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Church members are encouraged to make regular financial contributions to the church through the leader of the local church unit, usually a bishop. The combined contribution can include tithing, fast offerings, and other humanitarian donations, and is delivered to the leader on a "convenience" basis
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While administering to the needs of the poor through use of the fast offering funds, each bishop is also counseled to encourage individuals and families to become self-reliant through reducing debt, seeking work opportunities or improved income through education if needed, and paying tithes and
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and to give the money they save by not eating two meals to the church; those who can afford to be more generous are encouraged to give more than simply the money saved as a fast offering. Members may also choose to fast and donate fast offerings more than once per month.
150:.) However, it is claimed by the church that fast offering funds are primarily available to the bishop to distribute to those in need in the area where they were collected, but that any excess (or deficiency) is shared with the rest of the church, first on a
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There is no requirement to make any financial donation to fast offerings or any of the church's other funds in order to maintain one's membership; such donations are encouraged but are not mandatory.
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first settled in the western United States in 1847, LDS Church leaders encouraged members to perform their fast on the first
Thursday of each month, and to donate the food thus saved to their
127:) are often assigned to pass by members' residences to inquire if they can convey any fast offerings to the bishop. In some areas, members may also pay fast offerings on the Internet.
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Bishops are instructed by church guidelines that they have "a divine mandate to seek out and care for the poor (see D&C 84:112). It is not enough to assist only when asked."
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offering resources, and is usually assisted by other local church leaders to identify individuals and families to receive assistance and to disburse the resources.
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No publicly available accounting of fast offerings exists. (The LDS Church does disclose its financials in the
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Donations from fast offerings are not used for the same purposes as those monies given through
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305:"Questions about Coping Financially: Welfare Services Suggests Some Answers"
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LDS Church, Aaronic
Priesthood Manual I, Lesson 4: "The Law of the Fast".
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offerings to receive temporal blessings from the Lord as promised in
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THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (GREAT BRITAIN)
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255:. Cra-arc.gc.ca (2008-11-10). Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
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59:. This food was collected in small buildings called "
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295:(Salt Lake City, Utah: LDS Church, 2010) §5.2.3.
43:Members are encouraged to fast once a month on
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