An ever-widening income and wealth divide

Really Is That So: Yahoo! News - Revolution in architecture opens in Curitiba, Brazil: "Ryan Early said...
Really? An ever-widening income and wealth divide? Sounds like a really serious problem. What do you think is the best way to solve it?"

I actually spent two years in Brazil offering a solution to those who would listen. It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel and its implementation through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the teachings and programs that are and will make the difference for so many people.

Where do I begin?

Fast offerings and other Charitable Donations
Members of the Church who are able abstain from two meals once every month and donate the equivalent or more to care for the poor. Members also dontate to a Humanitarian Aid fund. These programs already do great good, imagine if everyone in the world who could skipped two meals and donated to help the hungry. I believe it could end hunger in the world.

Perpetual Education Fund
A fund has been established to make loans to members in developing countries so they can go to traditional and technical schools. People sometimes need some simple skills or knowledge to profoundly change the ablility they have to earn a living and the opportunities their childern will have in life.

Support System
Membership in the Church places people within a support system that helps one another through service and other means. Church members come together to serve in the community and serve one another. If you need help, you have a group of people ready and willing to help you.

Family
The Church promotes and builds strong families. Family members can offer a roof and food if the need arises. Strong families care for one another and care about one another. Loving family members will do all they can to help you succeed in life and will help you when you are in need.

Home Teaching
Men in the Church visit the homes of the members. They can identify needs, organize service, notify the Bishop who can supply fast offering funds and other help. Meeting peoples needs requires organization. This is just one of many programs that works to identify needs and organize help.

Word of Wisdom
The Church teaches its members to avoid drugs and live healthy lifestyles. Addictions can ruin peoples ability to hold down jobs and be productive. Drugs destroy lives and families. Being freed from addicition can be a step to being freed from poverty.

Chastity
The Church promotes chaste lifestyles. Many financial hardships come from unchaste lifestyles. Single parents have a difficult time providing. Little or no financial and life preparation is made when unexpected pregnancies occur. In Brazil I saw people in slums having more and more illegitimate children that they would never be able to provide for.

Welfare Farms
The Church owns and operates farms that supply food to the hungry and jobs as well. The Church donates food to disaster areas and stocks Bishop's Storehouses.

Bishop's Storehouses
"Grocery Stores" that the Bishop can send members to. These supply food to families in need and jobs as well.

Deseret Industries
These second hand stores allow people to donate clothing and other items. These things can then be given to those in need or sold at low prices. These stores also offer employment opportunities.

Scripture Study
Members of the Church are encouraged to read scriptures on a daily basis. Reading skills make a big difference for people in very poor areas. I saw member families in Brazil who were educated and prosperous. Children growing up in member families had a great advantage to many of their counterparts because of the reading occuring in their homes.

Family Home Evening
Members are encouraged to meet as a family once a week. Teaching, playing, and assesments of family needs and goals occur.

Food Storage
Members are counseled to build up a supply of water and food that can be used in emergencies. Members experiencing prosperity can protect themselves against future problems.

Emergency Preparedness
The Church also encourages members to prepare for disasters and emergencies.

Ward Employement Specialist
A member is called to help other members in their search for employment.

Missionary Labor
Young men and women of the Church leave their homes to serve and teach. They learn valuable skills and provide meaningful service. My time in Brazil was not spent just preaching. I had many opportunies to work and serve.

This is just a small list and brief explaination of the programs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. People who join the church come under the care of and contribute to these programs. Members who are more fortunate help those who are less fortunate. The goal is to become what is refered to in the scriptures as a Zion society.

Moses 7: 18
"And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them."

In short, my solution to all the problems the world faces is for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to spread far and wide as quickly as possible.