How does the LDS welfare system avoid going bankrupt?

The LDS Church welfare system is more than just handing money and food out to people. It's purpose is to help people gain financial independence and so for most people it's a temporary situation. Members receiving assistance counsel with the bishop first and he determines whether or not they should receive assistance and what type of assistance they should receive. Members are required to look at their finances and cut out unnecessary expenses to lesson their dependence on the Church. Sometimes it's determined that with better money management the person doesn't actually need assistance.

When it's determined that someone does need help, it's with the understanding that the person needs to be actively working to improve their financial situation. Many are signed up with the Church's employment services to help them find employment or better employment. Some people are encouraged to go back and get more education.

Often, instead of paying bills for people, the church places food orders for families with the bishop's storehouse. People then use the money they would have used on groceries to pay outstanding bills. That's the most common way people are helped.

I understand there are sometimes people who join the church for the purpose of scamming it for welfare, but from what I'm told, they don't often stick around when they find out that the way the program works is the church doesn't give out cash, but instead, writes checks for their bills. The fact that they're required to be actively doing something to get off welfare in order to receive welfare, is also a deterrent.

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RE :How does the LDS welfare system avoid going bankrupt?

I know that the LDS church has an extensive internal welfare system and that it brings in substantial revenue from the tithing system that it more or less imposes on devout members of the church, but how does it avoid going bankrupt with its welfare system? I realize that the church has a strong work ethic, but in any large population there are always losers, scammers, and fraudsters. How does the church ensure that slackers do not drain the welfare system dry? What checks and balances are in place to ensure that welfare goes only to those who need it, and not just to those who ask for it?

1 following 9 answers

Lds Welfare

I moved to Utah when the house I was living in in North Carolina was foreclosed. I had to give up about half of my belongings and leave, and I had no where to go.

The company I worked for was supposed to have a position for me when I moved out here--suprise, suprise--when I arrived and checked in with them, the position had been deleted.

I lived in a hotel room with my three dogs, not knowing what I was going to do or where I was going to live.

I went to the transient bishop downtown for help and after a couple of phone calls, within about 10 minutes, I had a job at another company that was comparable to where I had been--actually, the competition. I wasn't my dream job but it paid ok and I worked there until I could get back on my feet. I didn't ask for money or food but I am sure that I would have been hooked up with something if that's what I needed.

Like others have said, the church welfare system in not about giving hand-outs; it's about helping people be self-sufficient. Work is the essence of life, and while it is not always enjoyable, it is what makes us happy in the end. This is what the church teaches--you get out of life what you put into it.

The Welfare System is supported by Fast Offerings. The Bishop interviews anyone asking for relief, and determines what is needed, and no more. Members are asked to go to their family first - the family should take care of their own members. If this fails, then they go to the church. Funds do not support an extravagant lifestyle; a telephone is considered extravagant. The Bishop then assigns work; the member must do something to serve the church. Above all, the member must be a full tithe payer, even when on church welfare. 10% of whatever they do earn, must go to the church. Con artists are just too lazy to stay on the program long. Still, the church can be amazingly generous, when needed.

One of the biggest thing the Church has in place is that, unless you are talking emergency relief, the Church does not give handouts out. They will give the individual an opportunity to do something productive and then they will help them. There are exceptions to this but that is generally the way it works. There is also Bishops who are given inspiration from God on how to help those under their care.

Here is a video that talks about the central operating and organizational point to our welfare system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHOl9QwHsDc

you've got some good answers here from rrosskopf, mormon4, and elsie.....I wanted to address fact check (who obviously didn't).....

you are incorrect sir. in my ward alone - I know of several who have received help for 2-5 or more years - with food, with house payments, with utilities.....and never once were they turned away or made to feel inadequate for needing some help.

it is true that the less people are able to give due to economy hits on the individual - there will be less available to help. the order is self, family, church. government is available by choice - if one qualifies for such and they are available in ones area.

in the area where I live I work with social services - and I can truly say that without the LDS church we would be up a creek....they are able to help more quickly and in more areas than any other available help program out there. in fact - it is one reason I began investigating the LDS religion in the first place.

welfare helps comes from individual fast offerings made by members....it does not come from tithing - nor have anything to do with tithing. nor does it (or tithing for that matter) have anything to do with business ventures conducted by the LDS holdings - like the mall you mention (which BTW was badly needed in downtown SLC and has been acclaimed by city authorities for 'bringing new life to downtown areas'). the business things are a completely different entity AND all pay taxes just as any privately owned business does.

you really ought to "check your facts"

One must talk to the bishop of their ward to get a food order for the Bishop's storehouse, or a card to go to the local grocer. One must also talk to the Relief Society president who helps you work out a menu for the next two weeks. If the bishop thinks you are taking advantage of the system, he might refuse you the help. Usually he will try to find help elsewhere. The whole system is geared towards making one SELF sufficient.

Since they would not be governed by a lot of the same rules government is, I imagine they could be a lot more invasive in a person's life.

I'm sure they could have other members of the congregation spend a lot of time with folks 'encouraging' them back to work.

Something we could study to see if any concepts can be put into the regular system to ease the burden.

Simple.

THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints does not go into debt to banks. Since THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints is never under the thumb of the banks, by definition, THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints can not go bank...

rupt.

Also THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints does not attempt to support idleness for the sake of gathering votes to then gain enough political power to launch foreign wars against peaceful foreign indigenous populations who just want to be left alone...

yet the United States government attacks them anyway so that the Bankers and the crony-capitalist corporations can take all the stuff that these people have, especially their natural resources, like oil and so forth.

Welfare for American people, leads to genocide for innocent Non-American people, because with the votes that welfare gets the politicians, this gives them the keys to the military industrial complex of the Western World, which they can use to steal all the stuff from people from foreign nations.

However, THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints has far different aimes and intentions. The objective of THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints is to give a hand up to those in the World who need a hand up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfx9djIqVCg

To help people get an education, not to wallow in poverty, when they could be living a more prosperous life for themselves and their families, if they had a little help from a source that they would promise to pay back, but would not be legally obligated to pay back, is the true intentions of THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints.

THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints is all about happiness and independence and prosperity, not Hell Fire Missiles reigning down on hapless girls and boys playing in third world countries, because their swing set happens to lie above a huge underground sea of exceedingly valuable oil.

THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saint is led by Jesus Christ, and by the principles of Jesus Christ. Not by a corrupt federal government and by a Banking Cartel that controls that wicked and absurd form of Government.

As such THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints is on Earth to bring certain life and righteousness, not to bring about death and wickedness.

THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints is all about righteousness and goodness and hope and helping people and celebrating life not the sins of the World. Simple as that.

God bless.