How Can We Survive and Thrive during a Pandemic?

            My parents were married on October 2, 1929, just weeks before the stock market crashed and brought about the Great Depression. They spent the first year of their marriage living in a shed. Their double bed nearly filled the available space with just enough room on one side for a dresser. They lived on homemade bread and peaches that my mother had canned. They struggled to rear their large family of twelve children and watched their pennies closely until oil was struck on their property during their retirement years.


            Millions of Americans struggled to survive during the Great Depression and World War II. Amid this societal upheaval, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched its welfare program in 1936.

On its inaugural day in 1936, President David O. McKay affirmed the divinely inspired roots of the Church’s welfare plan: “[The welfare program] is established by divine revelation, and there is nothing else in all the world that can so effectively take care of its members.”

The welfare program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not only a way to help members in temporarily difficult circumstances, but it also stresses self-reliance as a way of life, including education, health, employment, family home production and storage, family finances, and spiritual strength.

            More than 80 years have passed since the beginning of the Church Welfare Plan. A committee was appointed in 1936, and the first central bishops’ storehouse was built in 1937 in Salt Lake City, Utah. That was the beginning of Welfare Square for which construction started in 1938. This same year, the first Deseret Industries thrift store opened in Salt Lake City. Welfare Square was completed in 1939, and its first cannery began operating. The Welfare Square grain elevator was dedicated in 1940, and its milk-processing plant began operations in 1941.


            At the end of World War II, the Church shipped “large amounts of food, clothing, and other relief supplies to Europe.” A regional employment office was established in 1948 in Salt Lake City. In 1963 the “Deseret Pasta Plant began producing pasta,” and a new cannery was completed at Welfare Square. The Church expanded welfare projects and production to Mexico, England, and the Pacific Islands in the 1970s.


            LDS Social Services (now LDS Family Services) was created in 1973 “as an official Church corporation under the direction of Welfare Services.” Welfare facilities expanded in 1976 throughout the United States and Canada, and another bishops’ storehouse was built on Welfare Square.


            Welfare facilities continued to expand and was praised by President Ronald Reagan in 1982 when he visited the facilities in Ogden, Utah. “If, during the period of the Great Depression, every church had come forth with a welfare program founded on correct principles … we would not be in the difficulty in which we find ourselves today” (quoted by Thomas S. Monson in “A Provident Plan – a Precious Promise,” Ensign, May 1986, 62).


            The welfare program was put under the direction of the Presiding Bishopric of the Church in 1983. In 1985 the Church Humanitarian Services program was started with the Humanitarian Service Center formed in the 1990s. There “surplus clothing and other goods are sorted for shipment around the world in response to poverty and disasters.” LDS Charities was formed in 1996 to help the humanitarian effort in several countries. Welfare Square was renovated from 1996 until 2001 when it was rededicated. Welfare Services started providentliving.org in 2003.



            During the many years when the Church Welfare Plan was put in place and developed, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was busy making other changes. Besides building temples all over the world, the Church was changes program and methods of teaching. The missionary age of service was changed in 2012 to allow young men to enter the mission field at age 18 and young women at age 19. Come, Follow Me was instituted for youth in 2013 and adults in 2018. The curriculum was integrated for all ages in 2019, and individuals and families were encouraged to study at home. Home teaching and visiting teaching programs were retired, and “ministering” was implemented. Other changes were made in organizations and titles. 


            All the programs and changes for more than 80 years helped members of the Church of Jesus Christ to be prepared for the pandemic. Members have repeatedly been encouraged to store food, clothing, supplies, and where possible fuel. We were urged to store 90-days of foods that we normally eat and other foods that will preserve life for a longer period. 

By following this simple practice for more than 50 years, I have felt peace during national emergencies. After the terrorist attack on 9/11, people rushed to the stores and cleared the shelves of food and necessities. I did not even go to the store. When the toilet paper shortage took place in the early days of coronavirus pandemic, I remained in my home. I had enough and to spare, even though I did run out of fresh produce.

Through the counsel of Church leaders, we have emergency savings to carry us through emergencies. However, money is not much use when there is no food in the stores to purchase. Spiritual counsel from leaders prepared us to survive and thrive in isolation. Families were prepared to hold their own Sabbath Day meetings, and worthy priesthood bearers could bless and pass the sacrament to the members of their immediate family.

All the above tells us that proper preparation is the way to survive and even thrive during an emergency. We have living prophets and apostles who receive divine revelation from God to lead and guide us through difficult times. If we follow their counsel, we will be prepared for difficult times and will feel peace.