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Purpose of Disaster Recovery: Disaster recovery efforts are church welfare activities with a public affairs component, and fall within the fourfold purpose of the church of “caring for the poor and needy.” (Handbook 2, 2.2“In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.” (LDS.org)). The purpose of disaster recovery efforts is to restore the hope of survivors by ministering to their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs; and to give service. (See Handbook 2, 6.1“The purposes of Church welfare are to help members become self-reliant, to care for the poor and needy, and to give service.” (LDS.org); D&C 81:5“Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” (LDS.org)).
Role of Councils: The Lord’s church is governed through councils. (See Handbook 2, 4.1“The Lord’s Church is governed through councils at the general, area, stake, and ward levels. These councils are fundamental to the order of the Church. Under the keys of priesthood leadership at each level, leaders counsel together for the benefit of individuals and families. Council members also plan the work of the Church pertaining to their assignments. Effective councils invite full expression from council members and unify their efforts in responding to individual, family, and organizational needs.” (LDS.org)). Stake presidents and bishops hold the keys to direct the stake’s and ward’s efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies, in counsel with the stake and ward councils (See Handbook 1, 1.3; 2.4; 5.1.3; 5.2.11. See also, Handbook 2, 6.2.1“The bishop directs welfare work in the ward. He has a divine mandate to seek out and care for the poor (see D&C 84:112). His goal is to help members help themselves and become self-reliant. The bishop’s counselors, the Relief Society president, the high priests group leader, the elders quorum president, and other members of the ward council assist the bishop in fulfilling these responsibilities.” (LDS.org); 6.2.2“Council members consider spiritual and temporal welfare matters as follows: …They compile and maintain a list of ward members whose skills might be useful in responding to short-term, long-term, or disaster-caused needs. They develop and maintain a simple written plan for the ward to respond to emergencies (see Handbook 1, 5.2.11). They coordinate this plan with similar plans in the stake and community.” (LDS.org); 6.3.1“The stake president oversees welfare work in the stake. More information on his welfare responsibilities is provided in Handbook 1, 5.1.” (LDS.org); 6.3.2“In stake council meetings, leaders consider spiritual and temporal welfare matters as follows: …They develop and maintain a simple written plan for the stake to respond to emergencies (see Handbook 1, 5.1.3). This plan should be coordinated with similar plans of other stakes in the coordinating council and with plans in the community. …When assigned by a member of the Presidency of the Seventy or the Area Presidency, they provide leadership and support for a welfare operation.” (LDS.org); 18.3.7.4“The stake council meets two to four times a year as needed. The agenda may include the following items: …Develop and maintain a simple written plan for the stake to respond to emergencies.” (LDS.org); D&C 107:68“the office of a bishop is in administering all temporal things” (LDS.org)). Ward and stake councils prayerfully counsel with the Lord to receive guidance on how to serve and what level of community service constitutes an acceptable offering to the Lord (See D&C 4:2“Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.” (LDS.org); Mosiah 4:26-27“And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants. And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.” (LDS.org); D&C 126:1-3“…My servant Brigham, it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me. I have seen your labor and toil in journeyings for my name. I therefore command you to send my word abroad, and take especial care of your family from this time, henceforth and forever. Amen.” (LDS.org)).
Recovery efforts after large-scale disasters are governed by an Area Emergency Response Committee (AERC) which includes area seventies, stake presidents, mission presidents, VOAD representatives, and public affairs representatives. The AERC should include other relevant church department representatives from welfare and facilities management, and others at the direction of the area seventy.
Responsibilities of Members and Leaders: Members’ first responsibility is to take care of themselves and their families before helping others. (See Handbook 2, 6.1.1“Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family. As members become self-reliant, they are also better able to serve and care for others. Church members are responsible for their own spiritual and temporal well-being. Blessed with the gift of agency, they have the privilege and duty to set their own course, solve their own problems, and strive to become self-reliant. Members do this under the inspiration of the Lord and with the labor of their own hands. When Church members are doing all they can to provide for themselves but cannot meet their basic needs, generally they should first turn to their families for help. When this is not sufficient or feasible, the Church stands ready to help.” (LDS.org)). Church leaders’ first stewardships are to their own families, church members and their families, the missionaries, and church property. During recovery efforts, “Church leaders make the services of the Church available to civil authorities. Church leaders also take independent action in behalf of Church members as needed.” (Handbook 1, 5.2.11. See also, Acts 11:27-30“And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” (LDS.org)).
Bishops and stake presidents should remember that the Lord’s charge to “visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief” extends to all people within the geographic boundaries of their wards and stakes. (See D&C 44:6“Behold, I say unto you, that ye must visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief, that they may be kept until all things may be done according to my law which ye have received. Amen.” (LDS.org); D&C 84:112“And the bishop, Newel K. Whitney, also should travel round about and among all the churches, searching after the poor to administer to their wants by humbling the rich and the proud.” (LDS.org); Mark 16:15“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (LDS.org); Handbook 2, 2.2“The Church invites all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32; see also D&C 20:59).” (LDS.org); 2.1“In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.” (LDS.org)). Regional disasters, such as a hurricane or earthquake, affect the entire community. Ward and stake councils prayerfully counsel with the Lord to receive guidance on how to serve and what level of community service constitutes an acceptable offering to the Lord (See D&C 4:2“Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.” (LDS.org); Mosiah 4:26-27“And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants. And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.” (LDS.org); D&C 126:1-3“…My servant Brigham, it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me. I have seen your labor and toil in journeyings for my name. I therefore command you to send my word abroad, and take especial care of your family from this time, henceforth and forever. Amen.” (LDS.org)). Leaders should delegate as much of the recovery work as possible, so that recovery efforts do not overwhelm or displace other vital ward and ministering responsibilities. (See Mosiah 4:26-27“And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants. And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.” (LDS.org); Handbook 2, 3.3.4“Individual leaders cannot and should not do everything themselves. Leaders who try to do too much will “surely wear away” (Exodus 18:18), and so will the people they serve. Leaders should delegate service opportunities to others, such as counselors, clerks, and members of councils or committees.” (LDS.org)). Ward and stake councils assist by drawing from ward and stake emergency plans, as well as “list[s] of ward members whose skills might be useful in responding to… disaster-caused needs.” (See Handbook 2, 6.2.2“Council members consider spiritual and temporal welfare matters as follows: …They compile and maintain a list of ward members whose skills might be useful in responding to short-term, long-term, or disaster-caused needs. They develop and maintain a simple written plan for the ward to respond to emergencies (see Handbook 1, 5.2.11). They coordinate this plan with similar plans in the stake and community.” (LDS.org); 6.3.2“In stake council meetings, leaders consider spiritual and temporal welfare matters as follows: …They develop and maintain a simple written plan for the stake to respond to emergencies (see Handbook 1, 5.1.3). This plan should be coordinated with similar plans of other stakes in the coordinating council and with plans in the community. …When assigned by a member of the Presidency of the Seventy or the Area Presidency, they provide leadership and support for a welfare operation.” (LDS.org)).
Read More…
- Principles of Disaster Recovery
- Typical Resources and Responses
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Checklist for Stake Presidents
- Checklist for Bishops
- Draft Letter From Stake Presidents to Visiting Stake Presidents (.docx)
- Draft Letter From Stake Presidents to Members and Ward Leaders (.docx)
Other Policies
- Guidelines for Use of Meetinghouses as Emergency Shelters (.doc)
- Donations, Solicitations and Offers (.docx)
- Proselytizing
- Liability, Risk, and Insurance
- Age Requirements
- How to Get Work Orders
- Spiritual and Emotional Well-Being