BISHOPS STOREHOUSE

If a Church member gets into difficulties and all his/her personal means have been exhausted, he/she turns to the Bishop (ward leader). He knows his ward well and probably already knows the affected family's circumstances. That puts him in a position to evaluate the needs and available resources and help the family.

In parts of the world where Church members are concentrated in significant numbers, the Church maintains "Bishop's Storehouses" – like a supermarket but without a check-out desk. These storehouses were set up soon after the founding of the Church in 1830. There the needy person can, with the Bishop's permission, receive goods temporarily to meet his needs free of charge.

In other places, the Bishop has other means at his disposal to provide needed assistance. For example by buying food in a supermarket. The Bishop is instructed not to hand out cash. Generally, anyone who is being helped is given work to do which is appropriate to his/her capabilities.

This part of the welfare program, like all the others, is financed by the voluntary contributions of the members of the Church, who fast on one day a month and contribute the value of the meals they would have eaten for the poor and needy.