How Does The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Serve The Poor?

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are 'to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church or in any other, or in no church at all, wherever he finds them.' (link)

In speaking of its charitable aid programs, the Church strives for balance, to both, 'do not your alms before men, to be seen of them' and, 'let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven'.  Even members of the Church frequently have little idea of the scope of the Church's humanitarian activities worldwide.

Humanitarian Services is just one of several welfare arms of the Church.  Since the Church began keeping track in 1985, more than $1.4 billion in cash and material assistance (to 2011) has been donated through this program, to over 178 different countries in need of humanitarian aid. 

The following video gives a brief overview of the Church's Humanitarian Aid program:

(Further videos on Church humanitarian aid efforts are available here - recommended.)

Where does the money come from to support Church humanitarian aid programs?

One hundred percent of the donations given to the Church’s humanitarian services are used for relief efforts. The Church absorbs its own overhead costs.  A portion of our tithing donations are also disbursed directly to humanitarian and welfare efforts. (link)

Do Mormons only help Mormons?

The Church's humanitarian program serves mostly those outside the Mormon faith - all those who face disasters or acute needs throughout the world. Additionally, more than 11,925 welfare and humanitarian missionaries volunteer their time and money to administer this aid every day. During times of disaster, Church facilities such as Church buildings are used as places of refuge, and local Church members assist humanitarian missionaries and the currently more than 80,000 proselytizing missionaries in providing immediate relief.

What are some these humanitarian aid projects?

Emergency Response: the Church has partnered in more than 200 major disaster assistance efforts, including the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2010 Chile earthquake, the 2010 Pakistan flooding, the 2009 Samoa tsunami, the 2009 Philippines typhoon, the 2009 Indonesia earthquake, the 2008 Ethiopia famine and many others. 

Neonatal resuscitation training: providing resuscitation training and equipment to health practitioners and organizations each year in countries with high infant mortality rates.

Clean water projects: working with local community leaders to provide access to clean water with wells and other water systems in countries where such access is unavailable.

Food production and nutrition initiatives: providing training to families and communities to increase productivity and self-sufficiency with home food production and nutrition training.

Wheelchair distribution: working in partnership with local organizations to provide wheelchairs to the disabled.

Vision treatment: providing equipment and training to local, qualified medical personnel to perform eye surgeries and prevent blindness.

Childhood immunizations: partnering with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to provide immunizations and vaccinations for measles, whooping cough and other conditions.

Atmit: food supplement to help those who are malnourished.


800,000 Christian refugees have fled their homes this month in Iraq. Is the Church doing anything to help these refugees?
(link)



Humanitarian Aid Related Links

Humanitarian Aid
Humanitarian Services
Humanitarian Aid and Welfare Services Basics: How Donations and Resources Are Used
Mormon Representatives Discuss Church Humanitarian Efforts at the United Nations

LDS Charities
LDS Philanthropies

By Sandy Munro