The Fourth Mission of the Church: Move the Saints

[mormonmusic]

Just curious what everyone thinks about priesthood quorums moving others. In the last 25 years I've moved at least one person every couple months, often more in June, July and August. Once I arranged moves for four consecutive Saturdays in June.

I actually instituted a policy where quorums would no longer be responsible for arranging moves for people if they were moving within, or out of the Ward. Sure there were exceptions, like with elderly or ailing people, but in general, I told everyone our role was limited to making an announcement at Church. Therefore, moves with two-day's notice would no longer be expected of Priesthood leaders. And if announcements didn't arrange enough volunteers, then the person moving had to hop on the phone and start calling around. I actually got flack from the EQ on this, and they decided not to implement their own policy like this.

However, if people were moving into the Ward, it was a full-service move so they feel welcome and have time to get used to the culture of "we ask for volunteers at Church; you complete the list of volunteers and arrange the move" philosophy. Plus they wouldn't know anyone to call them for help anyway, so I felt a full-service move was justified.

Comments? Is this being too hard on the members? Robbing brethren of valuable service opportunities? Doing the right thing?

[beefche]

MM, our bishop instituted a new rule in our ward. No moving someone without 2 weeks notice. Further, moving means moving--not packing, cleaning, waiting around. If packing assistance is needed, then that can be requested. Everything must go through the EQ presidency. They will do an inspection (to make sure there are no health concerns--in another ward, the EQ president helped move a cockroach infested home--he doesn't want to go through that again). The family should provide a truck (rent one if necessary) or ask friends to bring a truck. No more relying on the ward to find people with trucks for moving.

Bishop's thoughts (which I agree) is that it is extremely rare for someone to find out they are moving only 2 days before the move. Obviously, mitigating circumstances would be considered. It's worked well for our ward.

[mormonmusic]

Your policy is less aggressive than mine, as I indicated our role is limited to raising volunteers by announcement. No getting on the phone as a priesthood leader and arranging the whole move if sufficient volunteers can't be raised through announcements. Definitely no truck or packing service. We also had the two week's notice rule in the "policy".

One Bishop I reported to also instituted a rule that we don't move pianos. He cited a person who injured himself doing so, and lost time and money from work. I also broke a rib moving a piano years ago.

[What's cool about the We Announce, you do the rest policy was that home teacher started taking responsibility for moves. Home Teachers started stepping up the plate and arranging the move for their HT families -- happened twice in the last six months. Other people I heard moved, and there was never an announcement or any involvement from the presidency or the home teacher; they arranged it all themselves. The Home Teacher then decided what level of support they would give to the family moving.

I felt that the fourth mission of the church had finally learned its place....and that the members had learned to be self-reliant.

Generally, I find that people who do their best to contribute to the Ward have no trouble raising volunteers to help them.

Now, I had a situation a year ago when I was working essentially alone as HPGL. I had just arranged four moves that month, and then a man from another Ward calls me, member of the Bishopric. Says there's an inactive lady who lives in our boundaries -- but not on our Ward list who was "thinking of coming back to Church". He wondered if I could get two guys and a truck to go over and help move her. She was moving to another city about 45 minutes away. I asked if she had the means to rent a truck, and he said "if she saved". I asked if she was handicapped or limited in her ability to call friends and such, and he said "No".

What would you do in this case? Provide the help or not?

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by mormonmusic

Just curious what everyone thinks about priesthood quorums moving others. In the last 25 years I've moved at least one person every couple months, often more in June, July and August. Once I arranged moves for four consecutive Saturdays in June.

I actually instituted a policy where quorums would no longer be responsible for arranging moves for people if they were moving within, or out of the Ward. Sure there were exceptions, like with elderly or ailing people, but in general, I told everyone our role was limited to making an announcement at Church. Therefore, moves with two-day's notice would no longer be expected of Priesthood leaders. And if announcements didn't arrange enough volunteers, then the person moving had to hop on the phone and start calling around. I actually got flack from the EQ on this, and they decided not to implement their own policy like this.

However, if people were moving into the Ward, it was a full-service move so they feel welcome and have time to get used to the culture of "we ask for volunteers at Church; you complete the list of volunteers and arrange the move" philosophy. Plus they wouldn't know anyone to call them for help anyway, so I felt a full-service move was justified.

Comments? Is this being too hard on the members? Robbing brethren of valuable service opportunities? Doing the right thing?

I do believe it is a good policy to enact. However, announcement would be done in a priesthood or relief society setting.

[rameumptom]

Yes, I've moved many in my day.

As it is, the good rumor has it that the upcoming Church Handbook is expanding the 3 pronged mission of the Church into 4. The fourth area will be: Aiding the poor and needy.

Very apt, given Pres Monson's timeless theme of service.

[Hemidakota]

[Added thought concerning the title] But adding a fourth mission of the church, trying not to change topic here, should be "PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE RETURN OF THE LORD."

[Vort]

I think moving people is a wonderful service opportunity that is too often exploited by some in the Church. But despite such exploitation, I think it's a nice thing and should continue, if possible.

I agree with the idea that it's moving, not packing, that is being done. A while back, our elders quorum announced that we would happily help to move any ward member whose stuff was already packed, but that we would not go to a move and pack boxes. I remember at least one case where the Relief Society spent half a day packing boxes, then the brethren came in and moved the boxes. But that was a special case. The rule should be that the people themselves do what they can.