Topic

Caring For Those In Need

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seek to follow Christ’s admonition to help those in need. Jesus Christ taught His followers to give meat to the hungry and drink to those who thirst. His is a gospel that includes taking in the stranger, loving neighbors as ones's self, and visiting those who are sick or imprisoned. He taught that we are to love and care for each other, visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and lift up those whose hands hang down and whose knees are feeble.

 

In its work to care for those in need, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints calls upon all its resources, which include food production and processing, donation of used clothing, employment and social services, and the ability to purchase goods locally in many parts of the world. We sponsor relief and development projects in 179 countries. Assistance is rendered without regard to race, religious affiliation, or nationality and is based on the core principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance, and sustainability.

Largely run with volunteer labor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints works in cooperation with other charitable organizations and governments. More than one million man-days of labor are contributed yearly by volunteers in support of welfare initiatives.

Humanitarian services include emergency response to natural disasters. It may also be part of a longer-term effort to meet serious and more entrenched human needs, such as the need to alleviate disease.

Within hours of a disaster, the Church works with local government officials and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) to determine what supplies and food are needed. Materials are then immediately sent to the area.

Our primary community development programs include clean water, neonatal resuscitation training, vision care, wheelchairs, immunizations, food production, and other health programs.

The assistance we provide is made possible by generous donations of cash and in-kind materials from members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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