Charity

Charity is the pure love of Christ (Moroni 7:47), and is the essence of pure religion.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13: 2-3)

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accept the following definition of charity:

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (Moroni 7:45)

The motto of the Relief Society, the women's organization within the Church, is "charity never faileth."

In the meantime, the Church preaches a doctrine of self-reliance. It's many charitable programs [1] are oriented towards encouraging and assisting the needy to become self-reliant, which in turn enables them to provide charity to others.

The Church has a system of tithing to provide for the financial needs of the Church. Whereas the churches and synagogues of other faiths give credit for items donated for the construction of chapels and provision of pews and other accoutrement, the LDS Church does not. Donations are confidential, and no plaques or other recognition for donations are evident in the buildings.