"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul; we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." (Italics added).

-The 13th Article of Faith

These simple yet eloquent words give us a pattern for living a Christlike life. They incorporate a lot of concepts. To become truly compassionate, we must be encompassed by these virtues. Human beings have the ability to feel empathy and compassion and to act on their feelings. These concepts are the foundation of Humanitarian Aid. When we are living these principles, we more easily see a need and work to fulfill that need.

Humanitarian Aid is important work. The church has organized and diversified Humanitarian Aid in such ways that all members can participate on a personal or family level, as a ward family, or as part of the great humanitarian family of the world church. This article will discuss some of these avenues.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides many services in the world today. Along with providing money to those in need, and those who are trying to survive catastrophic events, the Church has organized programs in several distinct areas to provide goods and services to those in need.

Fast Offerings

Fast offerings are first used to help those in the ward and stake where the members reside. Bishops may use these funds to provide food, shelter, clothing, and other life-sustaining aid to those in need (D&C and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 17: The Law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast, Purpose, 93).

For many raised in the Church, fast offering is as much a memory as a principle. From early childhood seeing parents pay fast offerings generously, it is instilled as a part of life. For converts to the gospel, it sometimes seems a miraculous concept. Giving in advance for the express purpose of taking care of the needy is such good management that giving abundantly is usually not a problem.

President Gordon B. Hinckley said this about giving a generous fast in the April General Conference of 1991.

"Think … of what would happen if the principles of fast day and the fast offering were observed throughout the world. The hungry would be fed, the naked clothed, the homeless sheltered. Our burden of taxes would be lightened. The giver would not suffer but would be blessed by his small abstinence. A new measure of concern and unselfishness would grow in the hearts of people everywhere."

Missionary Service

Although service missions are offered, this section will deal primarily with the service rendered by full-time proselyting missionaries. Andrea Sorensen, who served in the Independence Missouri Mission says service became a joy.

"We were asked to give service each week. It was not a hardship," Andrea said. "All missionary work is service, but there’s something to be said for rolling up your sleeves and getting personally involved in helping your fellow beings."

Andrea was able to serve in many ways during her mission from helping less actives with home improvements to cleaning old cemeteries to visiting sick during Christmas time.

"It was actually a wonderful missionary tool. Many times we chose to serve the less-active members of our ward...Heavenly Father has a wonderful way of letting you know where to go and what kind of service to give."

Missionaries that are in areas of need or disaster pitch in as well. Currently missionaries serving in the area are helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Southern US. Many thousands of people are displaced and the missionaries are doing whatever is needed.

Youth

The youth of the Church have a wonderful capacity to give service. Their exuberance and enthusiasm can make the dullest task fun. Perhaps this is why service is emphasized in our Young Men and Young Women’s auxiliaries. Inspired and insightful leaders direct their efforts. In the Aurora Utah First Ward, service projects have included yard work, patching a leaking chimney for a widow, changing tires, caroling at Christmas time and preparing and sharing food. The recipients of their good works are pleased to see the youth learning and grateful for their service.

Relief Society

The name says it all. It is an organization devoted to the "relief" of humankind. The Prophet Joseph Smith had this to say concerning Relief Society:

"[The Relief Society] will fly to the relief of the stranger; they will pour in oil and wine to the wounded heart of the distressed; they will dry up the tears of the orphan and make the widow’s heart to rejoice" (Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 4:567).

There are many areas in which the sisters of the church, united by the Relief Society, give humanitarian service. Visiting people, assessing needs, fulfilling needs, through prayer, teaching, empathy and providing goods and services. The Relief Society is there in good times and bad. Because the Lord’s house is a house of order, His works must be carried out in an orderly, or organized fashion. The Relief Society, divinely inspired, intricately organized, functions as a device of mercy. All are focused on the goal of "doing good to all men." From helping to provide for individual families needs, to sending funds and materials (such as school or hygiene kits) donated by the sisters in their wards, the Relief Society is attending to the great call for help throughout the world.

All who want to participate in the humanitarian aid effort, can. If you are unsure how or where to give time, money or talents, check with your local Relief Society leaders or contact the Red Cross. They are always accepting help. Visit the church website and navigate to the newsroom and provident living pages or visit the Humanitarian Service Giving Site.

Humanitarian Aid:
How You Can Help

> How the Church is Helping With Katrina

>Church's Humanitarian Aid Giving Site

Calling 1-800-525-8074(for credit cards) or 1-801-240-7688 (for checks).

Send a check to:

Emergency Response Fund, Welfare Services
50 East North Temple Street, Room 701
Salt Lake City, UT 84150

> Info on Preparing Hygiene Kits

> American Red Cross

I Fit Service Into
My Life & My Heart
By Connie Sorensen

BYU Women’s Conference was held at BYU in Provo, Utah on April 28 & 29 , 2005. I had always wanted to attend, but could never manage to fit it in. This year it worked out perfectly. My daughter took a couple of days off work so that she and I could go. We did it all from singing in the "Instant Choir" to listening to some of the most wonderful and helpful talks and workshops I had ever heard.

A big part of the evening festivities was to be the Humanitarian Aid projects. They had them going all during the conference. There were many kinds of projects, but the mass projects would be done on that first evening. We looked over the list of choices carefully. As a visually impaired individual, I was concerned that I participate in a project that I would be an actual asset and not be some kind sister’s babysitting project. We had tentatively decided to assemble packets for nonprofit organizations. When we arrived where these events were to be held, it was pouring rain. As we tried to hurry to get where we were going we got lost, of course.

Sweet sisters greeting people at the Smith field house, invited us to come in there, even leading us through a staff entry. They were assembling humanitarian aid kits from materials donated from merchants. I wasn’t sure I could do it, but the sisters in charge had no such worries. They led us to a table, explained to the sisters in charge that I was mostly blind and they set us to work. I stayed in the same station and began stuffing hand towels into the zip-lock bags.

The sisters near me were vivacious, and we entered into a wonderful conversation. I felt the true spirit of the project we were doing as I stood there, practically dripping wet, in that crowded, noisy room. I couldn’t see the faces of the women and girls around me but as I listened to them open their hearts and share a part of themselves with people they will probably never meet again. I was overwhelmed. We assembled thousands of hygiene kits, while others assembled similar numbers of school kits, newborn kits and children’s activity kits, handmade cards and information packets.

As we listened to the statistics in the closing session of the conference, awe settled over the room. We had worked together, had a great time doing it, and had completed items that would be used all over the world in all kinds of situations. It is an experience that I will never forget and I certainly can’t wait to "fit" women’s conference into my schedule in 2006.