As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrates the 75th anniversary of the welfare program, a new facility in Salt Lake City highlights the Church’s approach to helping individuals and families.
On Wednesday, 8 June 2011, President Henry B. Eyring of the Church’s First Presidency dedicated the new Sugarhouse Welfare Services Center. The new multipurpose building contains three organizations focused on helping people become self-reliant: Deseret Industries, LDS Employment Center and LDS Family Services.
“This building is intended and designed to magnify our powers to help others,” President Eyring said. “Deseret Industries was a part of the general welfare plan of the Church to help lift people to employment so that they might then lift themselves to the capacity to care for themselves and their families.”
In his remarks, President Eyring said the Church’s welfare program blesses both the giver and the receiver.
“All of us have felt joy when those we have loved have risen against difficulties toward their full potential for happiness and productive living,” he said. “All of us aspire to feel more often the satisfaction that always comes when we extend a helping hand to others in need.”
Presiding Bishop H. David Burton and general Relief Society president Julie B. Beck also spoke at the dedication, praising the dedication of Latter-day Saints in contributing their time and money to help others.