Utilizing the Blessings of the Lord’s Storehouse

Go to newsroom.lds.org and conduct a search for “Welfare.” Review the headlines about the Church’s welfare program and its work with various government leaders and groups.

As a group, discuss the following:

• What projects has the Church welfare program been involved in?
• What does welfare encompass?
• What is the impact of the welfare program in the world?
• In your opinion, why does the Church’s welfare program get so much attention and praise?
• What are your feelings and thoughts about welfare?

Watch the short documentary on the Church’s welfare program that aired on PBS (see pbs.org/video/2365789090). As you watch the video, pay attention to the impact that the welfare program has on global and local communities. Write down any impressions or insights you have. Once the video is over, share these insights with the group.

Refer to the most recent “Welfare Services Fact Sheet,” which can be downloaded on the Church welfare site.

Review the amount of volunteer hours, projects, disaster response efforts and humanitarian service rendered in 2015. Share with the group any insights or experiences you have with the global impact of the Lord’s storehouse on people in need throughout the world.

As a group, discuss John W. Welch’s article, “The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols” (Ensign, Feb. 2007, 40–47). You could use the following questions during your discussion:

• What were the main symbols the author emphasized?
• How did your perspective change about this parable and its characters as you read and thought about these symbols?

Read the following statement, and then discuss the accompanying questions:

“As the Master Healer, Jesus directed His friends to ‘go . . . and tell . . . what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, [and] the dead are raised” (Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—the Master Healer,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 85).

“As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal. . . . As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You Are Mine Hands,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 68, 69).

Consider these statements by Church leaders as you discuss the following:

• How can you emulate the example of the good Samaritan in your work?
• How does having this perspective help you in your work?
• How can your hands, eyes, and heart become like the Master Healer’s in your work with associates?
• How are your associates similar to those who are wounded, sick, or afflicted in the scriptures?
• What key attitudes and attributes should you develop to be of greater assistance to your associates?
• What have you learned about the Savior as you have sought to help associates progress toward self-reliance?

Review the symbols of the parable of the good Samaritan as explained in “The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols” (John W. Welch, Ensign, Feb. 2007, 40–47).

Watch the video “Parable of the Good Samaritan” from The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos.

After the video ends, discuss the following questions as a group:

• What were some of the impressions and feelings you received as you watched the video?
• How would your perspective about your work change if you pictured the bishop as the good Samaritan, the wounded man as your associates, the inn as Deseret Industries, and yourself as the manager or host of the inn?
• What is the impact that you can have on DI associates?
• How has attending to the needs of others improved the quality of your life?
• What positive impact has working at DI had in your life?

Read the following quote from Elder Robert D. Hales and then discuss the following questions:

“The welfare plan sanctifies both the giver and the receiver. We are all both givers and receivers. President Marion G. Romney has said, ‘There is an interdependence between those who have and those who have not. The process of giving exalts the poor and humbles the rich. In the process, both are sanctified.’ [Ensign, Nov. 1982, p.93]” (Robert D. Hales, “Welfare Principles to Guide Our Lives: An Eternal Plan for the Welfare of Men’s Souls,” Ensign, May 1986).

Consider this statement from Elder Hales and the interpretation John Welch gives of the parable of the good Samaritan. Then, as a group, discuss the following questions:

• In what ways does the parable of the good Samaritan apply to your work at DI?
• In what ways are you a giver (or similar to the good Samaritan) at DI?
• In what ways are you a receiver (or in need of healing) at DI?
• How are associates receivers (or ones in need of care and healing) at DI?
• In what ways are associates givers (or similar to the good Samaritan) at DI?

Consider Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s talk “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 49–52). Then, as a group, discuss the following questions:

• How did President Joseph F. Smith define priesthood and its purpose? (See page 49 of Elder Oaks’s talk.)
• What are priesthood keys?
• How do priesthood keys allow the Lord’s work to be done in an organized way?

Read the following story from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk, “Providing in the Lord’s Way” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 53–56).

“During the Great Depression, Harold B. Lee, serving then as a stake president, was asked by the Brethren to find an answer to the oppressive poverty, sorrow, and hunger that were so widespread across the world at that time. He struggled to find a solution and took the matter to the Lord and asked, ‘What kind of an organization will we have . . . to do this?'

“And ‘it was as though the Lord had said [to him]: “Look, son. You don’t need any other organization. I have given you the greatest organization there is on the face of the earth. Nothing is greater than the priesthood organization. All in the world you need to do is to put the priesthood to work. That’s all.”’” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 55).

As a group, discuss the following questions:

• How does Deseret Industries support the priesthood or “the power of God delegated to man”? (Ensign, May 49).
• How are priesthood keys involved in the work done at Deseret Industries?
• Why is it important to recognize and remember that Deseret Industries supports the priesthood organization and functions under the direction of those who hold priesthood keys?
• How is Deseret Industries an example of putting the priesthood to work?
• What can you do to honor and support the priesthood organization, its purpose, and its keys in your work at Deseret Industries?

Consider Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s talk “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 49–52). Then, as a group, discuss the following questions:

• How did President Joseph F. Smith define priesthood and its purpose? (See page 49 of Elder Oaks’s talk.)
• What are priesthood keys?
• How do priesthood keys allow the Lord’s work to be done in an organized way?

Think of a time you were locked out and didn’t have the keys to get in. How did you feel when you couldn’t get where you needed to go?

In the Church, designated Church leaders hold priesthood keys to unlock blessings that the Lord has for us. Following the direction of those who hold keys gets us not only to where we want to be, but also to where the Lord wants us to be.

Review the following teachings about priesthood keys from Handbook 2: Administering the Church ([2010], 2.1.1).

“Priesthood keys are the authority God has given to priesthood leaders to direct, control, and govern the use of His priesthood on earth. The exercise of priesthood authority is governed by those who hold its keys (see D&C 65:2; 81:2; 124:123). Those who hold priesthood keys have the right to preside over and direct the Church within a jurisdiction. . . .

“The President of the Church delegates priesthood keys to other priesthood leaders so they can preside in their areas of responsibility. Priesthood keys are bestowed on presidents of temples, missions, stakes, and districts; bishops; branch presidents; and quorum presidents. This presiding authority is valid only for the designated responsibilities and within the geographic jurisdiction of each leader’s calling. . . .

“. . . Auxiliary presidents and their counselors do not receive keys. They receive delegated authority to function in their callings.”

Discuss the following questions:

• Since Deseret Industries is a priesthood-supported welfare operation, what keys do DI employees look to for guidance?
• What keys do your associates look to for guidance?
• How can you help your associates stay connected to the direction of their leaders?
• How can you draw upon the inspiration of those who hold keys to support your associates’ progress?

Consider Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s talk “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 49–52). Then, as a group, discuss the following questions:

• How did President Joseph F. Smith define priesthood and its purpose? (See page 49 of Elder Oaks’s talk.)
• What are priesthood keys?
• How do priesthood keys allow the Lord’s work to be done in an organized way?
• What is the relationship between the priesthood, priesthood keys, and our work at Deseret Industries?

As a group, strategize how you can best draw upon the resources of the Lord’s storehouse where your associates live. Write down a plan and commit to follow it. Consider the following principles as you make your plan:

• The development counselor has the primary role to communicate with bishops.
• Job coaches and other staff can communicate with assigned mentors as often as needed.
• It is important for all members of an associate’s development team (development counselor, job coach, and mentor) to be aware of direction given by the bishop.

The following chart shows one store’s strategy for conducting a bishop consultation. Review the chart and discuss the questions that follow.

Strategy for Bishop Consultation

As a group, discuss the following questions:

• How can we as a team improve our communication with bishops and mentors?
• How can we as a team improve our communication with each other when we receive direction from the bishop or insight from the mentor?
• How does your strategy help you involve the priesthood keys? How does involving priesthood holders help associates become self-reliant and obtain temporal salvation?

Record your plans and commit to work together to implement the needed changes.

Review the following organizational chart of welfare responsibilities.

Welfare Responsibilities in the Ward

(Adapted from Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], Chapter 6, “Welfare Principles and Leadership.”)

Discuss the following questions:

• Who has the responsibility for welfare in the ward?
• How do priesthood keys organize the welfare efforts in the ward?
• What responsibility do welfare employees have to support the ward organization?
• How can welfare employees support the ward leaders in their divinely appointed roles?