22.

Providing for Temporal Needs and Building Self-Reliance

22.0

Introduction

Members of the Church strive to “bear one another’s burdens … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:8–9).

Church members are also counseled to strengthen their own self-reliance through diligent work and with the help of the Lord. Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family.

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INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY EFFORTS

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22.1

Build Self-Reliance

With help from the Lord, members build self-reliance in the following ways:

• Develop spiritual, physical, and emotional strength.

• Gain education and employment.

• Improve temporal preparedness.

22.1.4

Temporal Preparedness

Members are counseled to become prepared so they can care for themselves, their families, and others in times of need.

Members increase their financial preparedness by:

• Paying tithes and offerings (see Malachi 3:8–12).

• Minimizing debt to the extent possible.

• Living within a budget.

• Saving for the future.

• Obtaining an appropriate education.

Preparedness also includes planning for emergencies. Members are encouraged to build both a short-term and longer-term supply of food, water, and other necessities.

22.2

Minister to Those with Temporal and Emotional Needs

The Lord’s disciples are taught to “love … and to serve one another” and to “succor those that stand in need of … succor” (Mosiah 4:15–16). Members strive to minister to those who have temporal and emotional needs. These needs may include food, clothing, housing, education, employment, physical health, and emotional well-being.

22.2.1

The Lord’s Storehouse

All the resources available to the Church to help those with temporal needs are called the Lord’s storehouse (see Doctrine and Covenants 82:18–19). These include members’ offerings of time, talents, compassion, materials, and financial resources to help those in need.

The Lord’s storehouse exists in each ward and stake. Leaders can often help individuals and families find solutions to their needs by drawing on the knowledge, skills, and service offered by ward and stake members.

22.2.2

The Law of the Fast and Fast Offerings

The Lord has established the law of the fast to bless His people and to provide a way for them to serve those in need. Members grow closer to the Lord and increase in spiritual strength as they live the law of the fast. (See Isaiah 58:6–12; Malachi 3:8–12.)

Fasting may be done at any time. However, members usually observe the first Sabbath of the month as a fast day. A fast day typically includes the following:

• Praying

• Going without food and drink for a 24-hour period (if physically able)

• Giving a generous fast offering

A fast offering is a donation to help those in need. When members fast, they are invited to give an offering that is at least equal to the value of the meals not eaten.

Members may give their fast offering and a completed Tithing and Other Offerings form to the bishop or one of his counselors. In some areas, they can also make their donation online.

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LEADER EFFORTS

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22.3

Pattern for Building Self-Reliance and Ministering to Those in Need

22.3.1

Seek Out Those in Need

The bishop has a sacred responsibility to seek out and care for those in need (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:112). Others who have an important role in this responsibility include:

• Ministering brothers and sisters.

• Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies.

• The bishop’s counselors.

• Other members of the ward council.

22.3.2

Help Members Assess and Address Short-Term Needs

Members strive to meet their basic needs through their own efforts and help from extended family. When this is insufficient, members may need help from other sources such as:

• Government and community resources (see 22.12).

• Church assistance.

Church assistance might include help with short-term needs such as food, clothing, housing, or other basics. Bishops may use fast offerings to respond to these needs. Where bishops’ orders are available, bishops generally use those to provide food and other basic goods (see “Bishops’ Orders and Referrals” in Leader and Clerk Resources [LCR]).

22.3.3

Help Members Build Long-Term Self-Reliance

Members may need ongoing support to address longer-term challenges. Education, vocational training, or other resources can help them build self-reliance and provide for their longer-term needs.

The Self-Reliance Plan helps members identify their strengths, needs, and resources. This plan should be used each time Church assistance is considered.

22.3.4

Minister to Those with Emotional Needs

Ministering brothers and sisters and ward leaders can be instrumental in helping members who experience emotional challenges.

22.4

Principles for Providing Church Assistance

With the help of the Lord, members seek to provide for themselves and their families.

Church assistance is intended to help members develop independence, not dependence. Any assistance given should strengthen members in their efforts to become self-reliant.

22.4.1

Encourage Personal and Family Responsibility

Leaders teach that individuals and families have the primary responsibility for their own well-being.

Before providing Church assistance, the bishop (or another leader or member he assigns) reviews with members what resources they are using to meet their own needs.

22.4.2

Provide Temporary Assistance for Essential Needs

The goal of Church assistance is to temporarily meet basic needs while members strive to become self-reliant.

Bishops should exercise good judgment and seek spiritual direction when considering the amount and duration of the assistance given. They should be compassionate and generous while not creating dependence.

22.4.3

Provide Resources or Services Rather Than Cash

If possible, the bishop should avoid giving cash. Instead, he should use fast offerings or bishops’ orders to provide members with groceries or services. Members can then use their own money to pay for other needs.

When this is not sufficient, the bishop may assist by using fast offerings to temporarily pay essential bills (see 22.5.2).

22.4.4

Offer Work or Service Opportunities

Bishops invite those who receive assistance to work or provide service to the extent of their ability. This helps members maintain a sense of dignity. It also increases their ability to be self-reliant.

22.4.5

Keep Information about Church Assistance Confidential

The bishop and other ward leaders keep confidential any information about members who may need Church assistance. This protects members’ privacy and dignity.

22.5

Policies for Providing Church Assistance

Church leaders should follow the policies outlined in this section when providing assistance.

22.5.1

Policies Regarding Recipients of Church Assistance

22.5.1.1

Assistance to Ward Members

Generally, members who receive Church assistance should live in the ward boundaries and have their membership record in the ward. Assistance can be given regardless of whether the member regularly attends Church meetings or follows Church standards.

22.5.1.2

Assistance to Bishops and Stake Presidents

The stake president’s written approval is required before a bishop may use fast offerings or approve a bishop’s order for himself or his family.

22.5.1.4

Assistance to Persons Who Are Not Members of the Church

Persons who are not members of the Church are usually referred to local community resources for assistance. On rare occasions, as guided by the Spirit, the bishop may assist them with fast offerings or bishops’ orders.

22.5.2

Policies on Using Fast Offerings

22.5.2.1

Medical or Other Health Care

Each Church area has established approval limits for using fast offerings to pay medical, dental, or mental health expenses.

For approval amounts and guidelines, see “Use of Fast Offerings for Medical Expenses.”

22.5.2.3

Repayment of Fast Offerings

Members do not repay fast-offering assistance they receive from the Church.

22.5.2.4

Ward Fast-Offering Expenditure Amounts

Bishops are not required to limit fast-offering assistance for ward members to the amount of donations collected within the ward.

22.5.3

Policies on Making Payments

If possible, payments should be made directly to the businesses that provide goods and services.

22.5.4

Policies on Payments That Would Benefit a Bishop or Stake President

When providing members with fast-offering assistance, a bishop may not use the funds to pay for goods or services in a way that would benefit him personally.

If a fast-offering payment for a member would benefit the stake president or a business he owns, Area Presidency approval is required.

22.6

Roles of Ward Leaders

22.6.1

Bishop and His Counselors

The bishop has a divine mandate to seek out and care for those with temporal needs (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:112). He delegates much of this work to the Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies. However, certain duties are performed only by the bishop. For example, the bishop:

• Determines the type, amount, and duration of any temporal assistance provided.

• Approves fast-offering assistance (see 22.4 and 22.5) and bishops’ orders (see 22.13).

• Personally reviews members’ self-reliance plans. He assigns other ward leaders to follow up on those plans as needed.

The bishop and his counselors have the following responsibilities:

• Teach the principles and blessings related to (1) caring for those who have temporal and emotional needs and (2) building self-reliance (see 22.1).

• Teach the law of the fast and encourage members to give a generous fast offering (see 22.2.2).

• Oversee the gathering and accounting of fast offerings (see 34.3.2).

22.6.2

Relief Society and Elders Quorum Presidencies

Under the direction of the bishop, the Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies have a key role in caring for those in need in the ward (see 8.2.2 and 9.2.2). These leaders teach ward members to:

• Minister to those in need.

• Live the law of the fast.

• Build self-reliance.

• Increase personal and family preparedness.

22.6.3

Ministering Brothers or Sisters

Assistance with spiritual and temporal needs often begins with ministering brothers and sisters (see 21.1). They report the needs of those whom they serve to their elders quorum or Relief Society presidencies in ministering interviews and at other times. They may share needs that are confidential directly with the bishop.

22.7

Role of the Ward Council

An important role of the ward council is to plan how to care for those in need and to help them become self-reliant (see 4.4). In discussing the needs of members, the council respects the desires of any who request confidentiality.

22.8

Role of the Ward Youth Council

One purpose of the ward youth council is to help youth become consecrated followers of Jesus Christ (see 29.2.6).

Under the bishopric’s guidance, the ward youth council plans ways to serve those in need in their ward and community.