Harrisville, Utah--Wednesday night Harrisville welcomed its own welfare services center. In attendance was Bishop Edgley, who was presiding, Sister Barbara Thompson of the Relief Society Presidency, Sister Liffereth of the Primary Presidency as well as Richard McKenna the Director of Deseret Industries as well as many other dignitaries including Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey.
The new welfare service center houses a Distribution Center, Deseret Industries and LDS Family Services (adoptions only) and a Humanitarian Volunteer room, which will open at a later time. The opening of the Distribution Center has also been delayed. The building can also accommodate for growth and house a Bishops storehouse and a family home storage center when the need arises. It is located at 435 N. Wall Ave.
The Bishops storehouse, LDS Employment center and Family home storage center are still located about two miles away at 1525 Lincoln Avenue. In addition, the counseling portion of family services is located there.
Richard McKenna, Director of Deseret Industries, explained, “The purpose of Deseret Industries is to serve and support the church leaders in their callings.” This was a common theme of the speakers who took part in the service.
President Paul Spackman, Agent Stake President, Harrisville Deseret Industries, related, “the spirit of Christmas, which is the spirit of Christ is the spirit of this facility…as we serve, bless and lift others.”
Sister Deeann Dickson is the Director of Homecraft Department, which takes care of the embroidery, knitting, crocheting, quilting, and fixing of baby dolls also said, “We are always there to assist the Bishops; that is our calling.”
Sister Sessions of Lyman, Wyoming spoke of how caring for and fixing cabbage patch dolls has taught her family how to share with others.
Bishop Mark L. Richards related his experiences of being an overworked inner city bishop in Ogden and how Deseret Industries has helped so many people in his area. He further stated: “as we donate articles, as we volunteer, this pays for the assistance that these people need.”
President Houtz, Agent Stake President, Family Services, had asked Elder Glenn L. Rudd, formerly of the seventy, who was in attendance, what he would like to tell the people. He said he had been to all of the dedications of the Deseret Industries since their inception in 1938 and wondered what President Harold B. Lee and President Grant would think now. President Houtz went on to say that “the work of our God centers on families.”
Richard C. Edgley said that in traveling as a church employee with a companion in South America, he learned a great lesson. He and his companion had gone to a restaurant and this young man was going around to each table begging for money and most people were just ignoring him. He came to their table and his companion took all the change out of his pockets and talked with the boy and asked him questions about his family. The young man went to other tables after that and everyone gave him money. He then asked, “Aren’t we all beggars?”
Many people that were attending were excited that the store was going to be opening soon A few expressed concerns for those who are closer to the old store and how much they rely on the services it provided. They hoped that they would still be able to make it to the new location, which is three miles away.
