How does a bishop guard against creating dependence on the part of the needy?

Answer:

When the present Church welfare program was instituted in 1936, the First Presidency declared that "The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 3). Later, they affirmed that "No true Latter-day Saint, while physically and emotionally able will voluntarily shift the burden of his own or his family's well-being to someone else" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1977, 124). Helping members to become and remain self-reliant is foundational to all Church welfare activities.

When administering Church welfare assistance, bishops strive to build the needy spiritually and to foster self-reliance. Key to this effort is assigning work to those receiving assistance. When members work for assistance, they remain industrious, maintain their self-respect, and increase their ability to be self-reliant.

"Sometimes we may feel that we are being generous in giving them much without their giving any service in return, that maybe we are generous and that we are kind; but we are really unkind. It works the other way. We are unkind if we teach people to take without giving, without doing what they can do within reason" (Spencer W. Kimball, welfare services meeting report, Oct. 1974, 18).

"A church dole would be worse than a government dole because it would fail in the face of greater light. Church practices portray more honorable aims, more glorious potential" (Thomas S. Monson, "Guiding Principles of Personal and Family Welfare," Ensign, Sept. 1986, 5).

"If an individual refuses to do his part by working according to his ability, then the bishop has the prerogative of withholding assistance until a reformation of attitude is achieved" (Marion G. Romney, "Role of the Bishop in the Church Welfare Program, Ensign, Nov. 1979, 95).