III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 323 

Recognizing the 75th Anniversary of the Welfare Program of The Church 

of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the significant impact of the 

Welfare Program in the United States and throughout the world in 

helping people in need. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 15, 2011 

Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. REID, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. HELLER, Mr. LEE, and 

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 75th Anniversary of the Welfare Program 

of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

and the significant impact of the Welfare Program in 

the United States and throughout the world in helping 

people in need. 

Whereas in 1936, while the United States was mired in the 

Great Depression, Heber J. Grant, President of The 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred to 

in this Resolution as ‘‘the LDS Church’’), announced the 

creation of what came to be known as the Welfare Program; 

Whereas President Grant explained, ‘‘Our primary purpose 

was to set up . . . a system under which the curse of idleVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:04 Nov 16, 2011 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR323.ATS SR323

tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 323 ATS 

ness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self respect 

be once more established amongst our people . . . The 

aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle 

of the lives of our Church membership.’’; 

Whereas, the LDS Church’s Welfare Program, which is based 

on the principles of self-reliance and industry, has expanded throughout the world and assists people of all 

faiths by caring for the needy while simultaneously teaching principles to help them become self-reliant and retain 

their self respect; 

Whereas funding for the LDS Church’s Welfare Program is 

provided by the members of The Church of Jesus Christ 

of Latter-day Saints, who routinely fast for 2 consecutive 

meals every month and make donations to the LDS 

Church’s Welfare Program that is at least equal to the 

money they would have spent on food; 

Whereas the LDS Church’s Welfare Program provides opportunities for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of 

Latter-day Saints to help the less fortunate by working 

at dozens of farms and canneries located throughout the 

United States and Canada that produce food for needy 

people; 

Whereas needy people in the community are identified by the 

leader of each local church congregation, in consultation 

with other local leaders, including the Relief Society 

President (a woman from the congregation who serves as 

the local leader of the LDS Church’s women’s organization); 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 323 ATS 

Whereas people in need are provided free food and household 

items at facilities called Bishop’s Storehouses after receiving a written requisition from the leader of their local 

congregation; 

Whereas the 129 Bishop’s Storehouses, which are located 

throughout the world, provide needed commodities from 

the consecrated sacrifices of members of The Church of 

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; 

Whereas recipients of these commodities are given service opportunities, to the extent of their ability, which allow 

them to demonstrate their gratitude for what they have 

received; 

Whereas employment resource service centers, which are also 

part of the LDS Church’s Welfare Program, provide a 

place where people can receive job training, learn to enhance their resumes, and find job opportunities; 

Whereas there are nearly 300 employment resource service 

centers throughout the world, at which volunteers help 

hundreds of thousands of people to find jobs every year, 

a large percentage of whom are not members of The 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; 

Whereas the LDS Church’s Welfare Program also includes 

Deseret Industries, which serves as an employment training facility and operates thrift stores; 

Whereas these thrift stores provide on-the-job experience for 

refugees or others who need help qualifying for long-term 

employment and are stocked by individual donations, 

which are offered to the public at inexpensive prices; 

Whereas the LDS Church’s Welfare Program also includes 

LDS Family Services, a private, nonprofit organization 

that provides counseling, adoption services, addiction reVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:04 Nov 16, 2011 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR323.ATS SR323

tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 323 ATS 

covery support groups, and resources for social, emotional, and spiritual challenges; 

Whereas the influence and power for good exerted by the 

Welfare Program of the LDS Church has greatly expanded over its 75-year history; and 

Whereas the positive impact of the LDS Church’s Welfare 

Program in the United States has assisted untold numbers of United States citizens: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 75th Anniversary of the Wel3 fare Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat4 ter-day Saints; 

5 (2) congratulates the members of The Church 

6 of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the signifi7 cant contribution that its Welfare Program has had 

8 on United States citizens and many people through9 out the world; and 

10 (3) commends the many efforts made by The 

11 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its 

12 members, through its Welfare Program, to serve 

13 others regardless of religious affiliation. 

Æ 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS