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Show Sisterhood World-Wid- e A call to constantly assess the programs of Relief Society to make them meaningful for all the women of Ihe Church was made by Elder Harold B. Lee f the Council of the Twelve. Eider Lee spoke at the final session of the annual Rrlief Society Conference held Oct. 3 in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. Also addressing the meeting was Elder the Council Ilery D. Taylor,whoAssistant onto the Welfare of the Twelve, spoke Program of tin Church. The meeting was conducted by Mrs. Belle S. Spafford, general president of the womens organization. The aftemjon session climaxed a day whsch saw special programs presented in the various departments of the Relief Society, attended by branch, ward, stake, and mission officers and teachers. The departmental meetings ware held in various locations throughout Salt Lake City. A feature of the closing session included four short talks on Relief Society in My Life, given by a grandmother, Leonara S. Rogers; a husband, J. Alan Blodgett; a daughter, Judith S. McCon-kiand a son, Victor L. Brown Jr. To The meeting began with a skit Hearken and to Obey featuring a short dramataizaHon on recognizing father as head of the home, and the value of the Family Home Evening Program, and stressing the need of obedience to counsel and instructions from the General of the Church. Wednesday evening a reception was held as part of the annual Relief Society Conference. More than 4,000 officers at the stake and mission level filled the attractive Relief Society Headquarters Building to overflowing for four hours as they were greeted by the general presidency and general board members. Theme of the reception, "A World-Wid- e Sisterhood, was dramatized by 117 flags representing the many nations of the earth where units of the Relief Society are organized. The flags were featured through the courtesy of the United Nations Association of the United States, Utah Division. Elder Lee began his remarks by noting that reoccurrence to fundamentals is essential to perpetuity, and for that reason, he observed, he would refer to some of the items he had spoken a year previously at the annual Relief Society Conference. Following the skit, he urged that Relief Society members, as homemakers, to put father at the head of the home," to provoke their husbands to good works, e, unchastity is too common," and the only word that need to be said on the subject was be chaste. Mothers, rise up when you seek the Ugly heads of laxity, immorality, and other easy ways of the world attempting Saint homes and to enter into Latter-da- y communities, Elder Lee declared. Be brave and courageous 1o stand for the right. He quoted the late General Omar Bradley that Bravery is courage in action, and appealed to the women of the Church to courageously stand firm against evil. Elder Taylor counseled against any person in the Church Incoming r. welfare charge for the Church or the public as long as relatives were able to care for such person. All members of the Church should accept the responsibility insofar as they are able, to care for the needy among their kin. The Church welfare program accepts as fundamental tru'h the proposition that the responsibility for ones economic maintenance rests (1) upon the individual; (2) upon the family; and (3) upon the Church if the person is a faithful member thereof. The program stands ready to help those who cannot help themselves or who cannot obtain sufficient aid from family Saint should members, but no Latter-daanticipate that anyone, other than himself, will provide for his own needs. Elder Taylor urged everyone to obtain an education, trade, skill, or nrofession so that remunerative employment can be secured; live within their incomes; avoid excessive debt, and acquire and store a reserve of food, clothing, and cash on a basis. sensible, He pointed out that the bishop is the key figure in the Welfare Program, but that Relief Society presidents were the bishops chief assistants. The program is spiritual, said Elder Taylor. But it is difficult to build up a person when he is physically hungry and cold. The temporal needs must be first met, and then spiritual blessings may follow. Although members of the Church contribute their time and means, there should be more to it than that. There must be a sharing, and with their contributions should go their prayers, good wishes, and brotherly and sisterly concern, interest, and love. Elder Taylor concluded his remarks by declaring that the Welfare Program is not on trial. The foundation is firmly laid; it is and is here to stay, he said. y d President Belle S. Spafford of Relief Society confers with Elder Henry D. Taylor. and particularly, to see to it that everyone is so alerted to the weekly Family Home Evening tiiat nothing will be allowed to interfere with it. The greatest deterrent to children failing in their duties as members of the Church, he warned, was their fear of losing their place in the eternal family especially is this so, if they have been given a place through the teachings and affection displayed in the family home evening program. Elder Lee urged members to live consecrated lives lives consecrated to ser vice, to loyalty to the priesthood, and loyalty to one another, as typifird through the visiting teaching program of the Relief Society. He appealed especially to mothers to teach their children high standards regarding intimate behavior, and warned against accepting the world's standards with respect to sex education. Sex education in the public school, should be of great concern to us, for it goes far beyond the bounds of propriety, he warned. Elder Lee offered as a standard in sex education, the counsel of the late President J. P.eubea Clark Jr., that d A Program Of Action In Caring For The Needy Welfare projects, ranging from baled hay to the packing of raisins, were pictured in the General Conference meeting as speakers urged that Church members never forget the importance of work in helping to care for the needy. Bishop John H. Vandenberg, Presiding Bishop of the Church, sounded the work theme of the meeting when he said: "Welfare is still a part of the program of the Church. It is not one of talk but one of action in taking care of the needs of the needy in the Church." Stake presidents and their counselors, bishoprics, high counselors and members of Welfare Committees filled the Assembly Hall on Temple Square to see films and hear words of counsel from Church Wasateh Stake welfare projects showward ing the harvesting of hay on welfare projects to feed dairy cattle. This stake was involved in the long copper strike when many of their members were thrown out of work. Pres. J. Harold Call told of the benefits received from the Welfare Program during this troublesome perixl. Everyone was ready to work to help produce welfare needs. In California, the two Fresno stakes have become experts in producing raisins from an seedless grape vineyard. Their product is known throughout the Welfare stores of the Church as Deseret Raisins. The slides gave everyone an idea of the work involved in putting over successful welfare projects. Hairy E. Poteison, Welfare Office staff member, gave helpful information to Church officers on the importance of keeping accurate records of their Welfare operations, particularly on farm account10-ac- Welfare-Agricultur- e leaders. Color slide presentations were shown by Wasatch Stake of Heber, Utah, and the Fresno and Fresno East Stakes of Cali- - ing. In a series of short talks, Church f '. -- 1 . , . T , WEEK ENDING. OCTOBER ii i . . J ; 4 .1 i . . I i I vl' 12, 1963 Vi Vi ' 't V lead- - ers touched on various aspects of the welfare work and its importance in Church operations. Bishop Vandenlierg stressed the need for united cooperation by all members in planting and harvesting crops, keeping accurate records. He declared, "if you dont have the facts you are lost. Pres. Belle S. Spafford of the Relief Society Board told how members of the Relief Society have been advised to care for wheat and wheat products ince the Societys organization. This is just one product so important fT emergency supplies. Elder Henry D. Taylor, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve and managing director of the Church Welfare Department, emphasized the need for all stakes to participate in the progtam and strive to produce their welfare budgets above operating costs. The welfare projects can aid our people to produce food and help them to learn' how to work and cooperate with each other in such projects,, he said. ... . , Elder Marion G. Romney expressed thanks to the audience for their united efforts in supporting the Welfare Program. . We have come to the time when we can provide for the needs of our people who need help and assistance from the welfare program. It is important for our young people to learn how to work. They wont get salvation by bouncing a baskt tball up to the pearly gates, Elder Romney said. The greatest value that comes to people who receive welfare help is to learn how to work. Elder Romney said everyone will have to learn how to live on the things they produce if they are to live. Elder Harold B. Lee was the concluding speaker. He outlined three things to emphasize in stake and ward work. These were strong missionary work, Patriarchs to give spiritual blessings to members and . , . operation of welfare .projects. , I ' ' l . . V . J'l i . |