We know from a sacred and very personal place what it means to be on the receiving end of thoughtful charity.

When our youngest child was born in our late 20’s, everything seemed normal until she was two weeks old. She started getting chronic ear infections and fevers that doctors couldn’t explain. She was eventually admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with a genetic disorder that prevented her body from developing an immune system. She was a modern day bubble baby and could die from a common cold. 

It took two bone marrow transplants, living in isolation, and years of expensive medications before she was declared healthy enough to fully participate in society. As you can imagine our financial situation was dire and the tsunami of doctor bills engulfed us. That’s when we were introduced to the best of humanity. 

Without ever asking for help, neighbors, family, and friends came to our rescue. These earthly angels held community fundraisers and donated their own money to help us out. The miracle of it all, is that the donations we received from others over an eight year period perfectly kept pace with the daily medical bills that kept appearing in our mailbox. 

We know from a sacred and very personal place what it means to be on the receiving end of thoughtful charity. Our lives have never been the same. 

This is why it’s such an honor to be involved in developing material such as this annual report for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and our effort as members to care for those in need. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but it gives a peak into the massive effort of church members to care for those in need around the world. 

Helping watch over and care for people, like my family, your family, or others we have never met, is one of the greatest ways to find joy. Like Ghandi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”