Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-03-10
nELpINn TnE POOR


Lake Stake conference regarding the
contributions for the poor h. ono that 10
highly complimentary 10 the Latter
day Saints. 10 was stated that not
wlthsiandlng the sirlugency oi tho
timen tho amounts donated by the
Saints Of the stake Tor the benefit Of
the poor had not fallen short, but that
the people had been more FREQ than in
nuah timof. Yet the oEigenolea Of the
case have been 80 great that In order to
supply tue needy there has been q
heavy draft on Church funds that
should DO devoted to other purpose.
It's essential therefore, that oiill fur.
Their efforts should bu Put forth by the
Saints to fully aud properly cope with
tho situation. This b a matter which
should receive immediate attention,
that the people mny discharge thoif
whole duty la tho premisea,nud none Of
their Interests DO unnecessarily buzz
denod.
Salt Lake Stake has the largest share
OF those affected by poverty; but others
have poor people also, aud the accounts
rendered nj the various Stake confer.
ences show the feeling Of generosity
exhibited IN this Stake TO 10 general
Throughout these vnllcys-tho Baints
are giving literally OF their means Tor
the support Of the poor among them.
In this charitable work Of siding
those who are the unfortunate victims
Of poverti and disttuss, they who have
charge OF tbs distribution " iuuds
know no distinction Of class, color or
creed among those whose wants aro
maue known. or 'coureo Church
officers In tho various Stakes and
wards usually arc better In.
formed Of the condition Of Church
members than OF others, because the
former are naturally more ifeo TO state
their situation TO their co.Toligionlats
than would be those not Included With
tho congregation OF Latior.day Sainls;
but under existing circumstances moro
than usual efforts have been put forth
To ascertain where families are In need,
NO that there has been no occasion Tor
extreme suffering Tor the neeosaTies
ofliic.
IL perhaps tho case that there ats
people who have not boon helped o.
much As they think they should have
been. II would DO strange n
there were not. Some are too backward
in stating their needs, and Il might be-
that the true condition OF portion Of
these has not been fully realized at
ntsl, yet under tho System which pre-.
walls such instances are few and far
between, aud cannot 20 long without
becoming known. There are some
people, however, who arc not easily
satisfied, and who think that when
charitable work 10 going on they should
receive the cream Of all that is being
distributed, and should not be- required
TO make any effort Tor themselves. Tho
reports made chow that not even the
latter class has been neglected..
win tho Lat,Br-day Saints It b. a
sacred religious duty to give proper
care 10 the poor and tho needy, the
sick and the nll .c.sl. The inspiration
that leads them to hold fellowship In
the Church gives tham "hoat,s that
can feel for anOlhef's deep woe" ANA
therefore they are not slow in contritI.
ting as may DO necessary Tor the CON.
fort Of those who are unfortunate.
Whatever deficiency there may boo In
any section they no doubt viii mako
up. They delight m giving 10 those
who nra worthy recipients OF the gilt,
ana would rather iced ninety and nine
unworthy persona than mics one who 90
truly IA need. Yet while IL 10 their
duty as Saints to provide Tor the poor
Il equally a religious obligation not
10 encourage idleupas la their midst.
When there are people who have the
ability anu opportunity 90 work aud
earn their living but VIII not do sU.
these cut tnrm'aivss oil from any
claim Tor aid. IL becomes the duty,
therefore, Of those who control tnc
distribution Of charities 10 discriminate
and draw the limo ut tins poluy f0r
while the Lord requires His people to
impprt Of their substance Sumo him
that stande,h IN need" lie also directs
that che that Ia Idle shall not eat tho
bread nor wear the garments Of the
labofor."
We arc pleased to make tho rocori
that tho Saints generally have not
been found wanting In thoir obligations
to the poor The exercise Of re,reucn-
meut that has been necessary has been
made to apply to themselves, anu NOT