By Janene Pack
janene@newsroom.byu.edu
Being involved in church welfare programs will make people better, said Elder Glen L. Rudd on Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Harold B. Lee Library.
Elder Rudd, former member of the Quorum of the Seventy and the General Welfare Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talked to BYU students about the history and the importance of the church welfare programs.
'Church welfare programs are the most spiritual programs in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,' Rudd said. 'They lift people up and make them more profitable so they can help others. That is Christianity at it's best.'
Elder Rudd said he has been alive through most of the 20th century history of the LDS Church welfare programs.
Elder Rudd talked to BYU students about the founding of the church welfare programs and the great leaders of the LDS Church who were involved.
'The start of church welfare programs began during the depression when President Harold B. Lee was a stake president,' Rudd said. 'Many men were out of work and were becoming idle, so the first cannery, store house and employment program were developed.'
Elder Rudd said the LDS Church became so involved in church welfare that the U.S. government has come to the church many times for help.
'President Harry Truman came to President George Albert Smith for help after World War II,' Rudd said. 'People were in need of food and clothing and we were able to help out.'
Elder Rudd continued with his personal feelings on the divinity of church welfare programs.
'I have traced the history and many of the apostles have been called because of their welfare work,' Rudd said. 'Temples have also been built as a result of great welfare work.'
Elder Rudd asked the audience what they could do to be involved with the church welfare programs.
Elder Rudd said BYU students should always pay their fast offerings, patronize the industries in giving what they can and being willing to work in whatever they are asked to do.
'I might be a little biased and a little radical,' Rudd said. 'But once we started taking care of the poor, the Lord has blessed us and the LDS Church has been doing wonderfully financially.'