Bishop Caussé Highlights the Power of Service to World Leaders

Speaking to leaders from the global business, government, and community sectors gathered on May 7, 2025, in Salt Lake City, the Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints highlighted the profound and interconnected value of service. Bishop Gérald Caussé said helping others is a foundational principle for individual well-being and a driving force for building strong, thriving communities and organizations.

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“If service isn’t yet a core value in your organization, I encourage you to make it one,” Bishop Caussé said at the Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit in the Zions Bancorporation’s Technology Center in Salt Lake City. “Service doesn’t just benefit the community — it also strengthens businesses and other organizations.”

Bishop Caussé, who spoke at this conference last year, cited Utah’s early pioneers as an example of how mutual support and service were essential for survival and success. He connected this to the present day, highlighting Utah’s high rates of volunteerism and charitable giving as evidence of the enduring legacy of service.

“It’s no coincidence that Utah is a leading state in economic growth and also in volunteer service,” he said. “These two are connected. The values people develop through service, often beginning at a young age, carry over into their professional lives, driving hard work, dedication, and innovation.”

Service in the Church of Jesus Christ

A similar focus on service can be found in many places and religious communities around the world, Bishop Caussé said, including in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“We give and serve because we strive to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ,” he said. “When the disciples of Christ once asked, ‘What shall we do then?’ Jesus replied, ‘He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.’ We believe that same instruction applies to His disciples today. With so many in the world who lack even the basics, we have a responsibility to share the blessings that we enjoy.”

Bishop Caussé shared details from the Church’s 2024 caring summary (first released in March), which outlines the faith’s extensive effort to carry out Christ’s commandments to love God and serve others.

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The summary highlights the Church’s commitment to welfare, self-reliance, humanitarian aid, emergency relief, and volunteer service. It shows expenditures totaling US$1.45 billion. The Church provided assistance in 192 countries and territories, showing its global reach. This included 3,836 humanitarian projects. Church members volunteered 6.6 million hours of service at Church Welfare and Self-reliance facilities, in service missions, and in community service projects, demonstrating their dedication to caring for God’s children.

Bishop Caussé focused on three key topics from the caring summary: how the Church helps those in need, fosters self-reliance and provides service opportunities.

Helping Those In Need

He said the Church provides care and resources to individuals and families facing hardship. This help includes the immediate support offered within local congregations through leaders, ministering efforts, fast offerings, and the broader reach of the Church’s welfare system in providing basic necessities. Furthermore, it includes the extensive global humanitarian aid extended to communities worldwide, addressing critical needs such as food, shelter, medical care, and disaster relief.

Fostering Self-Reliance

Self-reliance goes beyond immediate aid to focus on empowering individuals to become independent and resilient, Bishop Caussé said. Rooted in the lessons learned during the Great Depression, the Church’s efforts in this area aim to address the negative impacts of dependence by providing resources and opportunities for education, skill development, and employment. Initiatives like BYU–Pathway Worldwide, the Perpetual Education Fund loan program, employment centers, and self-reliance groups are designed to equip people with the tools they need to overcome challenges and build a sustainable future for themselves and their families.

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Providing Service Opportunities

Opportunities to serve underscore the vital role of service itself, Bishop Caussé said — not just for those who receive it but also for those who give. The Church actively seeks to create opportunities for individuals of all ages to engage in meaningful service, believing it to be a powerful force for good that uplifts both the giver and the receiver. Examples include disaster response efforts, blood drives, and the JustServe platform, which connects volunteers with community needs. By encouraging active participation in service, the Church cultivates compassion, strengthens communities, and instills a love for helping others — particularly in the rising generation.

“I’m especially glad to see that so many young people getting involved,” he said. “In fact, one exciting trend is the rise of JustServe clubs in high schools — usually started by a few students who care about service and then invite their friends to join.”

Bishop Caussé acknowledged that many at the summit already know the value of service and thanked them for the powerful difference they make in the world.

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“As much as I wish we could feed every hungry child, shelter every person in need, and care for everyone who is sick, we know the Church alone can only do so much,” Bishop Caussé said. “But when many organizations and individuals share that same commitment to serving others, our combined impact can reach far beyond what any one of us could do alone.”

In closing, he shared a thought from the Church’s Prophet and President Russell M. Nelson: “Giving help to others — making a conscientious effort to care about others as much as or more than we care about ourselves — is our joy.”

“I believe it’s also the key to building strong and thriving communities and societies,” Bishop Caussé added.