Tacenda]

38 minutes ago, CA Steve said:

Why publicize this? Well for the very reason you state in your second paragraph here, so that members themselves will be more aware of what other members and the church are doing. I would think that would bring a lot more participation at least if it were more publicly known within the church.

How about this for a suggestion. I am not active as far as attendance or tithing go. I have a lot of family members who are active, including a very active wife who would love to serve a mission. I have no desire to serve another mission focused on missionary work but would be interested in participating in a service mission if the church would consider service mission callings for people who would not meet the qualifications for a missionary mission. Why can't we have service missions for members who are interested in such and make them available for couples like my wife and I? She could be called and set apart for the mission and I could accompany here with the expectation I would be performing the same service as she?

Maybe there could be service callings at a stake and ward level that were similar, where inactive members were asked if they wanted to participate?

Love this!

[juliann]

47 minutes ago, CA Steve said:

Why publicize this? Well for the very reason you state in your second paragraph here, so that members themselves will be more aware of what other members and the church are doing. I would think that would bring a lot more participation at least if it were more publicly known within the church.

How about this for a suggestion. I am not active as far as attendance or tithing go. I have a lot of family members who are active, including a very active wife who would love to serve a mission. I have no desire to serve another mission focused on missionary work but would be interested in participating in a service mission if the church would consider service mission callings for people who would not meet the qualifications for a missionary mission. Why can't we have service missions for members who are interested in such and make them available for couples like my wife and I? She could be called and set apart for the mission and I could accompany here with the expectation I would be performing the same service as she?

Maybe there could be service callings at a stake and ward level that were similar, where inactive members were asked if they wanted to participate?

Steve, is there anyone unaware of service missions? Not the nature of them, necessarily, but that they exist? Like my sister's situation, some require certain expertise but I'm sure there is something for everyone. 

Maybe someone has more knowledge on this.....I see the callings going out to the men, as a "couple" but with the women tagging along without a definite duty or authority to act on her own. A woman could go as a single with the usual restrictions put on women. If her husband isn't there, my sister can't go out and do official stuff.  So I'm wondering if a woman can take over the man position in the sense of tagging along.

I'm in the RS Society presidency, and we are not allowed to set up service opportunities, it must be done as individuals. It is not as simple as it sounds when doing local stuff is going to involve working with other agencies. And the amount of work that takes is unrealistic to expect of one person in a calling. That is why the church has that service website.

Edited April 12, 2017 by juliann

[Calm]

1 hour ago, CA Steve said:

Why publicize this? Well for the very reason you state in your second paragraph here, so that members themselves will be more aware of what other members and the church are doing. I would think that would bring a lot more participation at least if it were more publicly known within the church.

How about this for a suggestion. I am not active as far as attendance or tithing go. I have a lot of family members who are active, including a very active wife who would love to serve a mission. I have no desire to serve another mission focused on missionary work but would be interested in participating in a service mission if the church would consider service mission callings for people who would not meet the qualifications for a missionary mission. Why can't we have service missions for members who are interested in such and make them available for couples like my wife and I? She could be called and set apart for the mission and I could accompany here with the expectation I would be performing the same service as she?

Maybe there could be service callings at a stake and ward level that were similar, where inactive members were asked if they wanted to participate?

They are publicized in some ways where it is wise.  For example, 

https://www.lds.org/church/news/charity-is-core-of-the-gospel-president-uchtdorf-tells-inner-city-missionaries?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/09/news-of-the-church?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/church/news/service-missions-make-it-possible-for-all-to-serve?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/church-service-missionary/explore-opportunities?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/church-service-missionary/ycsm/?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2013/10/missionary-preparation/church-service-missions-real-service-real-sacrifice?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/church-service-missionary/ycsm/catching-the-vision?lang=eng

They are listed here for anyone who wants to look up needs, though if you have an idea that isn't listed, I would suggest calling or emailing them (see form in post below) and pitching it to the higher ups (I know of one case where this led to the project).  There used to be a packet on wards' bulletin boards, usually next to employment opportunities, that listed needed church service missionaries, which includes working for the Church and humanitarian opportunities.  I haven't looked for it lately as I can easily find the info online if curious so they might not do it anymore, but it was there in the 90s and early 2000s in every ward I visited save the branch that met in a school in Moscow which had no bulletin board.

https://www.lds.org/topics/welfare/missionary-opportunities/faq?lang=eng&old=true

Check out "long term volunteer" as that does not require membership so less active or no temple recommend wouldn't be a problem, though that is generally for stay at home volunteers.  However if you and your wife came up with an idea that involved living away from home, pitch it.

Edited April 12, 2017 by Calm

[Calm]

15 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

Love this!

Not really.  If someone is actually interested in serving, why wouldn't they go looking on LDS.org or ask someone in their ward who would be able to direct them to the right place about it and keep asking till they find that person.

Would you sit around and wait for someone from the American Cancer Society to come knocking at your door to invite you to volunteer or go look them up to see what was needed?

Why expect the Church to do things differently?  They publish articles, put out press releases from time to time and make whole websites to make it easier for people to serve and still we get people complaining they weren't told.

The drive to help must not be too strong if they won't even take the first step on their own and instead just fantasize about it.

And you do this over and over, applaud the ignorant complaints, even after being told where the information is..  I don't know what would satisfy you at this point.

Obviously this is a sore point for me, but I am so tired of people not being willing to do the effort to learn, but so willing to complain about their ignorance and blame it on others.  Grow up and be responsible for yourself.

Edited April 12, 2017 by Calm

[Calm]

"And it occurs to me that it won't change in the culture of the Church without the Church making a conscious effort to plan for that change, and implement that plan."

"Just Serve" is not only a slogan.

https://www.justserve.org/about

Nor is "Helping Hands".

https://www.lds.org/topics/humanitarian-service/helping-hands?lang=eng&old=true

Have you even bothered to visit their websites for service opportunities? There are quite a few of them.

For all those eager to volunteer, fill out this form and email it in and stop complaining about the Church not doing its part and start helping the poor instead.

https://providentliving.lds.org/bc/content/providentliving/content/navy-ship/LDSC US Navy Project Humanitarian Specialist Profile.pdf?lang=eng

cinepro, did you even bother to google before posting this thread?  Took me less than five minutes to find this stuff by searching on humanitarian mission, service mission, JustServe, Helping Hands, and humanitarian specialist, the last three I know of because I have been paying attention to service announcements and articles the last several years.

If I recall correctly, we have a (current or former) Just Serve Specialist on the board, Rain.

This video played between sessions on Saturday, though I don't expect people outside of Utah to be aware of it or those who turn off the TV as soon as the prayer is over, not sure how those watching online would have known either...but the Church is making a big effort to get the word out.  This video was announced from the pulpit the previous Sunday in the ward I attended.

https://www.byutv.org/watch/51b4c775-3277-4c0a-b89a-e0d10a2147ce/just-serve-just-serve

 

Edited April 12, 2017 by Calm

[juliann]

1 hour ago, MorningStar said:

I would think that caring for the poor and needy would be part of perfecting the saints. 

Or in this case, being poor and needy will perfect the saints....

[cinepro]

37 minutes ago, Calm said:

cinepro, did you even bother to google before posting this thread?  Took me less than five minutes to find this stuff by searching on humanitarian mission, service mission, JustServe, Helping Hands, and humanitarian specialist, the last three I know of because I have been paying attention to service announcements and articles the last several years.

 

Like I said, if you're in the camp of "the Church is doing enough", that's fine.  I'm open to that idea as well.

I'm just posting from my own experience.  Maybe my ward is the exception, but I get invited to volunteer at the soup kitchen once a year around Christmas.  I get asked to come help at "Mormon Helping Hands" once in the spring (and that's usually not anything to do with the "poor and needy"). 

But I get invited all the time to go to the Temple, do family history work, do my home teaching and clean the Church building.  No one has to google about whether or not LDS believe in Home/ Visiting Teaching because we have people whose callings it is to do nothing but track whether or not people are doing their visits and we hear about it every week in Church.

To put it another way, if the Church decided that "Caring for the Poor and Needy" was going to get just as much time, effort and money at the local level as "Redeem the Dead" and "Proclaim the Gospel", would they need to change anything, and if so, how would they do it?

[cinepro]

2 hours ago, juliann said:

2. OK, what will be considered expensive?  Which country will be the gold standard? Would this mean we would all have to buy used cars? Would we be grandfathered in or have to sell our expensive stuff?   Should we be making our own clothes and canning our own food again? How many outfits can we have? (I strongly suggest you leave women's shoes alone.)  Will there be a ward economist calling? Might it be more economical to simply require people to send in proof of income and make darn sure they are forking over every tithing cent?

I think the leaders could probably give counsel that is clear enough for the members to rationally follow without going overboard.  Like when President Hinckley told the young women that "One modest pair of earrings is sufficient" and no one went overboard.