The Newsroom Blog

Rebounding From Rock Bottom Through Church’s Deseret Industries

Wes Oliver, left, received a second chance at life through Deseret Industries' vocational rehabilitation program

Deseret Industries (more commonly known as D.I.) is a nonprofit business enterprise owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, designed to provide employment and to aid in the economic rehabilitation of disadvantaged persons.

Many who are familiar with D.I. think of it simply as a place to donate unneeded goods, but D.I. also helps people like Wes Oliver get a second chance at life.

Oliver, a highly successful junior Olympic swimmer, became addicted to drugs and alcohol and eventually landed in jail. Before leaving the jail’s drug treatment program, Oliver was required to have a job. His bishop recommended he enter D.I.’s vocational rehabilitation program. Since that time, Oliver has received an MBA.

Read more about Oliver’s D.I. success story at LDS.org’s Church News and Events page.

Related links:

A Second Chance at a Future Through Deseret Industries (10/14/2008)

Browse the Blog

About: This blog is managed and written by staff of the Public Affairs Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to provide journalists, bloggers, and the public with additional context and information regarding public issues involving the Church. For official news releases and statements from the Church, please also visit the Newsroom.org home page.

Style Guide Note: When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.