• Recent

• News Archive

• Newsletters

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Index

Perpetual Education Fund Confirmed

The Academy of LDS Dentists has had a long history of providing scholarship money for domestic as well as international dental students. In the past the international scholarship money was administered by the Church Educational System through the Adopt-A-Student Program. Since the instigation of the Perpetual Education Fund, such programs have been merged and consolidated with that fund. Several thousand dollars of scholarship money had been given to CES by the Academy but had not been distributed. In consultation with Elder Richard Cook, the director of Finance for PEF, it was decided that all current finds in CES be combined with PEF. This was proposed to the Academy of LDS Dentists Executive Committee on August 15, 2002, and the proposal was accepted. Formal written notification was sent to Elder Richard Cook, and the money was given to the Perpetual Education Fund. All of theses funds will be preserved and used for dental education and dental, vocational, technical training purposes for worthy members of the Church as deemed appropriate by Church administrators.

At this time there are May loans given to worthy church members in Latin America. Each student is carefully selected for worthiness by his/her bishop or branch president, show good scholarship, and is enrolled in an institute of religion program. The students even begin a minimum of five-dollar monthly payments to get in the habit of reimbursement while in school.

President Gordon B. Hinckley feels the Perpetual Education Fund is inspired by the Lord. It was established largely from contributions of faithful Latter-day Saints. He said, "From the earnings of this fund, loans will be made to ambitious young men and women, for the most part returned missionaries, so that they may borrow money to attend school. Then when they qualify for employment, it is anticipated that they will return that which they have borrowed together with a small amount of interest designed as an incentive to repay the loan". This program will help a substantial number and provide employment skills that enable them to rise out of poverty and help them to serve better in the Church. President Hinckley continues, "It will not be a welfare effort…but rather an education opportunity…. they will enjoy a wonderful sense of freedom because they have improved their lives not through a grant or gift, but through borrowing and then repaying….We have resting upon us a very serious obligation….Brethren, we need to care for one another more diligently. We need to make a little more effort to assist those who are down at the bottom of the ladder…. Let us open our hearts, let us reach down and lift up, let us open our purses, let us show a greater love for our fellowmen. The Lord has blessed us so abundantly. And the needs are so great." (See Ensign, May and November 2001). The Lord has said, "Inasmuch as ye have done t\it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25:40).

We are pleased as an Academy to be a part of this great effort, and we are very appreciative of any and all that help contribute. May the Lord bless you all. If you have any questions, please contact Scott M. Healey, 801-785-0584.

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Index