March 26th, 2025, 3pm MDT
Beyond new numbers showing how the Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christ cares about those in need, the purpose behind such efforts and the desire to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
Leaders of the Latter-day Saint Church of Jesus Christ discussed some of their takeaways from the care of the church for those in need in a video taken in the Bishop’s Central Reservoir in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 25th.
Earlier that morning, a summary was released, showing that in 2024 the church spent $1.45 billion on caring for people in need, including 3,836 humanitarian projects, prompt support and product provision, and 6.6 million volunteer hours provided by members and missionaries of 192 countries and territories.
Host Irene Caso led the discussion and asked the leader questions.
The chairman of Gerald Casse said he was impressed to see how members of the church take care of those in need, as they follow two great commandments in order to love God and their neighbors.
“We want to make this world a better world to live in,” he said. This is done on a global scale, such as responding to natural disasters, raising hunger, and trying to help women and children, but this is also done locally.
“The most important part is what happens in our own community when we reach out to our neighbors,” Bishop Kasse said.
Relief Society President Kamille N. Johnson said the 2024 summary resonated with her as it spoke about how the church works to improve the well-being of women and children in the fields of child nutrition, mother and newborn care, vaccination and education.
“The church has been wary of looking for opportunities to lift up and celebrate women and children,” President Johnson said. “We know that when we celebrate women with education and information, families will strengthen, communities will strengthen, and the entire country will be lifted. And of course, when we invest in our children, we will invest in the future.”
Sister Christine M. Yi, the second counselor for the Relief Society presidency, said the summary “encourages my goodwill and compassion to action and encourages me to act in a way that helps those around me.”
There are global needs, but everyone has their own neighborhoods and homes as well. Sister Yee said she saw Relief Society sisters realising their needs and intervening to ask for help.
“I think we are doing the most influential humanitarian work when we deliberately see it and have the opportunity to serve those closest to us,” she said.
In the discussion, Brain Maxfield, managing director of welfare and independent services, discussed the lasting impacts seen in the 2024 summary.
He said, “To the point of Yee’s sisters, when I read it, I love seeing it saying, ‘What can I do?’ Now, I am motivated to look outside of myself more than ever, bless the lives of others, and follow the example of my Savior Jesus Christ. ”
He also mentioned the summary and emergency response efforts highlighted in the disaster era, how church members respond and bring friends to serve with them.
Bishop Kasse said that because Latter-day Saints serve each other, they will make positive differences in the world, increase peace and reduce division and conflict.
Regarding global causes, the church is adopting a new strategy, President Johnson explained by tying non-governmental organizations with government. Eliminating inefficiencies helps groups meet the needs of the most vulnerable people through collaboration.
In 2024, the church contributed a total of $55.8 million to a $55.8 million nonprofit organization to improve nutrition for women and children under the age of five in 12 countries. Sister Yee said the church hopes to learn from this co-model and expand it in other parts of the world where there is an opportunity to care for those in need as much as possible.
A full summary of 2024 on page 48 is available in 17 languages at Caring.churchofjesuschrist.org. The website also contains detailed information on how we serve our community and the church’s humanitarian efforts and initiatives. This church news article has a specific list of 25 ways to help women and children.
