Church News - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Humanitarian Efforts

As disciples of Jesus Christ, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strive to follow the Savior’s admonition to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison (see Matthew 25:35–36).

The Church sponsors humanitarian relief and development projects around the world that benefit those of other faiths. These projects include emergency relief assistance in times of disaster and programs that strengthen the self-reliance of individuals, families, and communities.

Hundreds of full-time Church volunteers with skills and experience in education, agriculture, social work, business, and medicine serve throughout the world as part of these humanitarian projects.

The Church conducts humanitarian activities worldwide. From 1985 to 2007 Humanitarian Services provided more than $1.01 billion in total assistance to needy individuals in 165 countries.

  • Taking care of the poor: Church dedicates Bishops' Central Storehouse

    Before dedicating the Church's new Utah Bishop's Central Storehouse on Jan. 26, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf stood and expressed gratitude for "acts of love" that, some 65 years earlier, resulted in a shipment of food and clothing from Salt Lake City to his home in East Germany.
  • Pure religion: 'Never forget'

    Takao Osawa balanced himself as he walked around what was left of the cement foundation that used to be his home on the Oshika Peninsula in northern Japan. He pointed to the empty spaces and described the tsunami.
  • Church reaches out to disaster victims in Turkey, other nations

    The Church is sending blankets and other relief supplies in response to a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Van, Turkey, Oct. 23 — killing hundreds, trapping hundreds more beneath the rubble and injuring thousands.
  • Providing Atmit, hope

    We were on the shoulder of the Peruvian Andes near the Ecuadorian border but so far off the beaten path that not even Google Earth ventured to go there.