Doing Good in Conservative and Liberal Religion

When Christ prayed "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," He was expressing a hope that the Kingdom of God could influence the world to reflect more of the goodness, justice, peace, and holiness of heaven. The "social gospel" can be understood as the way we apply gospel principles to improve the world around us, to make it more like heaven. Among Christians, Latter-day Saints have a unique approach to the social gospel since our principles are derived from a scriptural canon that includes, but also goes beyond the Bible. In addition, we have a unique church history that includes consecration and a communal economy called the United Order -- along with a formal institutional welfare program in the present day, and courses on self-reliance, a humanitarian arm of the institutional church, and even a system to enable members to acquire university-level education at minimal cost. When we combine these resources with our congregation-level assistance and a community that provides support and opportunities for human connection, the Church presents a wonderful system for taking care of those in need and enabling upward mobility.