Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series on the “Living Record: A Church News Documentary Series” on BYUtv called “Harvest of Faith.” Part 1 features welfare farms. Part 2 looks at welfare food processing and distribution facilities owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Part 3 focuses on AgReserves, the commercial arm of Farmland Reserve, an investment affiliate of the Church.
In 1936, during the Great Depression, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created its welfare program to care for Church members in need and strengthen their abilities to become self-reliant.
Today, the Church’s welfare efforts assist people of all faiths, or no faith, around the world.
Bishop L. Todd Budge, first counselor in the Church’s Presiding Bishopric, said the welfare system of the Church is founded on principles of work, dignity, self-reliance and a desire to follow the two great commandments — love of God and love of neighbor.