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I ran across an interesting article in the newspaper. Below is the comment of Rabbi Isaac Jeret visiting Utah from his California congregation. He apparently toured the Humanitarian Center and the new Draper Temple:

"Rabbi Isaac Jeret from the Rancho Palos Verdes area spoke of "a unique kind of volunteerism" he observed in seeing the Church's humanitarian efforts.

He noted, "Volunteerism in the Mormon Church is about obligation rather than about choice. The choice is to become a member of the Church. But once one is, there's a sense of covenanted responsibility." He said that is something that should be shared by all in the Jewish community as well as in Christianity, but has been hampered by making everything a matter of personal choice.

He continued, "One of the things we've lost is the sense that to volunteer is actually something that is an obligation, and to work - to do - is an obligation. It's really inspiring to see a community that has retained that core religious value."

He perceived that the LDS style of volunteer effort was through a sense of religious obligation rather than as a personal choice. He was inspired by this. Could be he sensed this was a way to insure volunteer needs rather than rely on the more traditional but happenstance way of volunteering.


What is your opinion about volunteering as a religious obligation?

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Based on the recent lack of enthusiasm for cannery assignments in my ward, I suspect the feeling of "volunteerism" may be lacking among some LDS as well. Although we do pretty well cleaning the building and helping people move.

moksha wrote:What is your opinion about volunteering as a religious obligation?

"Obligatory volunteerism" is a contradiction in terms. That the Jewish guy didn't see that amazes me.

What, you've never experienced being voluntold?

Dr. Shades wrote:

moksha wrote:What is your opinion about volunteering as a religious obligation?

"Obligatory volunteerism" is a contradiction in terms. That the Jewish guy didn't see that amazes me.

I think a sense of obligation is built into the way their faith is conceptualized. Not sure they define it exactly the same as we commonly use the term.

Dr. Shades wrote:

moksha wrote:What is your opinion about volunteering as a religious obligation?

"Obligatory volunteerism" is a contradiction in terms. That the Jewish guy didn't see that amazes me.

That's the thing - being obligated to volunteer. I resent this plan. There is no soul. It's a dead work.

To be driven primarily by guilt, fear or even duty is to distract us from knowing love, compassion and even empathy.

Kudos for feeding and clothing those in need, but the method does not do enough to encourage a real connection between souls.

With a little leadership, it could be truly inspiring.

Dr. Shades:
"Obligatory volunteerism" is a contradiction in terms. That the Jewish guy didn't see that amazes me.

Inconceivable:
That's the thing - being obligated to volunteer. I resent this plan. There is no soul. It's a dead work.

To be driven primarily by guilt, fear or even duty is to distract us from knowing love, compassion and even empathy.

Kudos for feeding and clothing those in need, but the method does not do enough to encourage a real connection between souls.

With a little leadership, it could be truly inspiring.

I agree 100% with Dr.Shades and Inconceivable.

As a TBM, I didn't feel much of a connection to the volunteer work we were obligated to do and was driven more by guilt and a sense of duty than anything. I really wanted to feel connected but resented being micromanaged on how I was to serve others.

During the first year of my inactivity, I had this overwhelming drive to go and volunteer at charities of my own choosing. It gave me a freedom I had never felt before and was the first time I felt a deep connection to the people I was helping.

I'm not saying that Mormons who are told what and how to serve can't have that feeling too...... Some people like to have their service planned out and ordered for them and might find fulfillment in it. Maybe even a connection. I have some relatives who told me they love how the church plans out their service projects. But for me, it didn't work. It was more like checking a chore off a list.

I'll never forget how irritating it was to have the church reject some baby blankets because they weren't the specified size that some person had come up with in Salt Lake. There was nothing wrong with the blankets and they were accepted by another charity organization.

All the stakes in southern CA are having service days today, many in conjunction with other local groups. Whatever the motivation, there were hundreds of people at the event we went to (hundreds more than expected, actually). It was actually pretty fun, and much less dreary than many Scout service projects I've been involved with (and the young men seemed to be particularly motivated with all the young women around).

Adding upon my earlier comment......

Service is service no matter what the intent and the benefits to the recepient are the same. Belonging to a religion that covenants to serve others is a good thing and provides opportunities we would not normally have. I appreciate that about the Mormon church and any religion that performs humanitarian work. It's the most efficient system to provide help and I think many Mormons wouldn't serve as much without the wonderful church activities.

But I am critical of the church leaders when they plan service projects for image purposes, and missionary work. I have actually heard these motives mentioned at several service activities I was a part of. Why is it necessary to wear Mormon t-shirts unless they want credit for their good works? Humbly serving others with compassion and a pure heart vs. helping out to show people how good Mormons are. I know I've read scriptures that warn against doing good works for show. An example of this was when we were asked by the First Presidency (If I recall correctly, it was read by the Bishop in Sacrament) to give our donations to the to the church instead of the Red Cross so that the leaders could give it to the Red Cross in the LDS name. (after the Tsunami)

I had sent out an e-mail once to friends and family for a local Christian church that needed baby items. One relative responded very defensively with a whole list of statistics on the Mormon church's enormous contributions to humanitarian aid. It was a very odd reply since I had said nothing about the LDS church and was only informing people that if they would like to donate baby items, I was collecting them for this church. I was also sent videos and articles from her on how Mormons are the first to respond, better organized, and praised by communities and leaders all over the world. She said she would only give her donations to the DI/LDS church and didn't trust other organizations and that I needed to be very careful who I was affliating with. It was a very lengthy e-mail about how great the Mormon church is and how untrustworthy the others are. While I don't disagree with some of the points she made on the benefits of supporting the LDS church humanitarian work, I think it's awful to disparage another faith's charitable work that way.

Despite members like the above, I'm sure most LDS serve with a compassionate heart. Even if the leaders have intentions to convert new members or improve the church's image, it is still serving those in need.

I believe the structure of the church with Ward families taking care of each other is brilliant. We all have stewardship over someone in the Ward to ease anothers burdens. When times of crisis come, the organization of the church makes it easier to provide aid. But there are times where I have received acts of service and felt very guilty knowing there are people out there in our community who need it much more than my family. I would rather the home or visiting teacher have made the dinner for the homeless or sick. You know what I mean?
We've seen LDS relatives and members that could afford to hire help and were not disabled, accept service projects to clean up their yard. I don't think it's the fault of the person receiving the service...it's the fault of the planning committee who was just looking for something to fill the acitivity instead of doing a little more homework in finding a person of great need. It's easier for them to plan things within the Ward.


When my spouse was EQ Pres, he was expected to move people every weekend. There were some families that genuinely needed the help, but for the most part it seemed like he was only a moving service. The help was expected. Most of the time families weren't even packed and ready to go when he would show up so he would waste hours helping them clean and finish up. Helping families move is a nice way to support people in the Ward who do not have any family around, but I was irritated that people just expect it. There were many other causes more worthy for my spouse to sacrifice his weekend for. But he never complained about it and doesn't share my opinion.

We had a family member going through a difficult health issue with her husband years ago. They were newleyweds and living at home with her parents at the time so they had plenty of support. When this girl complained that she was getting tired of the hospital food and take out, the first thing her MIL said was "where are your visiting teachers??? They should be taking care of you guys! Get me their number and I will call them."
I asked her why they would need to call upon the sisters when she had plenty of family living nearby to help out. Her response was something like "that's what we are called to do as visiting teachers and it give us opportunities to serve." This person didn't really have a great need. Her healthy able bodied mothers should have been cooking for them since they were living there. That's the kind of attitude I've seen in all my Wards.


When I was recovering from surgery, we had so many people bring us meals, but I didn't want it. I was so grateful for it, it made life easier and made me feel very loved, but at the same time I felt terrible to accept it when we had the money to buy prepared food and relatives nearby who could help if we found ourselves suffering.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it seems like if someone is going to plan a service project, it should be for a person really suffering and it's most likely going to be found outside of their comfort zone. I would rather my visiting teachers use their energy and efforts to help someone who has no family or husband for support, living in extreme poverty, disabled, severe illness, in need of safe childcare, etc.
But at the same time, our Ward family is there to care for one another and ease our burdens so maybe I should embrace the service when it comes and stop feeling guilty about it.

I don't think it's the fault of the person receiving the service...it's the fault of the planning committee who was just looking for something to fill the acitivity instead of doing a little more homework in finding a person of great need

You have a real point here. I appreciate you sharing this because I never recognized that before. I'm proud to say I've never had help moving from the LDS church once though I've helped many times myself. Sometimes I liked the people I was helping, more often I did it for God. Why has the church become a moving company? I hate lifting washers and dryers down curving (impractically designed) staircases with half ass effort on the other end. It's a recipe for lifelong backpain. When my only brother was tragically killed, none of brother in laws or myself wanted his brand new pickup truck for that very reason. You'll get a not so part "part" part time job as the ward moving manager.

We probably don't agree on much, but it's nice to know someone sees this issue the same way I do.