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Irreversible stunting of child brain development results from the chronic undernourishment of children between birth and age 5. The Liahona Children’s Foundation targets helping children in this age range by providing critical nourishment in order to minimize the effects of poverty in the developing world. In this episode I talk with Robert Rees, who is one of the founders of the Liahona Children’s Foundation, about the genesis of the LCF and how the LCF functions. After our interview Brian Kissell and I walk through the donation process to hopefully clear up any confusion on how that works. Join with us!!!
Here are additional links about our current efforts and any information you might want to know so you can contribute:
Addressing Malnutrition in the Modern Church: The Work of the Liahona Children
Addressing Malnourishment among Latter-day Saint Children in Colombia
For those who contribute via a recurring donation there is not a space to earmark your donation to the “Ta Khmau” stake. In order to make sure your contribution is counted in the RF cause please email shaelaavery@liahonachildren.org and she will ensure that your donation is directed to the Ta Khmau account.
I believe that Bob Rees is such a great example. So many of us can confidently point out the problems and issues regarding the LDS church, but it is much more difficult to actually make a positive difference in the world as individuals. The founders of LCF saw a concern and issue that needed to be addressed, and instead of complaining that the LDS church does not do enough, they created an organization to help with the problem. I am extremely inspired by what they are doing, and hope that many more of us can act in these ways when we see difficult issues. I would argue that there is value in critique, but perhaps more value in actually getting things done.
Bob, what you are doing is wonderful, but so sad that it is even necessary for the world's second richest church, one that spends billions on real estate and business investments.
I found this to be an appalling statement –
"A child whose malnutrition is address is much more likely to go to school, to get secondary training, more likely to go on a mission, much more likely to find good employment, to make a good marriage decision, to be a relief society president or bishop or other leader; and then in the course of their lifetime to pay back in tithes and fast offerings many many times the $300 that was invested in them. …..If you look at the return on investment, it is an enormous return on the investment in money."
Whether those children go on to pay tithing (which is a sickening and un-Christian burden on the poor, especially for a church with more money than it knows how to spend and launder). And how can you even HOPE that these poor people would pay tithing to the ultra-rich church that refused to help them in first place? The LDS church could eliminate all malnutrition in the church with pocket change, but has made it very clear through their actions that they are more interesting in amassing mammon that serving members as Christ would have done. I was also appalled at your admiration that 50% of them pay tithing, making them poorer, to a filthy rich church ($70BILLION in assets) that does nothing to help them in return.
In your closing remarks, you said "We are the church" If this is true, then it is the responsibility and stewardship of all members to DEMAND that the leadership stop spending billions on real estate and use that money to help people. It is the stewardship of members to demand that leadership STOP telling poor members to let their children go hungry to pay tithing, and further, to define tithing honestly as 1/10th of Increase, which is NOT income. Hold the brethren accountable for their greed.
Tithing reform is sorely needed
I love the insight into the workings of the church that someone like Brother Rees experiences and can reveal. It gives me reason to trust that our leaders are striving to do very good things, as I always believed growing up. I wish there were clearer windows into these workings available to more members.
With that aside out of the way, it's amazing to hear how much the Liahona Children's Foundation is doing so efficiently. This podcast is definitely worth listening to.
I agree with this 100%. I was getting ready to donate to this project until I heard this podcast. If one of the missions is to get an ROI on these people and that's what it takes to get the church on board with it, then forget this organization. I'd rather donate to a more Christian charity.