Welfare: The power of cooperation (4 of 4)

Welfare: The power of cooperation
By Michael De Groote
Mormon Times
Published: 2009-06-08 00:22:27

Last in a four-part series on church welfare.

On the west wall of Dennis R. Lifferth's office is a large black-and-white photograph of a horse pulling a load. Copies of the photograph are in many offices at the welfare department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Because it underscores the principle of work so clearly: Focused. Straining. Effort," Lifferth said.

In the lower right corner of Lifferth's copy there is another photograph stuck in the frame. It is a small photo of two horses pulling a load together. They symbolize another principle for him: cooperation.

Two horses pulling together can pull more than two single horses pulling separately, Lifferth said. "This principle of cooperation, working together in families or working together in communities or nations is critical to the success of caring for the poor and the needy," he said.

This famous photograph, "Hard Labour," by Nelson Stedman is popular in the LDS Church's welfare department to illustrate the importance of work.

Lifferth is managing director of welfare services for the LDS Church. For him, self-reliance is a goal, but not one that stands in the way of people in immediate need.

"Some people are not able to help themselves. After a hurricane, people just need support and help ... a large part of our work is to help relieve suffering by simply providing charitable support," Lifferth said. "I think work is very, very important, but it will take more than work to accomplish what needs to be done."

In the Salt Lake area, Lifferth said, the church extends a helping hand to everybody. It works with other faith-based organizations, churches and agencies in providing thousands of dollars worth of assistance. The same thing happens internationally as the church works with Islamic Relief, Catholic Relief, World Vision and a number of other agencies.

For example, Lifferth spoke about the LDS Church's relationship with Catholic Community Services, "We work with them hand-in-hand. We are just so grateful for their outreach to those that are struggling -- refugees, the homeless. And so a lot of the work that is done by those in charitable institutions is to relieve suffering."

The LDS Church's ability to work broadly in relieving suffering wasn't always at the level it is today, according to Lifferth.

"Years ago there was a time when we barely had enough resources, barely enough productive capacity, to care for our own," Lifferth said, "but over the years this productive capacity has been expanded and increased."

The growth of the church's welfare program has been a process, according to Lifferth. The foundation was built during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Now the LDS Church has the strength to not only care for its own, but for many others.

There are two major ways Mormons contribute funds for helping others. One is the fast-offering fund and the other is the humanitarian fund.

People are often amazed, according to Lifferth, at the church's principle of fasting and the fast offering. "When we explain that every month members will go without two meals and take that amount of money plus more and donate that for the poor and the needy -- the world is surprised and they think it is such a wonderful principle. And the fact is that if the world would do this, we would be able to take care of the poor and needy of the world."

Members may also contribute to the humanitarian fund, according to Lifferth. The fast-offering fund is used for members of the LDS Church. The humanitarian fund is used for those who aren't members of the church.

"As the economy has turned down, it has been rewarding to watch these two funds and the fact that they continue to increase because of the empathy and the compassion and the kindness of those who want to care for those in need," Lifferth said.

The majority of the humanitarian fund comes from small contributions, according to Lifferth. "It's not the huge donations, which are always welcome, but it's the many people, each paying a small amount that adds up to a wonderful blessing to so many."

Lifferth said both funds, fast offering and humanitarian, have increased to the point where "there is sufficient to take care of many people."

"And, honestly ... where the demand is increasing so rapidly for assistance, I am grateful for two things: First of all, that the welfare system has the productive capacity to meet this increase in need -- not only for members of the church, but for others who are also struggling. And second of all, I'm grateful for the willingness of members to contribute so freely, both of their time and their means to make this possible."

All it takes is cooperation.

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E-mail: mdegroote@desnews.com


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