August’s Visiting Teaching Message

The Visiting Teaching message for August 2013 is on Welfare.

First let me say I believe it’s a good and noble thing for the church to have a desire to help its members. However, the help its members receive from the church is far from unconditional. When they go to their Bishop or Branch President for help one of the first things they’ll look at is if the member is a full tithe payer and if they give a generous Fast Offering each month.

If they aren’t full tithe payers it may be difficult for them to receive assistance from the church right away. The Bishop will want them to start paying their tithe before he agrees to help them, if they’re not willing to at least try to pony up their 10% he might not be willing to help. Once they rectify the situation by beginning to pay tithe the church will be more than happy to consider helping them. They would rather members in need pay their tithing over paying their bills, mortgage or even buying food.

 When members are full tithe payers and go to their Bishop for help they may be asked to help clean the church or help in the local Bishops Storehouse as a way of paying for the food and assistance the church proves.

If you’re going to help someone in need, help them, don’t set up road blocks for them to pass through first before you extend your service to them. When we serve those in need we’re being Jesus to them. It gives us a chance to share His gospel with them, to get to know them and learn if there are deeper needs beyond what’s on the surface.

In Christ,

Melissa Grimes

melissa@lifeafter.org