Church Leaders Encourage Women of the Church to Serve Refugees

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a letter Monday encouraging Mormon women of all ages to assist refugees in their own communities. The letter, which outlined the “I Was a Stranger” refugee relief effort, includes an invitation from the general presidencies of Church’s Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations and information about how to get involved.

“We remind Latter-day Saints throughout the world that one of the fundamental principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is to ‘impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, … administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants’ (Mosiah 4:26),” states the First Presidency letter.

The letter from Church leaders, and specific information on how to participate, has been posted at iwasastranger.lds.org, a website launched in conjunction with the effort.

Speaking of the effort during the Church’s general women’s session of the 186th annual general conference on Saturday, Sister Linda K. Burton, general president of the Relief Society, said, “As sisters, we make up more than half of the Lord’s storehouse to help Heavenly Father’s children.” Citing information from the United Nations, Sister Burton said there are more than 60 million refugees worldwide and half of those are children. “This is an opportunity to serve one-on-one, in families, and by organization to offer friendship, mentoring, and other Christlike service and is one of many ways sisters can serve,” she said.

In October of 2015, the First Presidency issued a letter to all members of the Church around the world encouraging them to provide assistance to refugees in all parts of the world.

Visit the "I Was a Stranger" website.