Driving miles and miles along the damaged roads of the Ojika Peninsula in northern Japan, senior missionaries viewed eight devastated fishing villages. The March 11 earthquake and tsunami had literally peeled the asphalt off the road. But these missionaries had heard that beyond the destruction there was an isolated village with survivors who needed help, so they moved forward.

Soon they arrived in Kobuchihama. Amid the devastation and rubble, they found a convenience store where they learned the stories were true; survivors in the village had little to eat and were surviving on processed noodle soup and rice. In total, 356 people were living in the community's 20 remaining homes.

The missionaries, clad in yellow "Mormon Helping Hands" vests, found the village leader, told him they were from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and offered help. Although reluctant, the leader admitted his people needed food and clothing. In addition, he accepted the blankets the missionaries offered.

They returned two days later with fresh fruit, meat and clothing. The area welfare director, who traveled with the couple, sat down with the village leader, taught him about the Church's efforts to relieve suffering and increase self-reliance and offered hope.

"When we have eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that know and feel, we will recognize current needs of our fellow beings among us who cry out for help," said President Thomas S. Monson addressing the Coalition for Utah's Future on Oct. 25, 2000. "How do they eat — without food? How do they keep warm — without clothing, without shelter? How do they live — without means? How do they get well — without doctors, medicines and hospitals?

"I believe when we face our Maker, we will not be asked, 'How many positions did you hold?' but rather, 'How many people did you help?' "

Since 1985 — after a Church-wide fast for famine relief in Ethiopia — the Church has rendered $1.3 billion of humanitarian assistance in 178 countries around the world. In recent years that money has provided earthquake relief not only in Japan, but also in Haiti, Chile, Indonesia and Peru. It has also aided flooding and typhoon victims in Pakistan and the Philippines. And more than 25 years after the first Church-wide fast, famine relief continues in Ethiopia.

In addition, the Church has distributed 63,377 tons of food, 14,345 tons of medical supplies, 93,196 tons of clothing, and 11.1 million hygiene, newborn and school kits since 1985.

But perhaps the greatest asset the Church has in providing assistance and relief is its people. In 2010 alone, Latter-day Saint volunteers performed 777,381 days of donated labor at Church welfare facilities. And that doesn't include the volunteers — who like the senior missionary couple in Japan — don yellow "Mormon Helping Hands" T-shirts and vests and set to work in communities worldwide.

For example, more than 550 Church members converged upon Joplin, Mo., May 28 — reaching out to the 27 Latter-day Saint families and others in the community whose homes were destroyed by a horrific tornado. On May 7-8, more than 3,000 Church members provided tornado relief in Birmingham, Bessemer and Huntsville, Ala. And not long before that, 500 "Mormon Helping Hands" volunteers worked after a mud slide in Silverado, Calif.

Although the principle to look after the poor and needy has always been part of the Lord's Church, an official welfare program began 75 years ago at the height of the Great Depression in 1936, when priesthood leaders in the Salt Lake Valley gathered together to determine what they could do to collectively look after one another. The result was a program that would, during the next three-quarters of a century, expand to all corners of the globe and assist people of all faiths.

This year Latter-day Saints celebrate the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Church's welfare program, designed to care for the needy, teach principles of self-reliance and provide service opportunities.

"With great forethought and great vision, what was called the Church Security System was conceived during the depth of the Depression," said Presiding Bishop H. David Burton during a Church News interview. "For 75 years those principles that were enunciated very, very clearly at that time have been the bedrock principles by which the Church as an institution has gone forward to bless the lives of people that were in some kind of distress."

Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, said during a Church News interview that when members of the Church work together "in helping take care of the needs of others in any little way," something fills their souls.

"There is something in this welfare program that identifies us as disciples of Jesus Christ, when we are giving something from our heart. ... We are never going to get paid in money, but we will be paid in the feeling that we are being the Lord's hands and His heart in something that He needs us to do."

In essence, she explained, as Church members work together to help others, they become a "powerful, unstoppable force."

That's what is happening today in northern Japan and around the world.

In addition to sending water, food, blankets and fuel to refugee centers in the weeks after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Church is now undertaking efforts that will help the community rebuild. The Church has donated funds to each of the three prefectures impacted most by the disaster and to the Red Cross. In future days Latter-day Saint funds will be used also for education and employment initiatives and for an agricultural effort in which Church leaders hope to use a new technology to restore fields damaged by sea water.

Missionaries in the country continue to put on the familiar yellow shirts and dig out individual homes.

And we can't forget about the fishing village in Ojika Peninsula, where — thanks to senior missionaries who kept driving — families are still receiving weekly supplies and food.

"God bless all who endeavor to be their brother's keeper, who give to ameliorate suffering, who strive with all that is good within them to make a better world," President Monson said.