Salt Lake City, Utah: Welfare Square

Welfare Square, identified by its distinctive white grain elevators, is several miles from Temple Square and is the center of the LDS church's welfare services: grain elevators, bakery, dairy processing, cannery, clothing and grocery stores, Bishop's storehouse, employment services, and packing of relief supplies. Many Mormons and non-Mormons think that the Church provides for its members. This myth started during the Great Depression. In late 1937, about 61 percent of people in Utah who were on federal relief (welfare) programs were Mormons, yet the Church claimed to be taking care of its own. In 1897, 106 regional Bishops' storehouses operated; by 1983, only 71 remained. [Source: John Heinerman and Anson Shupe, The Mormon corporate Empire. Boston: Beacon Press. 1985.] Click on each photo to see more.
 
Temple Square & grain elevators grain elevators sign for welfare services Deseret industries & thrift store
 
employment services inside employment services Bishop's storehouse & visitor center no work on Sundays!
bakery dairy farms cheese processing apple sauce: Deseret label, family canning, & relief product
 
Bishop's store: no cashier! mostly Mormon produce Deseret labels in Bishop's store clothing store
 
relief supplies newborn kits toys for children survival boxes for Mormons

 

Created by Ingolf Vogeler on 19 October 2003; last revised on 24 October 2007.