"The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves.
Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle
of the lives of our Church membership."
(President Heber J. Grant, 1936)

The Church welfare program is based on the concept of self-reliance. Individuals and families are taught not to depend on others for support. The program is all embracing. It encourages members to develop self-reliance in several aspects of their lives:

Literacy and education
Career development
Financial management
Home production and storage
Physical health
Social-emotional and spiritual strength

Despite these preventative efforts, members sometimes fall on hard times. When that happens, the Church teaches that the responsibility for dealing with adversity lies first with the individual, then the family or extended family. Only when these resources have been used does the Church step in to provide further help. Welfare assistance from the Church is always regarded as temporary - to help people once again stand on their own feet. Members in need consult their local bishop (minister).

He knows the local congregation well, and probably is already familiar with the family circumstances. This puts him in the best position to be able to assess needs and help the family recover.

In some parts of the world where there are large numbers of members, the Church operates bishops' storehouses - similar to supermarkets but without cash registers. There, the needy can go with a signed bishop's order to shop for their needs. In other locations, the bishop provides alternative means of stocking the family's food cupboard such as buying from local supermarkets. In no case does the bishop hand over money. Generally, those receiving help are given a work assignment tailored to their abilities. The welfare program is financed through voluntary contributions by members of the Church who fast one day each month and donate the value of the meals missed for the care of the poor and needy. The average length of assistance is about four months, and is provided primarily to low income families and the elderly. The welfare program of the Church has operated since 1936. Its underlying principles have remained unchanged ever since.