If I Could Change The World

Okay, first a word of explanation. I've started three different posts since the last one I posted and I can't finish a single one of them. They've all just been too horribly depressing. I've been kind of pessimistic apparently and I couldn't publish anything like that without feeling like I was completely ruining my credentials (of which I actually have none but that's besides the point).

So I'd been thinking about an entirely new topic--drug testing for welfare recipients--but it was getting depressing just researching and without having written a word. So I decided on something else: 

The welfare system in it's entirety. 

Now you're probably thinking, "Because this is going to be sooooo much happier than anything else you'd talk about", but I think it will be. Because instead of pointing out all of the welfare systems many problems, I'm just going to offer a solution. 

When you are faced with a crisis, a tragedy, or something else equally devastating in your life, there is an order to the help you should be receiving. 

First, yourself. No one is better equipped to help you than yourself. No one will be more accountable to your actions than yourself. So first, do all that you can. 

Second, your family. There's a reason we have families. They know us best and are usually closest and love us most no matter how stupid we are sometimes. Now I will allow for the fact that sometimes our families are worse off than we are and sometimes our families aren't supportive or reliable like they probably should be, but if at all possible your family should be your second line of help and defense. 

Third, your church. If you don't have a church or just don't have a helpful church then I guess you can skip this part. In my case, the members of my church are some of the most helpful, caring, and compassionate people I have ever happened upon. Time and time again I have seen these people rise magnificently to a cry for help whether that be a death, an illness, or just a bad day. 

Fourth, your community. There are institutions in place for the betterment of society. Thrift stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or DAV; The Lord's Diner and various soup kitchens; homeless shelters, NHS, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Red Cross. These are organizations that are designed to help people. They cannot do everything for you or for anyone else, but they can help. 

Fifth, and finally, and really only maybe, is the government. Obviously it's not working out so hot now, so I don't really know why anyone considers this a viable option. After all the money being given out by the government is really just ours. 

So here's my solution. We do away with the welfare system. Completely. And people get back to giving. I'm probably in a unique position being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I pay a  10% tithe on everything I make because I want to and, because we have no paid ministry and because we have such excellent financial department, a lot of that money can go towards helping other people. 

We have a Bishop's Storehouse and Welfare Square which provide food and basic needs items for those in need of assistance, the Perpetual Education Fund which allows people to rise out of poverty through education, the Church Welfare Program which has been serving others for 75 years. There are classes on provident living and self-reliance. The Church has an entire program called Humanitarian Services which includes among other things Emergency Response, The Clean Water Service, and Wheelchair Distribution.  In addition to tithes, I pay whatever else I feel that I can to help with various other causes.

I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression. I'm not really doing much. I'm doing just fine without 10-15% of my income and look what the combined efforts of so many others doing the same thing can accomplish. I'm not trying to show off what I'm doing (if anything I'm showing off what the Church does...). But I'm trying to show what we can do. People can make a difference. A much bigger and better difference than any the government can make when it comes to helping people. 

I am charging you with a solemn responsibility. To stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about others. To start helping and giving and sharing and serving. I can promise you with absolute conviction that by doing so, not only will you better the lives of others but you will find yourself bolstered up and your burdens lifted. You will be happier, those you serve will be happier, and the world will become a better place one act of service at a time.

A man decided that he would change the world.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change the country.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his community.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his street.
But, be wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his family.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change himself.
AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AND HIS FAMILY CHANGED AND THEY AFFECTED THEIR STREET.
AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET AFFECTED THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AFFECTED THEIR COUNTRY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AFFECTED THE WORLD.

One Nation, Under God

Maybe I should start this post with a disclaimer. I'm right. And I'm going to be blunt about it. End of story.

In today's society it has become socially unacceptable to be religious. Look at the mockery made of Tim Tebow. Look at the fight to change the Pledge of Allegiance. Look at what we're taught in schools about the founding fathers and the creation of this nation.

In my US History class we were taught that the founding fathers were polytheists, thus removing any real reliance on that one higher being who was at the helm of the formation of this country.

Look at science. It seems that every new discovery is immediately turned into a debacle of science versus religion whether by the media or the scientists themselves. Maybe we should focus on solving more problems instead.

Anyways, what I find ironic about this entire situation is that religion is the only reason our society has any sort of honest and good traits.

I'm sure some think that's a load of crock, but people are not naturally good. I can't say I'm naturally inclined to turn the other cheek or help someone I don't know or give up my time and resources and talents to something that might not be at the top of my to-do list.

But I do it anyways. Why? Because I live my life in such a way that I will be unashamed to stand before God at the last day and declare that I have done all I can do.

So, going back to society at large...while lots of people follow those inclinations to not help or turn the other cheek, etc. they don't completely act like heathens either. Murder is not viewed as acceptable. Neither is stealing. Adultery. Abuse. Lying. Cheating. Smuggling drugs. You get the idea.

And yet again, why? Why aren't these things socially acceptable?

I find it ironic that the world will take the Lord's precepts and commandments without accepting that they are His. And in my opinion someday the world will have to answer for that. In the meantime it gives you something to think about. Enjoy and (for those of you in my position) good luck on finals!