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Show Instruction Given on The strength of the church is in the sacrifices that are being made, President Harold B. Lee told pnesthood and Relief Society leaders during the welfare services meeting. The blessings of the Lord will redound upon us to the extent that we sacrifice," he said. It was still dark as priesthood and Relief Society workers entered the Tabernacle for the 7 a.m. meeting Saturday morning. It was the first time the meeting had been held in the Tabernacle, yet the ground floor was nearly filled with those who had received tickets, and the balcony filled quickly with members anxious to be in attendance for tlus meeting and assure themselves a seat for the genera! session to follow. President Lee and his counselors and general president of the Relief Society, Mrs. Belle S. Spafford, were speakers at the meeting. Presiding Bishop Victor L. Brown, chairman of the Church General Welfare Services Committee, conducted the meeting. Bishop Brown warned, that to retain a remission of sins, a person should impart of his substance to the poor. He stressed that man should feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and administer to the relief both spiritually and temporally. Quoting President J. Reuben Clark, obBishop Brown said, The long-terjective is building the character of the members, givers and receivers. The prime duty, in helping the poor by the church, is not to bring temporal relief to their needs, but salvation to their souls. He announced three audio-visupresentations dealing with the three divisions of the program, production, health services and social services. The first film presentation told the story of the fruit orchard project of the Provo North and Sharon West stakes. The point was made that success was possible because of the faith of the people and the effectiveness of the welfare com- mittee. The second film told the story of health services and featured the work of the health services missionaries. The final film, a combination of motion picture and slides, was produced by the San Jose North Stake and instructed in the area of personal welfare. Mrs. Spafford expressed her apprecia- - Pres. Harold B. lee addresses welfare services meeting. On stand, from left, are Pres. Marion G. Romney, Pres. N. Eldon Tanner, Bishop Victor L. Brown and Mrs. Belle Spafford. .tlon for Relief Society involvement In the welfare services of the church. What ever we do, we must be sure that we are doing so in the Lords way. The Lord has not left us struggling to understand what He means, and what our responsibilities are to those in need. He has made His ways clear to us through recorded revelation, and through the word of our latter-dashe prophets, said. Three fundamentals were outlined by Mrs. Spafford: 1. Care for those in need; 2. Refrain from idleness and 3. Proper administration through the bishops. President Marion G. Romney called the meeting a monumental gathering, and made a comparison of the welfare program 40 years ago and today. This program Is the program by which we will bring the people of the church to perfection, which will eventually result in a society similar to the society in the city of Enoch and the society among the Nephites following the visit of the Savior to them. We have made a long step forward in these past 40 years. We have come a long way to put into operation the Lords way of taking care of the poor by humbling the rich and exalting the poor. AH our work ought to be done in that aspect. The point we have reached is evidenc of the fact that the church is operated by modern revelation, President Romney said. y President N. Eldon Tanner, who spoke next, said that 28 new bishops were caUed each week. Last year 1,433 new bishops were caUed, 296 new wards were organized and seven new missions were formed. This is the only group of people who has a prophet to guide and direct them and to see that the work of the Lord goes forward under direct revelation given by the Lord, he said. This is a program, directed by the Lord through a prophet of God, that has been tried and proven. Use your imagination, go to the Lord in prayer, study the scriptures and implement the program. Not one of your own, but do it the way the Loid has said and you wiU find great blessings and you wiU contribute greatly to the welfare of the people in your wards and stakes Always be conscious of the feeling of those who receive welfare. Preserve their dignity and pride and sense of independence. Encourage self reliance and self respect, President Tanner said, encouraging everyone to listen to the Prophet. President Lee was the concluding speaker, and in a display of love for the welfare program, quoted the Prophet Joseph Smith concerning sacrifice as follows: Let us observe here that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation. UntO a man has been wUling to sacrifice all he possesses, not even witholding his life, if it were required, for the building up of the kingdom of God, then only can he claim kinship to Him who gave His Ufe that men might be, he continued. President Lee said that the Lord has a plan and explained the law of sacrifice and the law of consecration. The law of sacrifice was done away with at the coming of the Master. In our day, it was called the United Order, the way the Lord had decreed to provide for His saints, That the poor should be exhalted, in that the rich are made low, for the earth is full and there is enough and to spare. After the members were not able to live this law the law of tithing was given. President Lee quoted section 119 of the Doctrine and Covenants and said, The tithing 10th of the interest has always been interpreted to mean income. One 10th of income is a tithe. In addition, we have the welfare program and the health services and social services programs. Stressing that the program must be built on the law of sacrifice, President Lee said that the program must never become a paid operation, but that sacrifice will bring forth the blessings of heaven. Righteous Members Are a Great Leaven Continued from page 13 prosperity, and for an eventual inheritance in the kingdom of God is found only in and through the restored gospel. Elder CuUlmore said the righteous lives of members of the church throughout the world are great leaven to the gospel loaf. There are many wonderful, honest men and women m the world whose lives are influenced by the teachings of the gospel, as seen m the virtuous lives of members of the church. Everything in the world is not evil There are many things of virtue, many great men and women 14 - CHURCH 9 working for the finer things of life, who have high standards and bve virtuous lives." He suggesfed a possible definition of the world would be, Exposure to things about us, whether good or bad right or wrong. There is a groat challenge to living in the world, he said The concern is not where we bve but how we live. Obedience to the laws of the Lord wUl bring a happiness and peace. One never need apologize for living the standards of the church." WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 13, 1973 He then gave examples of two people, John K. Edmunds, president of the Salt Lake Temple, who was an outstanding attorney in Chicago for more than 25 years, and De Witt J. Paul, a mission president who was an executive of one of the nations largest financial institutions. Pres Edmunds said, During my life :n Chicago, I never felt the necessity of indulging in alcohol, tobacco, cr tea and coffee, nor have 1 served these in my home. I have never felt the need to apologize for observance of church standards. Pres. Paul said, Adhering to s'andards has never gospel stood in my way. Quite contrary, doing so has been an asset rather than a liability. We are living in the most glorious time since the creation of the world, said Elder Culhm-ore- . Never before has man been able to do so many remarkable things, see and know so much of the world, have so many conveniences, and enjoy so many luxuries He said the Lord has already commenced to pour out His spir.i upon aU flesh. Since the restoration of the gospel, the spirit of the Lord has inspired men in the world to accomplish things, almost unbelievable to those who behold them. We are able to travel aU over the world at incredible speed. Inventions, too numerous to mention, bless the lives of the inhabitants of the the world, he said. At the dose of his remarks, President Lee gave further weight to his message bv saying, We who associate with Brother Cullimore appreciate his greet testimony and service. |
