The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as the LDS Church) operates a vast, world-renowned welfare and assistance network. Funded primarily through local member donations known as “fast offerings,” these programs provide short-term emergency aid and long-term self-reliance support.
Immediate physical and material assistance
To obtain immediate physical or material assistance from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you must request it through your local congregation leader, known as the bishop. Unlike traditional charitable organizations, the Church does not use online application forms or centralized processing offices. All assistance is evaluated and approved at the local level (within the congregation or “ward”).
Steps to request immediate assistance
Locate your ward (local congregation)
Access the official online “Meetinghouse Locator” tool. Enter your exact address. The tool will identify the specific local congregation (called a “ward”) assigned to your neighborhood.
Contact the bishop
The locator tool will provide the meetinghouse address, Sunday service times, and often a phone number or contact link for the bishop. If no phone number is listed, you can visit the meetinghouse during Sunday services to speak directly with him or an assistant.
Complete a needs assessment
The bishop will meet with you privately. He will review your current income, urgent bills, and food situation. He uses this information to determine the best way the Church can assist you.
Receive the approved material assistance
For food and hygiene items: The bishop will complete a product order form. You will pick up the food directly from a nearby Bishop’s Storehouse.
For rent, utilities, or medical bills: The Church pays the service provider directly (e.g., the landlord or utility company). Cash is not given directly to applicants.
Essential Rules to Know
Open to everyone: You do not need to be a member of the LDS Church to receive food or emergency bill-paying assistance. Aid is based entirely on local needs and available resources.
No long-term commitments: Church assistance is designed to be a temporary safety net, not a long-term welfare program.
Focus on self-reliance: If your physical condition allows, the bishop might ask you to complete a small service project or help at a local Church facility (such as a storehouse or thrift store) in exchange for the assistance.
Job training and employment services
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers two distinct avenues for employment assistance: Employment Services (a free, global job placement resource open to anyone) and Deseret Industries (a paid on-the-job training program for individuals facing complex barriers to employment).
Church Employment Services (Free job placement)
This program operates as a community career center. It is completely free and open to the general public; in other words, you do not need to be a Church member to use it.
Personalized counseling: Job seekers work with a career counselor to create resumes, find job openings, and practice interview strategies.
Active job search groups: Peer support groups that meet daily via Zoom. Facilitators help develop networking skills and share available job openings.
Online workshops: Free virtual webinars focused on accelerating the job search, tailoring resumes, and mastering modern hiring processes.
Physical centers: The Church operates over 50 physical employment centers in the United States and Canada, offering computers, phones, and in-person workspaces.
Deseret Industries (Paid on-the-job training)
Deseret Industries (DI) is a chain of thrift stores that functions primarily as a vocational rehabilitation and job training center.
Paid work and experience: Associates are hired to work in a DI store; they receive a regular wage while practicing essential work skills such as teamwork, punctuality, and productivity.
Skills certification: During the program, associates can earn certifications in transferable skills, such as forklift operation, customer service, and cash register operation.
Development counselors: Each participant works with a specialized counselor to identify career interests and create a plan to secure long-term employment in the community.
Education funding: DI often helps cover tuition, trade school certifications, or vocational training classes for participants while they are enrolled in the training program.
How to enroll or access services
To use employment services (job placement): You can start immediately without a prior referral. Visit the official Employment Services portal to join an active job-search group or locate a physical center. You can also contact them via email at EmploymentServices@ChurchofJesusChrist.org or by calling 1-888-818-4484.
To enroll in Deseret Industries (paid training): Because these are paid positions, joining the DI training program requires an ecclesiastical referral. You should use the Meetinghouse Locator tool to find the LDS bishop of your ward; he will interview you and refer you to a local DI store if you meet the requirements.
Mental health and family support
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers emotional, mental health, and family support through structured community groups, professional counseling services, and specialized recovery programs.
LDS Family Services (Professional counseling)
This is the Church’s professional counseling division, staffed by licensed mental health professionals.
Clinical therapy: Offers short-term counseling for individuals, couples, and families facing depression, anxiety, grief, marital conflict, or behavioral issues.
Consultation services: Clinical professionals collaborate directly with local bishops to help assess a person’s psychological needs and develop a comprehensive recovery plan.
Access requirements: Unlike other Church programs, clinical services from LDS Family Services typically require a referral from the local bishop. Costs and subsidies: The services come at a cost, but for individuals facing financial hardship, the local bishop may authorize the use of Church welfare funds to subsidize or fully cover the expenses.
Family Services Addiction Recovery Program (ARP)
A free, confidential peer-support network for anyone wishing to overcome substance or behavioral addictions.
12-step model: Combines standard clinical 12-step recovery principles with spiritual concepts.
Support categories: Separate meetings are often held for different challenges, such as substance use, eating disorders, or pornography and behavioral compulsions.
Support for loved ones: The program includes “Support groups for spouses and family members” dedicated to helping family members cope with the impact of a loved one’s addiction.
No referral required: You do not need a bishop’s permission or Church membership to attend. Meetings are completely anonymous and open to the public. You can find local or virtual meetings on the official Addiction Recovery Program portal.
Emotional resilience self-reliance groups
These are peer-led, curriculum-based community support groups designed to prevent mental health crises through healthy coping mechanisms.
10-week course: Small groups meet weekly to study a course titled Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience.
Practical skills: Participants learn applicable psychological skills, such as stress management, cognitive restructuring (changing negative thoughts), setting healthy relationship boundaries, and overcoming anger or anxiety.
Community integration: The groups function as a peer support circle rather than therapy, helping participants realize they are not alone in their struggles.
How to access mental health support
For anonymous addiction support: Visit the Church’s Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) website to search for local in-person meetings or daily anonymous Zoom sessions.
For professional counseling or emotional resilience groups: Use the Meetinghouse Locator tool to find the bishop of your assigned local ward. He can enroll you in an upcoming emotional resilience class or issue a referral voucher for Church Family Services (LDS Family Services).
Educational Grants and Initiatives
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints manages global educational initiatives and financial grant programs to help individuals acquire in-demand skills and achieve economic self-reliance.
BYU–Pathway Worldwide (Low-cost higher education)
This initiative offers accessible, deeply discounted online higher education on a global scale.
Deeply discounted tuition: Tuition costs are significantly lower than at traditional universities, with additional automatic discounts available based on financial need.
Certificate-first structure: Students earn job-ready certificates (e.g., cybersecurity, project management, accounting) during their first year to improve immediate employment prospects, while progressing directly toward an associate or bachelor’s degree.
No exam requirements: Admission does not require a high school grade point average (GPA) or standardized test scores (such as the ACT or SAT).
Open to all: Church membership is not required to enroll, although non-members pay a slightly higher tuition fee, which remains heavily subsidized.
2. Perpetual Education Fund – PEF (Interest-free loans)
The Perpetual Education Fund is a unique financial aid program funded entirely by donations.
Targeted assistance: It offers interest-free or low-interest loans to help individuals pay for technical studies, trade schools, or professional certifications.
Repayment cycle: Once the student graduates and secures a higher-paying job, they repay the loan. Those funds immediately return to the pool to finance the education of another student in their community.
Geographic availability: The PEF is specifically restricted to developing regions (primarily parts of Latin America, Africa, the Philippines, and the Pacific) where there is significant economic need and local educational resources are scarce.
EnglishConnect (Language instruction)
EnglishConnect is a free or low-cost English learning program designed to expand employment and educational opportunities worldwide.
Workforce preparation: The curriculum focuses on developing English skills specifically for employment, professional networking, and higher education.
Peer-led groups: Courses are conducted in small, supportive community groups, combining self-study mobile apps with live conversation practice.
Bridge to academic programs: Completing the advanced levels of EnglishConnect meets the English proficiency requirement for direct admission to BYU–Pathway Worldwide.
How to apply or enroll
For online degrees and tuition discounts: You can apply online directly through the official BYU–Pathway Worldwide portal. Applications are processed online, and weekly local support groups are assigned digitally.
For English classes: Find active classes online or in your local community by visiting the EnglishConnect portal.
For technical and vocational loans (FPE): Since the FPE requires personal follow-up and a self-reliance plan, you must submit your application directly through a local church leader. Use the Meetinghouse Locator tool to find the bishop assigned to your ward, verify regional availability, and begin the application process.
How to Apply for or Request Help from LDS Church
To access local welfare programs, food provisions, or financial assistance, you must speak directly with a local leader.
Locate your bishop: Use the Meetinghouse Locator tool and enter your home address. This tool identifies the specific boundaries of your local congregation (called a “ward”).
Request an interview: Attend a local Sunday service or contact congregation leaders to request a meeting with the bishop.
Assessment: The bishop will privately assess your current financial, physical, or emotional situation to create a personalized self-reliance plan.
General support: For general assistance regarding the website or basic information about resources, you can call the welfare helpline at 1-855-LDS-HELP (1-855-537-4357).
