The Lord’s Way Is Not To Sit At The Side Of The Stream

LDS.org
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Welfare Plan of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is an inspired, life-changing program. The following video is about a young family with financial struggles, and how the welfare program works. During the recent general conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a talk entitled “Providing in the Lord’s Way.” Here are some key points:
– “Sometimes we see welfare as simply another gospel topic—one of the many branches on the gospel tree. But I believe that in the Lord’s plan, our commitment to welfare principles should be at the very root of our faith and devotion to Him.”
– “The welfare principles of the Church are not simply good ideas; they are revealed truths from God—they are His way of helping the needy.”

– “The two great commandments—to love God and our neighbor—are a joining of the temporal and the spiritual. It is important to note that these two commandments are called “great” because every other commandment hangs upon them. In other words, our personal, family, and Church priorities must begin here. All other goals and actions should spring from the fountain of these two great commandments—from our love for God and for our neighbor. Like two sides of a coin, the temporal and spiritual are inseparable.” 


– “Too often we notice the needs around us, hoping that someone from far away will magically appear to meet those needs. Perhaps we wait for experts with specialized knowledge to solve specific problems. When we do this, we deprive our neighbor of the service we could render, and we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to serve. While there is nothing wrong with experts, let’s face it: there will never be enough of them to solve all the problems. Instead, the Lord has placed His priesthood and its organization at our doorsteps in every nation where the Church is established. And, right by its side, He has placed the Relief Society. As we priesthood holders know, no welfare effort is successful if it fails to make use of the remarkable gifts and talents of our sisters.”

– “The Lord’s way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross. It is to come together, roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges.”
Sometimes it is easier to think of the needs of those living in far off lands, than to look at the needs of the families that live on our street. May we each find ways to reach out to those around us during this holiday season, and throughout the year.

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