In the passing of President Marion G. Romney we lose the last of the great personalities involved in the inception of the Church Welfare Program.
President Romney is well-known for many outstanding activities other than participation in Church Welfare, but his work in that field marks him as one apart. In it he was, indeed, a pioneer, a constant advocate of the care of needy saints.Others before him laid the foundation, erected the structure, and charted the course. But in recent years, until his health prevented him from continuing, it was President Romney who watched over the remarkable success of Church Welfare.
Throughout the early years, he traveled from stake to stake annually, measuring the needs of the people, working out their welfare budgets, teaching the stake presidents administration and helping the bishops in their immediate care for the poor.
Never did President Romney allow anyone to forget our heaven-given responsiblity to the needy saints. It was from scripture that he learned this important lesson, and it was from these same scriptures that he taught the Church.
We can never forget his teachings from the revelations:
"Wo unto you rich men that will not give your substance to the poor. . . . (D&C 56:16.)
"Look to the poor and needy and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer. . . ." (D&C 38:35.)
"Inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor, ye will do it unto me. . . ." (D&C 42:31.)
The present status of the welfare system is largely due to the diligence of President Romney as he followed in the footsteps of his great predecessors.
But President Romney was great in other ways, too. He served for 13 years as a counselor to two Church presidents, President Harold B. Lee and president Spencer W. Kimball. Since November 1985 he has been president of the Council of the Twelve, although his deteriorating health prevented him from serving full time in that capacity.
President Romney was a man of great faith in prayer. Who has heard him pray, and has not been impressed? Indeed he spoke to the Lord as if the Almighty were present there before him. His faith was unfailing, and his works were in full harmony with his teachings.
He was a man who had a tremendous love of the Savior and bore a fervent testimony of His divinity, and he had a vast understanding of the Book of Mormon.
One of his greatest characteristics was his respect and love for his wife, Ida. He adored her, cared for her most tenderly, especially in her days of illness, and he never recovered from his grief at her passing. In his love for his wife he set a beautiful example for all of us.
No task was ever assigned to him that he did not accept with gratitude and cheerfulness. No work in the kingdom was ever less than a labor of love. He gave of himself. He gave his all. And who could do more?
His loyalty to his Brethren was a striking element in his life. His allegiance to God was an indelible trait that none could question.
Like the many great men with whom he associated in the Lord's ministry, President Romney recognized the need for unity and oneness among the saints.
This was his final plea, made in his last address that was read by his son, George J. Romney, to the general conference of the Church in April 1983.
In the address, President Romney said, "Surely we need this unity and this strength in this day in which we live. We have a great opportunity, the opportunity to rise heavenward, to gain the spirit of the gospel as we have never enjoyed it before. This we can do by developing among us that unity required by the laws of the celestial kindom.
"It is my conviction that, since we are engaged in the Lord's work, we can accomplish everything He requires us to do if we will but be united."
President Romney not only taught others the importance of unity - he exemplified it in his own life. Especially was this evident in his relationships with his Brethren in directing the welfare program. There was a beautiful oneness with them that also became a part of the program's operation Churchwide.
Unity and loyalty were basic to his way of life.
