In 1984, the Benevolent Fund For Mormon Widows And Orphans authorized the
granting of a Charter to MORMON WIDOWS AND ORPHANS SOCIETY (MWOS)
and settled on terms of inclusion used to define a heritage that is 'Mormon'.
Society members can request Benevolent Fund grant assistance (for one's self or a non-member).
Any request to the Fund by anyone is given consideration.
Members of the Society promote the religious practice of Mormon funerals. The Society promotes
voluntary social security among fellow Mormons.
Members of the Society promote the religious practice of Baptism for the dead in Mormon temples. Every member stands ready to act as a proxy.
Mormon religious values, practices and culture are the heart and core of the Society but members are not also required to be members of any church.
The Society grew its roots in the tradition of the Mormon safety societies of 1822 to 1838. Scottish-American settlers (who worshipped with Sidney Rigdon and followed him into Mormonism) provided good organizational principles after the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society. Non-Mormons in Adams County, Illinois in 1838-1839 assisted Latter-day Saints refugee widows and orphans with money to travel to Nauvoo. A "Benevolent Fund" ( for Mormon widows and orphans ) distributed this money to families sorely affected by the anti-Mormon violence of the times. Later, Mormon widows and orphans of slain militiamen were assisted with money for travel to new Mormon communities. The Benevolent Fund For Mormon Widows And Orphans became obscure by the end of the American Civil War and was reconstituted in 1983 to operate in accordance with its founding principles to make grants to "necessitous" Mormon orphans and widows. It granted a Charter to MWOS in 1984 to establish a "society" of Mormons.
All requests for assistance will be considered in confidence.