Bless the Whole Human Race

The Prophet Joseph declared, “A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” I thought of this quote as I read President Oaks’ talk from this most recent general conference about caring for the poor and distressed. He described the vast humanitarian work performed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members, citing a new annual report produced by the Church to summarize its efforts to help those in need. He highlighted as well how the Church works with many other organizations such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent, Catholic Relief Services, Muslim Aid, Water for People, and IsraAID, among many others. He suggested that we and they all have sought to be part of a “good cause” as the Savior has invited us in this dispensation: “Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:27-28). While there is much to lament in the world, the immeasurable amount of good that so many organizations like these and others do gives great reason to hope for the future of humanity.   

One of President Oaks’ purposes in giving message was to invite us as members of the Church to more fully appreciate this work that others individuals and organizations do and to encourage us to join with those who are similarly devoted to helping the poor and distressed. He said, “As members of the restored Church, we need to be more aware and more appreciative of the service of others.” After citing several examples of those not of our faith who have done much good in the world he continued, “These examples do show that God inspires many organizations and individuals to do much good. It also shows that more of us should be recognizing the good done by others and supporting it as we have the time and means to do so.” In his talk President Oaks mentioned a recent event in which the Church “made a large gift to the United Nations World Food Programme.” That gift was $32 million made last month and will help to bring food to those in need around the world. The incredible impact that this organization has around the world is incredible. They ship four million metric tons of food every year to those in need, which by one report would be enough to fill trucks of food from Boston to Chicago, back to Boston, and back to Chicago again if lined up end to end. They operate over 5000 trucks, 30 ships, and 100 planes every day as they transport food to those in need in many countries, and they received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for their efforts. In that year in addition to the food they distributed, they also gave 2 billion dollars in cash-based transfers to beneficiaries. Even with that, they can’t reach all of the people who go to bed hungry each day—a number that in 2019 was a staggering 690 million people and became higher because of COVID-19. It is no wonder that the Church chose to give to their efforts to continue to combat this global problem that affects so many.

  Ultimately we give thanks to the Savior Jesus Christ, “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” who inspires all of this good around the world to bless the children of God everywhere (Doctrine and Covenants 93:2). As President Oaks quoted, we know from the Book of Mormon that “the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil” and that “every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ” (Moroni 7:16). His work is more vast than what the Church called by His name alone does, and President Oaks declared, “I testify of Jesus Christ, whose light and Spirit guide all of the children of God in helping the poor and distressed throughout the world.” And we who call ourselves by His name must be more devoted to helping those in need and anxious to join with others good people and organizations everywhere in a “good cause” to “bless the whole human race.”