Does the LDS church do anything similar?

[Tacenda]

Okay, I know the church does a lot of service through their members. And I'm aware of the JustServe.org website. But wondering if there is anything like this Fox 13 local newscast about this church and feeding those in need. 

Maybe the church is much too large with the food program and our organization isn't set up to do this. It most likely donates to food pantries though. 

But do know the Utah Catholic church is set up to serve every Sunday food for those in need or it use to because my brother in law's mother is Catholic and she would go serve food each Sunday many years ago. 

Is our church unable to narrow down to doing these things in each local area of the world I wonder? 

Maybe this is a silly topic or post. 

https://www.fox13now.com/station-initiatives/hunger-hero/fill-the-pot-ministry-serves-up-hot-meals-and-hope-to-utahns-in-need?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2h00vGHRHqUoScodv7sgq1FkHjj0CCHHR40P9JWMgoTAR-NYdnWviRD0s_aem_r5yzG5Al-BBdNJ3wa4ObHg

Edited July 2, 2024 by Tacenda

[ZealouslyStriving]

8 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

Okay, I know the church does a lot of service through their members. And I'm aware of the JustServe.org website. But wondering if there is anything like this Fox 13 local newscast about this church and feeding those in need. 

Maybe the church is much too large with the food program and our organization isn't set up to do this. It most likely donates to food pantries though. 

But do know the Utah Catholic church is set up to serve every Sunday food for those in need or it use to because my brother in law's mother is Catholic and she would go serve food each Sunday many years ago. 

Is our church unable to narrow down to doing these things in each local area of the world I wonder? 

Maybe this is a silly topic or post. 

https://www.fox13now.com/station-initiatives/hunger-hero/fill-the-pot-ministry-serves-up-hot-meals-and-hope-to-utahns-in-need?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2h00vGHRHqUoScodv7sgq1FkHjj0CCHHR40P9JWMgoTAR-NYdnWviRD0s_aem_r5yzG5Al-BBdNJ3wa4ObHg

My new Ward hands out food once a month. I will try to go to the July day and report back how the do it  

[bluebell]

2 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Okay, I know the church does a lot of service through their members. And I'm aware of the JustServe.org website. But wondering if there is anything like this Fox 13 local newscast about this church and feeding those in need. 

Maybe the church is much too large with the food program and our organization isn't set up to do this. It most likely donates to food pantries though. 

But do know the Utah Catholic church is set up to serve every Sunday food for those in need or it use to because my brother in law's mother is Catholic and she would go serve food each Sunday many years ago. 

Is our church unable to narrow down to doing these things in each local area of the world I wonder? 

Maybe this is a silly topic or post. 

https://www.fox13now.com/station-initiatives/hunger-hero/fill-the-pot-ministry-serves-up-hot-meals-and-hope-to-utahns-in-need?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2h00vGHRHqUoScodv7sgq1FkHjj0CCHHR40P9JWMgoTAR-NYdnWviRD0s_aem_r5yzG5Al-BBdNJ3wa4ObHg

I know the Bishop storehouse in Layton donates a lot of food to the Catholic services like this.

I don’t think it’s that our church is unable to do this kind of stuff. I think it’s more that they don’t see a need or a reason to compete with other organizations that are already doing a good job with it. So rather than try to do their own thing, they put their effort into supporting what is already being done.

[Rain]

Like Bluebell says the church is very big on helping existing charities rather than competing with them.

I do find when things get messy (politically, legally, physically) the church at least sometimes doesn't step forward.  For example, when we were having a crisis here with asylum seekers the church gave a lot of money to organizations/churches to help them through it. However, these churches were overwhelmed and were asking for other churches to take their turns hosting people while they made travel arrangements. Now like I said, there are concerns there and I can understand the church for not taking a turn, but I was disappointed that all these little Spanish churches and some of big churches opened up their arms, but the church didn't (at least not in this area). 

Edited July 2, 2024 by Rain

[Calm]

5 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Is our church unable to narrow down to doing these things in each local area of the world I wonder? 

There would be a lot of duplication if our Church set up where others were already.  Better for members to help support already present organizations.  Our stake helps covers a Tabitha’s Warehouse in Spanish Fork as well as volunteers for the Bishop’s Storehouse.  When we didn’t live in Utah, members were encouraged to work with other churches in this way.  One ward partnered with another church and was set up to assemble sandwiches that were then handed out to the homeless every weekend for a number of years.

Edited July 2, 2024 by Calm

[Bernard Gui]

3 hours ago, Calm said:

There would be a lot of duplication if our Church set up where others were already.  Better for members to help support already present organizations.  Our stake helps covers a Tabitha’s Warehouse in Spanish Fork as well as volunteers for the Bishop’s Storehouse.  When we didn’t live in Utah, members were encouraged to work with other churches in this way.  One ward partnered with another church and was set up to assemble sandwiches that were then handed out to the homeless every weekend for a number of years.

6 hours ago, bluebell said:

I know the Bishop storehouse in Layton donates a lot of food to the Catholic services like this.

I don’t think it’s that our church is unable to do this kind of stuff. I think it’s more that they don’t see a need or a reason to compete with other organizations that are already doing a good job with it. So rather than try to do their own thing, they put their effort into supporting what is already being done.

Yes, this is correct. Last month our stake president announced a new program where the Church provides significant aid to existing services. The stake/region has a yearly account that can be tapped for this purpose. He asked members to submit suggestions for local projects that could use remodeling, updating equipment and facilities, improving physical plant, etc., things that are beyond the abilities of the organizations to do. For example, they replaced all the mattresses in a shelter. 

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Bernard Gui said:

He asked members to submit suggestions for local projects that could use remodeling, updating equipment and facilities, improving physical plant, etc., things that are beyond the abilities of the organizations to do.

I love this.

[longview]

Supplementing and reinforcing is way better than duplicating. Hopefully there will be sufficient coverage in areas of critical needs. By all means local members should join hand in hand with the other organizations to provide more helpful rotations of volunteers. And to have extra eyes for seeing gaps and to prevent possible abuses.

[LoudmouthMormon]

12 hours ago, Tacenda said:

But wondering if there is anything like this Fox 13 local newscast about this church and feeding those in need. 

In general, our Welfare system is predicated on taking care of our own, and the recipients work with their bishops, and perform some sort of work in general, to receive aid. That said, my Stake has been partnering with our city's Catholic-run soup kitchen and various Protestant-run food banks forever.   3-4 times a year, we hear a message like "we're still looking for 3 volunteers to fill our spots for this date".  I've lost track of how many times I've volunteered at those places. 

Also, the church used to be HUGE on canning and food storage, and operated numerous canneries throughout the country (probably other countries too).  These facilities were often opened to interested nonmembers who wished to use our equipment to can their own food.  Over the decades, the whole "get your years' supply of food" thing seems to have fallen out of our cultural consciousness.  Possibly because of how much resiliency and redundancy is build into our nation's food supply/distribution and disaster response services.

Over the decades, it's a recurring news item: Someone new learns that the church basically expects self-reliance and effort from it's recipients of welfare aid.  The someone new sometimes complains about how-unfair-it-is-because-not-everybody-can-work.  Or they were sent from some other aid agency to find out why we're so good at it, and go away sad because they serve populations with no cohesive culture and what we do wouldn't work.  Or they are totally amazed and go away thinking we're literal saints, as in we channel the saintliness of Mother Theresa.

Edited July 2, 2024 by LoudmouthMormon

[MiserereNobis]

10 hours ago, bluebell said:

I know the Bishop storehouse in Layton donates a lot of food to the Catholic services like this.

I don’t think it’s that our church is unable to do this kind of stuff. I think it’s more that they don’t see a need or a reason to compete with other organizations that are already doing a good job with it. So rather than try to do their own thing, they put their effort into supporting what is already being done.

Your church donates to our diocese’s charity food drive regularly. 

[smac97]

12 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Okay, I know the church does a lot of service through their members.

As it should.  Service should, in the main, have a heavy individualized component to it.  Regarding our responsibilities as disciples of Jesus Christ, it is too easy and convenient to offload such duties to the group by essentially saying something like: "Hey, I go to church and pay my tithing, so someone else in the community ought to pitch in when it comes to actual service to our fellow man."

The Church can step in when individualized service is not really feasible (such as international humanitarian efforts).  And the Church can and does facilitate opportunities to serve (such as wards and stakes coordinating cleanup efforts after a storm), but it is primarily the responsibility of members to actually perform such services. 

12 hours ago, Tacenda said:

And I'm aware of the JustServe.org website. But wondering if there is anything like this Fox 13 local newscast about this church and feeding those in need. 

The Church has been partnering with Catholic Charities for years.  See, e.g., here and here.  Unicef is also a long-time partner, see here.  There are many, many others.

See also here: Behind the Scenes — Latter-day Saint Charities

12 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Maybe the church is much too large with the food program and our organization isn't set up to do this. It most likely donates to food pantries though. 

Years ago, when I was in law school (early 2002), I volunteered for a "Law & Religion" symposium hosted by the law school at BYU.  People came from all over the world to attend.  I spent one afternoon with a member of the Mongolian Supreme Court.  Another fellow from Pakistan, trained as a barrister in England, had spent more than three days traveling to get to Utah for the event (this was shortly after 9/11).

One of the planned events was a tour of Humanitarian Square and Welfare Square in Salt Lake City.  The symposium participants were both surprised and pleased to see large-scale food production geared toward solely humanitarian purposes.  They liked that the Church has a network of Bishop's Storehouses to distribute food to members, and also to other humanitarian groups and efforts.

12 hours ago, Tacenda said:

But do know the Utah Catholic church is set up to serve every Sunday food for those in need or it use to because my brother in law's mother is Catholic and she would go serve food each Sunday many years ago. 

It is my understanding that a substantial amount of the food the Catholic Church serves in Utah is sourced from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

12 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Is our church unable to narrow down to doing these things in each local area of the world I wonder? 

The logistical and managerial needs of humanitarian efforts vary from region to region, country to country, location to location.  I think the Church generally prefers to partner with existing organizations and efforts, as this reduces the need to "reinvent the wheel."

12 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Maybe this is a silly topic or post. 

https://www.fox13now.com/station-initiatives/hunger-hero/fill-the-pot-ministry-serves-up-hot-meals-and-hope-to-utahns-in-need?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2h00vGHRHqUoScodv7sgq1FkHjj0CCHHR40P9JWMgoTAR-NYdnWviRD0s_aem_r5yzG5Al-BBdNJ3wa4ObHg

It's an important topic.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Tacenda]

10 hours ago, Rain said:

Like Bluebell says the church is very big on helping existing charities rather than competing with them.

I do find when things get messy (politically, legally, physically) the church at least sometimes doesn't step forward.  For example, when we were having a crisis here with asylum seekers the church gave a lot of money to organizations/churches to help them through it. However, these churches were overwhelmed and were asking for other churches to take their turns hosting people while they made travel arrangements. Now like I said, there are concerns there and I can understand the church for not taking a turn, but I was disappointed that all these little Spanish churches and some of big churches opened up their arms, but the church didn't (at least not in this area). 

I sometimes feel the church could step up too in some areas, but what do I know? I was grateful though when I was in a RS presidency over 6 years ago that the RS president saw to it that the Relief Society ladies were going to go like gang busters helping our local homeless shelter. Every week we'd go help with organizing their storage areas, going through the clothing donations and making it nice for the homeless to find clothing, and organizing our ward to help serve dinners and too many things to list. We also had a sub for Santa for the homeless shelter that year and organized it and our ward was so generous. This was all my RS president's idea along with input from her presidency. I will forever remember this experience, because it's one I'd never have done on my own. We also quilted blankets for the Primary Children's hospital.  But like you said the church provides funds for places like the homeless shelter etc.

Edited July 2, 2024 by Tacenda

[Tacenda]

Thanks for all of these posts, I get to see the inside information from all of you.

[CV75]

15 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Okay, I know the church does a lot of service through their members. And I'm aware of the JustServe.org website. But wondering if there is anything like this Fox 13 local newscast about this church and feeding those in need. 

Maybe the church is much too large with the food program and our organization isn't set up to do this. It most likely donates to food pantries though. 

But do know the Utah Catholic church is set up to serve every Sunday food for those in need or it use to because my brother in law's mother is Catholic and she would go serve food each Sunday many years ago. 

Is our church unable to narrow down to doing these things in each local area of the world I wonder? 

Maybe this is a silly topic or post. 

https://www.fox13now.com/station-initiatives/hunger-hero/fill-the-pot-ministry-serves-up-hot-meals-and-hope-to-utahns-in-need?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2h00vGHRHqUoScodv7sgq1FkHjj0CCHHR40P9JWMgoTAR-NYdnWviRD0s_aem_r5yzG5Al-BBdNJ3wa4ObHg

From my experience, local units do this sort of thing without specific, formal programming from the Church (no handbook guidance that says "Each unit shall establish a community-based program that..."), often joining other churches and organizations in their formal efforts. 

Personally, I think we need more programs that relieve suffering on one hand and actually solve the root problem on the other. These seem rare to me, but the formal Church approach (material assistance and self-reliance, with encouragement to let God help by keeping covenants) does it well.

[Bernard Gui]

On 7/2/2024 at 2:00 PM, CV75 said:

From my experience, local units do this sort of thing without specific, formal programming from the Church (no handbook guidance that says "Each unit shall establish a community-based program that..."), often joining other churches and organizations in their formal efforts. 

Personally, I think we need more programs that relieve suffering on one hand and actually solve the root problem on the other. These seem rare to me, but the formal Church approach (material assistance and self-reliance, with encouragement to let God help by keeping covenants) does it well.

Micro-loans and Perpetual Education Fund. 

[Tacenda]

Recently I saw this report that says the church is soon to be a trilion dollar church. I know they help, but there's more to be done. Much more. Sorry to be a debbydowner once again. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wealthiest_religious_organizations

[CV75]

2 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Micro-loans and Perpetual Education Fund. 

Yes, when I said "we need more programs," I meant "we" as in the world in general.

[LoudmouthMormon]

1 hour ago, CV75 said:

Yes, when I said "we need more programs," I meant "we" as in the world in general.

Yep, the "solve the root problem" part is the sticky part.  There's big money in perpetual suffering.  Absolutely no shortage of people and organizations, even governments, continually generating new programs to receive funds to relieve suffering.  Plenty of ways to create permanent dependency.   I mean, yes, "the poor we have with us alway", but sometimes there are obstacles to individuals trying to not be poor any more.

Edited July 4, 2024 by LoudmouthMormon

[CV75]

1 hour ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

Yep, the "solve the root problem" part is the sticky part.  There's big money in perpetual suffering.  Absolutely no shortage of people and organizations, even governments, continually generating new programs to receive funds to relieve suffering.  Plenty of ways to create permanent dependency.   I mean, yes, "the poor we have with us alway", but sometimes there are obstacles to individuals trying to not be poor any more.

Good article by Sister Eubanks here:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2020/03/and-the-lord-called-his-people-zion?lang=eng

Some snippets:

"Trillions of dollars have been expended by governments and organizations in the last century to eradicate poverty. Yet for all of the well-intentioned work, a great deal of it has been unsuccessful and wasted. Why? Because it inadvertently created dependency instead of ability.

"The Lord’s way is to build both givers and receivers, to allow people to be agents for themselves, and to exalt the poor in “that the rich are made low” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:16). We sometimes call this self-reliance, but it really means unleashing the divine power inside every individual to solve his or her own problems with the help of God, enabling them to in turn serve others."

The italicized part, I think, is why we build so many temples, to invite that power into the receptive followers of Christ. A related speech by Sister Eubanks: https://www.byui.edu/speeches/forums/sharon-eubank/the-sacred-life-of-trees

More snippets:

"I am occasionally asked, “Why doesn't the Church spend more money on humanitarian work? Why doesn't it stop building expensive temples and focus its resources on relieving the poor?” This is a legitimate question for the Church of Jesus Christ. But is it money that solves society's ills? The world has poured two trillion dollars into addressing chronic issues in Africa. Why isn’t the situation better? Because money isn't really the issue. Lasting progress comes through trusted relationships, infrastructure, reducing corruption, and the ability of people to work together. Money doesn’t necessarily create those things. They must be developed alongside the resources and, frankly, it is much harder work.

"I will never discount the one thing this Church does that lifts entire communities in rapid development. It invites men and women of all social classes and backgrounds to enter sacred buildings and make the most binding and important promises of their mortal lives. In those buildings, they promise not to steal or lie, they promise to be faithful to their spouse and children. They vow they will seek the interest of their neighbors and be peacemakers and become devoted to the idea that we are all one family—all valued and alike unto God. If those promises made in holy temples are kept, it transforms society faster than any aid or development project ever could. The greatest charitable development on the planet is for people to bind themselves to their God and mean it. So, thank goodness the Church builds 335 temples and counting. It is the greatest poverty alleviation system in the world.

"The most important thing you can do as a humanitarian is to keep your covenants with God. The second most important thing you can do is connect in goodness with others around you."

 

 

[Calm]

1 hour ago, CV75 said:

We sometimes call this self-reliance, but it really means unleashing the divine power inside every individual to solve his or her own problems with the help of God, enabling them to in turn serve others."

I think this statement leaves out the requirement that we also work with others, not just God.***  We are never isolated in our attempts to work for ourselves, we can’t be completely independent of assistance from others (sometimes paid for, sometimes not).  If taken in this limited context, the statement could make it appear God’s intent is for us to move from being receivers to givers, not needing to receiving anymore, being self reliant.  But if one views part of being self reliant is the ability to work with others and view our lives as community efforts rather than individual effort, I think we will be much more effective, efficient, and healthy overall.

I think the Church recognizes this in so often their humanitarian efforts address a community’s needs rather than just the individuals.

***I can’t remember if she covers this in her talk and not taking the time to review right now, I am responding to CV’s choice to present just this quote.

[CV75]

51 minutes ago, Calm said:

I think this statement leaves out the requirement that we also work with others, not just God.***  We are never isolated in our attempts to work for ourselves, we can’t be completely independent of assistance from others (sometimes paid for, sometimes not).  If taken in this limited context, the statement could make it appear God’s intent is for us to move from being receivers to givers, not needing to receiving anymore, being self reliant.  But if one views part of being self reliant is the ability to work with others and view our lives as community efforts rather than individual effort, I think we will be much more effective, efficient, and healthy overall.

I think the Church recognizes this in so often their humanitarian efforts address a community’s needs rather than just the individuals.

***I can’t remember if she covers this in her talk and not taking the time to review right now, I am responding to CV’s choice to present just this quote.

There are two links; this quote is from the first and pertains to the role of self-reliance in building Zion. I used it to emphasize that the first step/priority is our relationship with God. This same article has a section on "The Power of Combining Hearts" and addressing community needs together. The second link is a speech which is primarily about community and building it with others. There is a list of 30 ways to do that, many of them community-focused.

[Tacenda]

Copied from the article from SLTrib: needing to avoid the paywall possibly blocking this below. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/03/22/how-much-lds-church-spent/

I believe the church is doing wonderful things, just think more of this would be grand! I wonder if the church has members placed in charge of finding the right places to donate to. I do believe the church is doing more because of the public knowledge of it's Ensign Peak fund, but whatever it takes. 

From feeding the hungry to helping to shelter refugees, the Utah-based faith is upping its charitable spending as it faces pressure to do more good with its massive wealth.

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Barron Segar, president and CEO of the World Food Program USA, drums at a celebration event for a self-reliance farmers group warehouse in Totota, Liberia, on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. The church reported giving $1.3 billion in charitable aid in 2023.

By Jose Davila IV

  | March 21, 2024, 3:55 p.m.

| Updated: 3:58 p.m.

Comment

For the second straight year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doled out more than a billion dollars in aid for its 17 million-plus members and millions more around the globe.

The $1.3 billion the church spent in 2023, according to the faith’s annual “Caring for Those in Need” report released Thursday, went to welfare and self-reliance assistance for members, and wider relief efforts throughout the word without regard to religious affiliation. The contributions come as the church continues to amass wealth (estimated by outside analysts at $265 billion) and faces increasing pressure from insiders and outsiders to give more to humanitarian causes.

“As followers of Jesus Christ, we consider this to be both a duty and a joyful privilege,” church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, in the governing First Presidency, said in a joint statement. “We gratefully acknowledge the selfless contributions of time and means from church members, friends and other trusted organizations that enable this work to progress and expand.”

Aid by the numbers

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Farmers harvest rice in their fields at daybreak in Gbarnga, Liberia, on Friday, Jan. 20, 2024. They often sing as they harvest to demonstrate to unity and harmony within the community. The church reported giving $1.3 billion in charitable aid in 2023.

Here’s a snapshot of how the church provided aid last year:

• $1.36 billion in total.

• 6.2 million volunteer hours.

• 4,119 individual projects.

• 191 countries and territories served.

• 11,368 welfare and self-reliance missionaries.

• 5,538 job placements supplied.

“[These] figures are, of course, an incomplete report of our giving and helping. They do not include the personal services our members give individually as they minister to one another in called positions and voluntary member-to-member service,” Oaks said. “And our [summary] makes no mention of what our members do individually through innumerable charitable organizations not formally connected with our church.”

Of the projects the church tackled last year:

• 601 provided health care.

• 530 addressed food insecurity.

• 415 supplied emergency relief.

• 206 helped secure clean water and sanitation.

“The church’s partnership is ... transforming lives,” Evelyn Mere, program director for WaterAid Nigeria, said in the report, “and ensuring no one is left behind.”

Empowering families

(Anny Djahova | Catholic Relief Services) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is supporting the efforts of Catholic Relief Services in various countries to provide girls and young women with nutrition education and counseling, micronutrient supplements and nutritious foods. The church reported giving $1.3 billion in charitable aid in 2023.

Serving women and children was a major goal for the faith during the past year. According to the report, the church prioritized child nutrition globally, mostly by donating to international nongovernmental organizations such as Save the Children and the World Food Program. The Utah-based faith also worked to boost maternal health care, especially through a collaboration with UNICEF in countries like the Central African Republic and Mozambique.

“We want to empower families … with greater understanding and resources,” President Camille N. Johnson, head of the nearly 8 million-strong women’s Relief Society, said in the report. “[Loving parents] are better equipped to make changes that can have a lasting impact.”

The faith also provided help in the latest Israel-Hamas war. Through coordination with other relief agencies, the report noted, it gave “significant” funding for critical physical and mental health care in Israel and Gaza.

The church also teamed up with other aid groups to assist refugees and immigrants worldwide. In Sacramento, California, for instance, the faith helped to buy 500 foam mats and other supplies for refugees who had been sleeping on the floor.

“I salute the people who in small, personal ways,” apostle Patrick Kearon said, “go and find those people on the margins — those who hurt, those whose pains are not understood, the hungry, the lonely, the downtrodden — and do their best to take care of them.”

In North America, Latter-day Saint aid focused on homelessness, food insecurity and abuse. In Montreal, the church donated more than $750,000 to help a homeless shelter bolster its emergency services.

The faith played a role in Maui’s recovery from devastating wildfires last year by providing emergency shelter in its meetinghouses and handing out hotel vouchers. It also sent psychologists to the island to help those affected by the fires.

On the environmental front, the church provided 140,000 trees in Mongolia, installed solar panels on many of its meetinghouses and began switching to 100%-recycled cups for use in its sacrament, or Communion.

Closer to home, Utah’s predominant religion also donated 5,700 water shares — or about 20,000 acre-feet of water — to help preserve the Great Salt Lake.

“We have an obligation to be good stewards,” said L. Todd Budge, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, which oversees the church’s vast real estate, financial, investment and charitable operations, “to pass to future generations an Earth better than we found it.”

The report highlighted the church’s JustServe program that allows members to set up their own, smaller volunteer projects, including one from a 10-year-old named Evan who ran a donation drive that netted 702 jars of jam for a food bank.

[Rain]

39 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

Copied from the article from SLTrib: needing to avoid the paywall possibly blocking this below. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/03/22/how-much-lds-church-spent/

I believe the church is doing wonderful things, just think more of this would be grand! I wonder if the church has members placed in charge of finding the right places to donate to. I do believe the church is doing more because of the public knowledge of it's Ensign Peak fund, but whatever it takes. 

From feeding the hungry to helping to shelter refugees, the Utah-based faith is upping its charitable spending as it faces pressure to do more good with its massive wealth.

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Barron Segar, president and CEO of the World Food Program USA, drums at a celebration event for a self-reliance farmers group warehouse in Totota, Liberia, on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. The church reported giving $1.3 billion in charitable aid in 2023.

By Jose Davila IV

  | March 21, 2024, 3:55 p.m.

| Updated: 3:58 p.m.

Comment

For the second straight year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doled out more than a billion dollars in aid for its 17 million-plus members and millions more around the globe.

The $1.3 billion the church spent in 2023, according to the faith’s annual “Caring for Those in Need” report released Thursday, went to welfare and self-reliance assistance for members, and wider relief efforts throughout the word without regard to religious affiliation. The contributions come as the church continues to amass wealth (estimated by outside analysts at $265 billion) and faces increasing pressure from insiders and outsiders to give more to humanitarian causes.

“As followers of Jesus Christ, we consider this to be both a duty and a joyful privilege,” church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, in the governing First Presidency, said in a joint statement. “We gratefully acknowledge the selfless contributions of time and means from church members, friends and other trusted organizations that enable this work to progress and expand.”

Aid by the numbers

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Farmers harvest rice in their fields at daybreak in Gbarnga, Liberia, on Friday, Jan. 20, 2024. They often sing as they harvest to demonstrate to unity and harmony within the community. The church reported giving $1.3 billion in charitable aid in 2023.

Here’s a snapshot of how the church provided aid last year:

• $1.36 billion in total.

• 6.2 million volunteer hours.

• 4,119 individual projects.

• 191 countries and territories served.

• 11,368 welfare and self-reliance missionaries.

• 5,538 job placements supplied.

“[These] figures are, of course, an incomplete report of our giving and helping. They do not include the personal services our members give individually as they minister to one another in called positions and voluntary member-to-member service,” Oaks said. “And our [summary] makes no mention of what our members do individually through innumerable charitable organizations not formally connected with our church.”

Of the projects the church tackled last year:

• 601 provided health care.

• 530 addressed food insecurity.

• 415 supplied emergency relief.

• 206 helped secure clean water and sanitation.

“The church’s partnership is ... transforming lives,” Evelyn Mere, program director for WaterAid Nigeria, said in the report, “and ensuring no one is left behind.”

Empowering families

(Anny Djahova | Catholic Relief Services) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is supporting the efforts of Catholic Relief Services in various countries to provide girls and young women with nutrition education and counseling, micronutrient supplements and nutritious foods. The church reported giving $1.3 billion in charitable aid in 2023.

Serving women and children was a major goal for the faith during the past year. According to the report, the church prioritized child nutrition globally, mostly by donating to international nongovernmental organizations such as Save the Children and the World Food Program. The Utah-based faith also worked to boost maternal health care, especially through a collaboration with UNICEF in countries like the Central African Republic and Mozambique.

“We want to empower families … with greater understanding and resources,” President Camille N. Johnson, head of the nearly 8 million-strong women’s Relief Society, said in the report. “[Loving parents] are better equipped to make changes that can have a lasting impact.”

The faith also provided help in the latest Israel-Hamas war. Through coordination with other relief agencies, the report noted, it gave “significant” funding for critical physical and mental health care in Israel and Gaza.

The church also teamed up with other aid groups to assist refugees and immigrants worldwide. In Sacramento, California, for instance, the faith helped to buy 500 foam mats and other supplies for refugees who had been sleeping on the floor.

“I salute the people who in small, personal ways,” apostle Patrick Kearon said, “go and find those people on the margins — those who hurt, those whose pains are not understood, the hungry, the lonely, the downtrodden — and do their best to take care of them.”

In North America, Latter-day Saint aid focused on homelessness, food insecurity and abuse. In Montreal, the church donated more than $750,000 to help a homeless shelter bolster its emergency services.

The faith played a role in Maui’s recovery from devastating wildfires last year by providing emergency shelter in its meetinghouses and handing out hotel vouchers. It also sent psychologists to the island to help those affected by the fires.

On the environmental front, the church provided 140,000 trees in Mongolia, installed solar panels on many of its meetinghouses and began switching to 100%-recycled cups for use in its sacrament, or Communion.

Closer to home, Utah’s predominant religion also donated 5,700 water shares — or about 20,000 acre-feet of water — to help preserve the Great Salt Lake.

“We have an obligation to be good stewards,” said L. Todd Budge, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, which oversees the church’s vast real estate, financial, investment and charitable operations, “to pass to future generations an Earth better than we found it.”

The report highlighted the church’s JustServe program that allows members to set up their own, smaller volunteer projects, including one from a 10-year-old named Evan who ran a donation drive that netted 702 jars of jam for a food bank.

I REALLY want the church to do a lot with charity. I always have.  It is important to me and even more important to me now that I don't believe the church is God's one church, but am still paying tithing because my husband still believes.

I still struggle with the idea of "more" though.  We do not have any idea how much the church donates.  We know how much it says it donates, but that doesn't mean it doesn't donate more, especially with things hidden.  Hidden things like when I used my cub scout budget or the RS budget to buy supplies for service projects.  There was no report anywhere for those things. I've known missionaries who when they had excess used that to help others.  What about when the church constructs metal roofs on the church building in Vanuatu so that water runs down them into water barrels that the neighbors can use?  Does that get reported in building fund or charity?

So I don't know how we can say "more" without knowing what is actually being donated and that will take being more transparent with the books, though like I explained above it won't catch all of the hidden things missionaries,wards, stakes and others do unless those are reported as well.

Edited July 5, 2024 by Rain

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

Copied from the article from SLTrib: needing to avoid the paywall possibly blocking this below. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/03/22/how-much-lds-church-spent/

You can avoid the paywall by simply clicking on the Reader’s option (the Aa in the address bar) if you aren’t on your phone (at least my phone, maybe others can). It has been this way for years and it is possible to block it as lots of other sites do, so I am thinking the Trib is okay with it. 

[smac97]

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

Copied from the article from SLTrib: needing to avoid the paywall possibly blocking this below. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/03/22/how-much-lds-church-spent/

I believe the church is doing wonderful things, just think more of this would be grand!

I have previously suggested that the Church may have more money (and willingness to spend it) than there are appropriate and credible projects/partners on which to spend it.  A few factors:

1. International Humanitarian Relief ("IHR") is a very complex and difficult endeavor.  There are many factors to consider above and beyond providing financial support. 

2. The Church is not primarily a humanitarian organization.  That is an an important part of its raison d'être, but not the sum total.  This is a point meriting emphasis because there seems to be a presupposition that the Church is, or ought to be, primarily - perhaps even solely - focused on IHR.  When that presupposition is set aside, the Church's posture can be more reasonably evaluated.

3. IHR groups and efforts are rife with corruption, incompetence, and well-intentioned-but-nevertheless-harmful efforts.  See, e.g., here, here, here.  The Church is therefore quite smart to proceed cautiously in partnering with other groups/organizations.

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

I wonder if the church has members placed in charge of finding the right places to donate to.

It does.  The Presiding Bishopric has the primary responsibility for this area of work.

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

I do believe the church is doing more because of the public knowledge of it's Ensign Peak fund, but whatever it takes. 

The "Whistleblower complaint" was first publicized in December 2019.  Per this February 2020 Deseret News article, the Church "{has} doubled its humanitarian spending over the past five years and now annually provides nearly $1 billion in combined humanitarian and welfare aid" and "'we believe {these expenditures} are going to increase fast,' {Bishop Caussé} said."  

It appears, then, that the Church had been ramping up its humanitarian efforts for several years prior to Ensign Peak hitting the news.  It may be that the Church has been more publicly forthcoming about its efforts subsequent to the notoriety about Ensign Peak, but I'm not sure even that is correct.

Thanks,

-Smac