Lesson 6: Welfare Duties of Priesthood Quorums

Objective

Priesthood quorum and group leaders will understand their duty to foster self-reliance and resolve long-term welfare needs.

Materials for This Lesson

Essentials of Welfare videocassette (53045) or In the Service of Your God DVD (54645)

Statements from Church Handbooks

Invite a participant to read the following statements:

“The bishop is the agent of the [Lord’s] storehouse [and] distributes the Saints’ offerings to the poor and needy. He is assisted by priesthood quorums and the Relief Society” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 256).

“In joint efforts with the priesthood quorums and Relief Society, [bishops] should teach two key gospel principles related to welfare: self-reliance and generous giving” (Caring for the Needy [study guide, 1986], 2).

Ask participants: How have you seen priesthood quorums and bishoprics work together to meet welfare responsibilities? (Remind participants not to disclose confidential information.)

Key Points

Help participants understand the following points, and discuss them as needed:

1. As members of the ward welfare committee, priesthood quorum and group leaders help plan ways to prevent and meet welfare needs of ward members (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 318).

2. Priesthood quorums teach doctrines, principles, and skills related to welfare in Sunday meetings and through home teachers (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 165).

3. Under the direction of the bishop, priesthood quorums help members find long-term solutions to their needs and plan for and achieve self-reliance (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 257–258). Elder Gordon B. Hinckley explained these responsibilities: “It is the responsibility of the bishop to give emergency help to see that neither the individual nor his family suffers. It is the obligation of the priesthood quorum to set in motion those forces and facilities which will equip the needy member to provide on a continuing basis for himself and his family” (“Welfare Responsibilities of the Priesthood Quorums,” Ensign, Nov. 1977, 86).

Ask participants: What resources or abilities do your ward’s priesthood quorums have that they can use to help members find long-term solutions to their problems?

If desired, review the following safety precautions that leaders should exercise when making a visit to members’ homes:

• Make an appointment for the visit, and take someone with you.

• Tell someone where you are going.

• Be aware of possible unsafe or dangerous conditions.

Additional Teachings from Church Leaders

If desired, share the following statements by Church leaders:

“I am satisfied, my brethren, that there is enough of expertise, of knowledge, of strength, of concern in every priesthood quorum to assist the troubled members of that quorum if these resources are properly administered” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1977, 85–86).

“Over in Colorado once, I was at stake conference, and I asked one of the elders quorum presidents how his elders were getting along as a quorum. I said, ‘Do you do anything to help one another?’

“‘Oh, yes, we don’t do bad.’

“I said, ‘Well, what are you doing?’

“He said, ‘Well, I can tell you this: we’ve got a member of our quorum in the hospital down in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was a strong, vigorous young man, buying a beautiful farm—a hard worker with a lovely little family. He was going ahead, paying off his bills and his mortgage, when all of a sudden he was stricken.’ Ordinarily that would have been the end of the farm, the end of security of the family. The elders quorum president said to me, ‘That was our loss as much as it was a loss for his wife and children. So we took over, and we’ve gone out and operated that farm. It doesn’t take much time with all of our tractors and all our equipment. The mortgage is paid off, and the family has a good income from the farm. All the man has to worry about is getting well, down there in that hospital” (Matthew Cowley, Matthew Cowley Speaks, [1954], 308–309).

Video Presentation

Show part 1 of “Caring for the Needy” (part of the videocassette Essentials of Welfare or the DVD In the Service of Your God ), if available. Ask participants: What did these priesthood quorum leaders do to help prevent the ward’s welfare needs? How did they help meet welfare needs?

Case Study

Present the following case study for participants to discuss. If the group is large, divide participants into smaller discussion groups; then invite participants to report on the ideas generated in their discussions.

The Miller family has been in the ward for three years. They have been receiving financial and commodity assistance from the bishop since they moved in. John, the father, claims that he cannot work because of a back injury. He graduated from high school but doesn’t like school and doesn’t want to go back. The Millers express a desire to be self-reliant but just don’t see how that is possible. Mary, the wife, doesn’t drive (as a result of poor vision and fear of getting in an accident), uses poor grammar, and suffers health challenges because of poor nutrition. She has no work experience and feels she needs to be at home taking care of her four children, who create discipline problems in Primary and who do poorly in school. The bishop has been helping with the family’s short-term needs for three years. He is at a loss as to what to do.

Ask participants: What could Brother Miller’s priesthood quorum do to help them help themselves? (Answers could include: the quorum leader, with the assistance of their home teachers, could visit Brother Miller and discuss the needs of the family, express their support, and offer help; the quorum leader may inform the bishop and the Relief Society of the situation; Brother Miller could be given help learning about different types of educational opportunities other than traditional schools and help enrolling in school to gain new job skills; the quorum members could teach him new job skills, inform him of job openings, or simply be listening, caring friends.)

Read or invite a participant to read the following scripture: “Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence” (D&C 107:99).

Challenge the participants to diligently fulfill the welfare responsibilities and duties of their offices. Bear testimony of the good that can be accomplished when ward leaders work together to care for the poor and needy.