Caring for Those in Need

Brothers and sisters, Aloha!

It is an absolute joy and privilege to be back in a place that I love and where there is a special feeling from the moment you step off the airplane.

I haven’t lived or studied in Hawaii, like all of you, but I have visited many times. I visited in college while I was playing volleyball against the University of Hawaii, on vacations with family, and during various church assignments. And it feels the same every time. It’s the spirit of Aloha, is very real, and you never want to leave. And you exemplify that spirit.

BYU–Hawaii is a special place. You come here from across the Pacific and around the world, you bring different cultures, and languages, and experiences. Yet, despite all those differences that may be there, you are unified by your faith in Jesus Christ and your desire to become disciples who bless others and who strengthen the world around you. Thank you for all that you do and who you are.

My message this morning is divided into three sections:

FIRST: A brief overview of the role of the Presiding Bishopric and how we support the four divinely appointed responsibilities we have as members of the Church. I mentioned this a little bit about the Bishopric because I think the Presiding Bishopric is one of the best kept secrets in the Church. No one has any idea what we do. And so you’ll have a better idea than 99% of the members of the Church when we’re done today;

SECOND: A deeper dive into the divinely appointed duty, to care for those in need; and

THIRD: How this applies to you.

Now, the Presiding Bishopric is one of three “presiding councils” of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, obviously including the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. [1] As a Bishopric, we report weekly to the First Presidency, and we have the scriptural duty of “administering all temporal things,” which includes responsibilities for items such as:

• The global humanitarian and welfare efforts of the Church;
• For the design and construction of temples;
• For construction and maintenance of meetinghouses;
• For providing printed and online materials, such as scriptures and magazines;
• Responsibility for producing the sacred clothing that you wear in the temple;
• For all temporal or technology aspects of the Church;
• And finally, we have responsibility for all Church finances and investments.

In other words, how your tithes and offerings are cared for and used, to ensure that the resources are available to accomplish the Lord’s work all over the world. [2]

Now occasionally, questions are raised about Church Finances: Questions such as, “Are Church funds managed well?” Questions such as, “Should I pay tithing and offerings if the Church has sufficient resources?”

When these questions come up, I think of a conversation I had with one of my adult daughters. She said, “Dad, I pay my tithing because it’s a commandment, and I’m blessed for my obedience, blessings that I need. It has nothing to do with how much money the Church might have.” She then continued, “If there are problems with how those tithes and offerings are managed, that’s on your head, not mine.”

Well, her simple response captures an important truth. Tithing is not about money. It’s about faith in the Lord and a desire to keep His commandments.

As someone, and as a Bishopric, who has responsibility for how these resources are handled, I can assure you that those who oversee the funds of the Church are deeply mindful that the offerings represent the sacrifice and faith of members all over the world, from the wealthiest member of the Church to the widow’s mite.

Now, while we draw upon professional expertise to allocate and invest Church funds, we also seek inspiration from the Lord on how they can be used to further the mission of the Church which is, of course, the ultimate purpose of Church financial resources. And that is to prepare the way, and a people, for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

President Oaks shared an experience from his childhood that beautifully illustrates the blessing that can come to individuals and families who faithfully keep this commandment. Let’s watch this from President Oaks.

VIDEO
“During World War II, my widowed mother supported her three young children on a schoolteacher’s salary that was meager. When I became conscious that we went without some desirable things because we didn’t have enough money, I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: ‘Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without the blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing. When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless us, and we must have those blessings if we are to get along.’” [3]

So, brothers and sisters, I won’t say much more about tithing at this point. Just to bear my witness of the truthfulness of this commandment and how it is a blessing from the Lord. That He has given us an opportunity to receive the blessings associated with the payment of an honest tithe. I’m grateful for that commandment.

Now, another aspect of Church finances has to do with:

Those divinely responsibilities are:

• First, living the gospel of Jesus Christ;
• Second, uniting Families for Eternity;
• Third, inviting all to receive the Gospel; and
• Fourth, caring for those in need.

Church resources are necessary to accomplish each of these sacred duties.

For example:

This includes education, for example, such as the schools and universities which are supported by the Church, as well as seminaries and institutes of religion all over the world. There is a significant cost associated with supporting these educational institutions, an effort actually that is well worth the cost! Graduates of Church schools, like yourselves, head out into the world into a variety of professions, providing tremendous service and shining Christ’s light in the communities where they live.

Now, another aspect of “living the gospel” includes providing meetinghouses for the growing global church membership. As you can imagine, the approximately 22,000 meetinghouses around the world are revenue consumers, not revenue producers, with a significant cost in the construction and upkeep.

And finally, virtually everything associated with a distribution center or access on the Gospel Library and Tools apps is connected with “Living the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The second, uniting families for eternity refers to making Houses of the Lord accessible to more and more of God’s children, in addition to the FamilySearch efforts which provides names of ancestors that can be taken to the temple for saving ordinances done by proxy.

The growth in temples may seem normal to you, but the period we live in is anything but normal. For example, in 1984, forty-two years ago, when I was 25 years old and Carol and I were married in Los Angeles Temple, in 1984, there were 31 operating temples. 19 of the 31 were in the United States, with only 12 in other parts of the world. Today, now counting temples that are in operation, in design, or under construction, for example, there are 27 temples in Mexico alone, 14 in the Philippines and 17 in the rest of Asia. We are currently on pace to have over 400 Houses of the Lord in the near future, which will bring sacred and essential ordinances closer to God’s children everywhere including in Honolulu.

I had the chance to go and visit the temple site. I understand that it's the worst kept secret in the Church where the temple site is, but it has not been announced by the First Presidency, so I’m not going to announce it either. But, we will have that site. There is a beautiful site in Honolulu. There’s this site in Lahaina, in Maui, that you’re aware of. The Kona Temple is being refurbished, and of course you have the gorgeous temple here in Laie. And so, that same thing is happening all over the world.

So, the next is inviting all to receive the gospel. This describes our global missionary efforts, currently supported by more than 90,000 missionaries, serving in over 500 missions. [4]

Actually in the MTC not too long ago, we were there and more than half of the missionaries at the MTC in Provo, Utah were sister missionaries. That hadn’t happened and I don’t know if that ever happened before.

Well, Church resources help make this sacred work possible. These resources help ensure that missionaries can travel to their assignments. They are housed in thousands of apartments all over the world, and they’re given the resources to teach the gospel effectively. Church reserves also support missionary training centers where missionaries deepen their understanding of gospel doctrine, and receive language training and teaching skills from hired instructors as they prepare to serve. I saw that Ramona served her mission in Fukuoka, Japan and Owen served his mission in Anchorage.

Well, I know many of you have served, or will serve missions, taking the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. You know that both the friends who are taught and the missionaries who share their love for the gospel are greatly blessed and often transformed by the experience.

In 2025, so last year, over 380,000 people were baptized and confirmed members of the Church. [5] This year already, those baptisms are up to 20% over what it was last year. And so this year, it’s possible to have somewhere between 450 and 500,000 baptisms. It’s a remarkable thing that’s taking place. Through the faith of Church members, through careful stewardship of sacred resources, and most importantly, through the blessings of the Lord, this work continues to accelerate across the world. One other example, on the continent of Africa, there are three areas. This year in Africa alone, they expect over 120,000 baptisms. It’s a remarkable thing that is taking place all over the world.

The last of the four divinely appointed responsibilities is caring for those in need. And this will be the focus for the rest of my remarks. Once again, caring for those in need. A similar message is being shared at BYU in Provo, at BYU–Idaho, Institutes of Religion at UVU in Provo, Orem, at the University of Utah, and Utah State.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, this is one of the primary responsibilities of the Presiding Bishopric: that is to oversee the global humanitarian and welfare efforts of the Church. In this capacity, we work in close partnership with the Relief Society General Presidency.

Our role, as Church and individual members, can be summarized in two scriptural passages, which remind us of the great example of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and what He expects from each of us, not just the Church itself but from each of us individually.

In Matthew 11:2-5, we read of a conversation between disciples of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, where the Savior bears witness of Himself in a very unique way.

“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” [6]

Jesus Christ bore witness of Himself as the promised Messiah, the Savior, and Redeemer by demonstrating His love as He blessed and cared for those in need.

Now, the second passage is found in 3 Nephi. In 3 Nephi 27:21 describes what the passage in Matthew means to us, and how we can apply it as His disciples and as we strive to be more like Him.

This is what the passage in 3 Nephi says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do.” [7]

Now, these passages are directly related to the two great commandments, to love God and to love our neighbor. [8]

It is not uncommon for both members of the Church and friends of the Church to ask how the resources of the Church are being used to alleviate suffering in the world to bless God’s children. And I would hope by the end of today’s devotional you might have a better sense of the global scale of the Church’s humanitarian and welfare efforts, and how we, individually, can be involved, not just the Church.

Well, I witnessed the divinely appointed responsibility to Care for Those in Need firsthand, and I’ve seen it many times, that one in particular was following the devastating earthquakes that took place in 2023 in Türkiye and Syria. I was asked to visit Türkiye as part of my Bishop responsibilities shortly after this natural disaster and I have never seen that level of destruction or devastation in my life anywhere else. As we traveled throughout the region, we drove for miles without seeing a single structure left undamaged.

During this trip, it was heartbreaking to see the many people who were impacted by the loss of their homes, the loss of schools, hospitals, places of worship and, more importantly, from family members and friends. But it was also humbling to see and to know the generosity of members like you and what that meant that we could make a meaningful difference in the recovery efforts.

In the years that followed, the Church contributed to many rebuilding efforts, including the reconstruction of schools and hospitals that have blessed the people that were impacted.

In 2021 the First Presidency authorized the publication of a summary titled “Caring for Those in Need.” [9] There have now been five reports published which shows a significant increase in our efforts as a Church over the last five years. The first report in 2021 showed that just over $900,000 was expended through a variety of means, including fast offering assistance, bishops’ storehouse orders, humanitarian projects, donated commodities, and other Church welfare operations. The most recent report, covering 2025, shows expenditures of $1.58 billion. This is an incredible number, and it’s the equivalent of almost $4.5 million spent every day to care for those in need somewhere around the world.

I’d like now for us to look at a short video which describes some of these ongoing efforts.

VIDEO

It shows what can take place because of individuals like you and the donations that come in and the management of the Church resources, and the desire to bless God’s children all over the world.

Now, the report is broken down by geographic regions as well as by major initiatives.

In the regional sections, you’ll find descriptions of various initiatives, for example, a healthcare project in Cambodia, an education project in Sri Lanka, clean water projects in Samoa and Kiribati, and child nutrition efforts in the Philippines and Solomon Islands, just to name a few. The Caring Report website even has an interactive map that you can go to and see where things have taking place.

Now, one of the global efforts that is highlighted in the report is the Caring for Women and Children Initiative. The Presiding Bishopric and the Relief Society General Presidency have worked closely together to develop this project and it’s an aligned set of projects that are designed to bless women and children throughout the world.

Although there are numerous projects that are focused on education, on literacy, immunization, and healthcare as part of this initiative, I want to share specifically something about child nutrition.

In addition to financial donations, we found ourselves, as a Presiding Bishopric and a Relief Society Presidency asking what else could we bring to this global challenge beyond financial resources, in addition to just giving cash.

Well, three years ago, we began the process of bringing organizations together to meaningfully improve child nutrition and health in 12 countries with significant needs. Rather than working in silos and competing for funds as these organizations typically do, we would bring these industry experts together to increase their impact.

Now, by collaborating, rather than competing with one another, these organizations have been better able to influence supply chains and national policies in the various countries where these projects are taking place, enabling our efforts, Church efforts, your efforts to have longer-term sustainability.

We recently announced a third year of funding for the Caring for Women and Children Initiative, that brings the total Church donation to just over $184 million.

In addition to the work of these organizations, the Church has also developed a program to help wards and stakes identify children suffering from malnutrition, working through ministering brothers and sisters to connect them with needed resources. By the end of 2026, this program will be implemented in 32 countries.

Let me share one final example with you that’s a little closer to home. Another one of my assignments was to come to visit Lahaina after the fires just three years ago.

For many of the members, they were evacuated many and not just members of the Church, but the whole community. They evacuated with only the clothes on their back, without even a change of clothes or, as members of the Church, without their temple garments. As a result, Church distribution channels worked tirelessly and collaboratively to quickly send endowed members additional pairs of garments so they would have that.

Now, it was touching to learn that even in the midst of a crisis, people were trying to keep their covenants and to care for one another. In my mind, that is the thread that connects every example that we’ve looked at today—disciples of Jesus Christ reaching out with charity.

So, what does this mean for you? First, let me thank you for all that you already do. Thank you for your faithful tithes and offerings. Thank you for the service that you render, whether it’s in the community, through ministering, or meeting simple needs around you. I hope that as a result of what has been shared today, you will feel a slightly deeper desire to follow the Savior’s example of service.

Now, you might be wondering where service fits among the many demands on your time as students and working and all the things you have to do. You might think you have nothing worth contributing. Or maybe you don’t even know where to start.

Well, if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed at the thought of doing even one more thing, know that the Lord doesn’t expect you to run faster than you are able. You don’t have to do anything on a grand scale. I invite you to ask the Lord to help you see where service could fit into your schedule. And I promise that as you do so, that will give you the discernment you need to find time in your busy day, whether it’s 5 minutes or 50 minutes.

If you feel you don’t have anything to offer, I testify that God knows you and your talents and He can magnify them to bless others.

Although we may feel that our efforts are inadequate, President Dallin H. Oaks shared an important principle regarding the phrase, “small and simple.” He taught that small and simple acts are powerful, and they’re powerful because they invite “the companionship of the Holy Ghost,” a companion who blesses both the giver and the receiver. [10]

And lastly, if you don’t know where to start, I have some news for you. One of the many efforts of the Church to care for those in need has been to provide a resource for communities and individuals to connect prospective volunteers to service opportunities. It’s called, very simply, JustServe. Through its website or app, you can specify a location or an availability and find opportunities that fit your interests, fit your schedule, and location. [11]

Well, of course, JustServe isn’t the only way to serve. The most important thing again to do as I mentioned, is to pray and ask God how he can use you, and then for you to act on the promptings you receive.

Well, brothers and sisters, let me close with my remarks with part of a letter from the First Presidency that is included in the Caring Report. This is what the First Presidency wrote: “When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He taught two great commandments: to love God, and to “love thy neighbor as thyself” [12]. We are guided by His example. […] Every meal shared, every shelter built, every kindness offered becomes part of the Lord’s work. As we serve others, we are truly serving Him. In this way, each of us is answering His call to be a light to the world.” [13]

Now, my understanding is that you might have some classes again later today. Is that true? And that you don't want to be late to class. And so, we're asked to conclude this session, this devotional by around 11:40+. I'm looking at a clock, I see it's 11:36. I have a couple of minutes that I'd like to share something with you that is not on the teleprompter. It's not on my prepared remarks which I've been sharing with you this morning.

I've been thinking about something. It's been on my mind since I was on a plane coming over here from the mainland from Salt Lake City and thinking about it even more yesterday and this morning as I was preparing for today and thinking about it. And I've had thoughts and impressions of something that I wanted to share with you that's been on my mind based on some scriptures that I've been reading.

Now, as you, I've been studying Come, Follow Me, but in addition to studying Come, Follow Me in the Old Testament, right now we're reading in Isaiah and reading so much about the Savior Jesus Christ and what He did for us in Isaiah's prophecies looking for the future. And how with among other things I think of the phrase, “with his stripes we are healed.” [14] And that one touches me, as well as the other prophecies of Isaiah about his Savior Jesus Christ.

But in addition to reading the Old Testament, I've been studying from the Book of Mormon. President Oaks actually made a comment in general conference, prior to general conference is a leadership training meeting. He mentioned that he's been studying Come, Follow Me and he said that, “I also have been reading from the Book of Mormon every day,” in addition to his studies of Come, Follow Me. So, that is something that I would invite you to do. To study from the Book of Mormon on a daily basis, in addition to your other studies.

But in my studies of the scriptures, I love finding locations where it talks about questions and I find questions. In Alma 5, for example, there's a whole series of questions that are asked. I noticed that I found a phrase, a question that was asked and it's found in Matthew 19, it's found in Alma 22 of the Book of Mormon, and Alma 32.

And the question is, “What shall I do?” [15]

Now, when it was asked in those various places in the scriptures, the individual asking the question may have different things in mind. It was different circumstances. But just the thought of the question “What shall I do?”, I believe is a question that we all should ask ourselves.

We are all in circumstances at different times of our lives where we have challenges and trials. It doesn't get any easier the older you get. They are challenges. They're different. They're unique. But you have challenges. You have trials. You face them. Your family and loved ones face them. It's not easy to study. It's not easy to work. It's not easy to marry and have children as a family while you're doing all of these things. We face these challenges.

They may be health related. They may be financial related. They may be testimony related. But the question in particular, “What shall I do?” I would like to relate that to “What shall I do as I'm facing the trials and challenges of life and if my testimony is ever questioned?” “If I'm ever wondering, now what shall I do?” If we go to Alma, and I brought my scriptures with me, in Alma 32, again, that question, “What shall I do?” actually, provides an answer. And the answer for “What shall I do?” is given in Alma 32:27.

And it says this is what you should do. Now it's not specifically related to “What shall I do?” but it is an answer to that.

And the answer “What shall I do?” is to “arouse your faculties even to an experiment upon my words and exercise a particle of faith.” So, what shall I do? What shall you do? “What shall I do?” We need to exercise “a particle of faith” to begin with. “even if ye can no more than desire to believe.” [16]

And then it goes along and it talks about planting the seed. And as we plant the seed, then we go to Alma 32:37, and it says if they will “nourish it with great care, it will get root and grow up and bring forth fruit." [17] That's the seed. But it requires effort. We have to exercise that particle of faith.

But then it says, “if ye neglect the tree,” in other words, if you stop nourishing the tree, if you stop nourishing the root and the seed, something's going to happen. It says, “if ye neglect the tree and take no thought for its nourishment, it will not get any root and the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it because it hath no root and it withers away and you pluck it up and cast it out.” And it says, “[it's] not because the seed was not good,..."but it's because you stopped nourishing the tree and "...your ground becomes barren,..." [18]

But then it continues, if you will nourish the tree, "if ye will nourish the word,...it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof." [19]

Now, keeping in mind the fruit, this goes back to Lehi's vision of the tree of life. [20] The fruit that we're talking about, that is sweeter than any other fruit, that is the fruit of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. As we partake of that fruit, as we draw closer to Jesus Christ, and President Oaks talked about that in his last general conference talk. He talked about drawing closer to the Savior, Jesus Christ.

And actually, in his remarks on Sunday of general conference, he said, “We all have present or future concerns or struggles we are trying to overcome. Those may include questions or doubts. Whatever they are, the way to overcome them is to get closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Again and again, He has taught us that He is the Way. Focus on developing your faith in God and the mission of His son, Jesus Christ. Strong faith requires more than strong desire. It means daily trying one step at a time with prayer and scriptural learning.” [21]

So, brothers and sisters, my testimony to you, what I wanted to close with, is that concept of “What shall I do?” What shall we do? It's turn to the Savior, Jesus Christ. Draw closer to Him.

We do that in so many different ways. We do that by choosing to read His words in the scriptures. We do that by choosing to follow the counsel of those He has chosen, prophets, seers, and revelators. We do that by striving to be more like Him, to serve others, to look for ways that we can serve, lifting people both spiritually and temporally.

Never give up. When you're having challenges and trials, turn to the Savior and you will be blessed.

I testify to you, brothers and sisters, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

I testify to you and know that Joseph had a vision. He saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ in that grove of trees. Joseph Smith did not write, but he translated the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ.

I testify to you that God is our Father. That Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son. That He is the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. That He gave His life freely and He took it up again and paid the price for every single one of us.

I testify that He lives today and He directs His church through a prophet of God. That Dallin H. Oaks is a prophet of God. And there are fifteen men that hold the sacred keys, all the keys of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I testify to you, in closing, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's kingdom on earth. And of these things I bear my humble witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes:
[1] “Presiding Bishopric”, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[2] General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5.1.1.3, Gospel Library
[3] Dallin H. Oaks, “Tithing,” Ensign or Liahona, May 1994, 33
[4] “More Than 90,000 Missionaries Now Serving Worldwide,” [Salt Lake City, September 18 2026], newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[5] “2025 Statistical Report of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” [Salt Lake City, April 4, 2026], newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[6] Matthew 11:2-5
[7] 3 Nephi 27:21, emphasis added
[8] Matthew 22:37-40
[9] “Caring for Those in Need,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[10] Dallin H. Oaks, “Small and Simple Things,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 90
[11] JustServe
[12] Matthew 22:39
[13] “Caring Report 2025—Message from the First Presidency” Caring for Those in Need, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[14] Isaiah 53:5
[15] Matthew 19: 27; Alma 22:15; 32:5,9
[16] Alma 32:27
[17] Alma 32:37
[18] Alma 32:38-39
[19] Alma 32:41
[20] 1 Nephi 8
[21] Dallin H. Oaks, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ Is for All,” Liahona, November 2026