What kinds of assistance does the Church normally not provide?

Answer:

The Church helps needy members by providing them the goods and services necessary to sustain life. It does not provide members the means to maintain affluent living standards. Members who are temporarily unable to provide for themselves may need to alter their standards of living until they are able to provide fully for themselves. Bishops do not loan fast offerings to members, and members are not required to repay welfare assistance. Bishops normally do not use fast offerings to pay off members' consumer debts or obligations incurred in business failures or speculative ventures. As always, it is left to the bishop to discern what is to be given in the form of Church assistance.