Church Service Missionaries Remember Giving Machines’ First Year on Temple Square

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By Trent Toone, Church News

On November 30, 2017, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced the concept of using vending machines as an easy way to donate to charitable organizations at a news conference in the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

As part of the Church’s second Light the World campaign, people could use the Giving Machines to purchase eyeglasses, water bottles, chickens and goats — among many other items — for individuals and families in need.

“Instead of getting something out of a vending machine, you can actually give something. We’ve partnered with a number of charities and they’re all involved with these vending machines,” said Elder Brent H. Nielson, then a General Authority Seventy who then served as executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department. Elder Nielson was given emeritus status last August.

Elder Nielson said if the idea took off, it might be done “in other places at other times as we continue to try to light the world.”

It’s safe to say the idea resonated with people.

Seven years later, on November 14, the Church announced that Light the World Giving Machines would be in 107 cities in 13 countries on five continents, including the first ones in Africa, during the 2024 Christmas season.

In 2023, $10.4 million was donated through Giving Machines in 61 locations across seven countries. Since the initiative launched in 2017, more than 2 million people have visited Giving Machines, and more than $32 million has been donated. Participating nonprofit organizations receive 100% of the contributions, helping millions of people in need worldwide.

A small group of Church service missionaries who were there in 2017 when the Giving Machines were introduced recently met to see a display of the original Giving Machine at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. The group, which included Carl and Jan Boyington, Greg and Nancy Van Zweden, Cindy Pratt, Kim Olsen, Karla Ferguson and Gina Larsen, reflected on their memorable experiences with the Church News. They shared their experiences via email.

Pratt said: “We were not expecting the response from the public that these machines would have. It was overwhelming to see the hundreds of people that showed up. We roped off the area for lines and as the numbers increased, we had to make the lines into a serpentine, like at Disneyland. ...

“Amazingly, the people were patient and happy as they waited, sometimes for more than an hour, for their turn to give. As I helped individual families make their choices and buy a cow or a goat or chickens or many other items, the joy they experienced was amazing.”

For Carl and Jan Boyington, seeing the original Giving Machine at the Church History Museum brought back memories.

“It was very heartwarming,” they wrote. “Once again, we felt gratitude for this experience, which greatly increased our testimony of giving to others around the world. We will never forget it.”

‘You Can’t Duplicate That’

Carl and Jan Boyington, from South Ogden, Utah, noted one humorous moment came when a little boy and his father inserted their money to buy a cow. When the card dropped into the bin, the little boy turned to his father and said with great trepidation, “Where is my cow?”

The Boyingtons served as Church service missionaries for 13 years (2007 to 2020), including 10 years as hosts in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and the last three as supervisors of 350 hosts in the building. They were honored and humbled to be part of the first Giving Machines event, and expressed gratitude for so many who jumped in with enthusiasm and served long hours during that time.

“Without them, we could not have carried out this huge responsibility,” they wrote.

The Giving Machines launched during an exciting but busy time at Temple Square. Large crowds were already coming to see the Christmas lights, watch groups perform on the mezzanine, get hot chocolate at the Nauvoo Café, and see the Christmas tree and decorations. Then add the Giving Machines, and the building was often filled with hundreds of people.

“People came filled with excitement and anticipation of what kind of opportunity they might have to give to those in need, not knowing what to expect, but willing try a new adventure,” the Boyingtons said. “One of the best experiences was watching young children when they would put their money into the machines and could purchase a chicken, goat, eyeglasses or food all for other people around the world.”

Despite the crowds and chaos, the building had a warm, spiritual feeling, which was strengthened by the sound of Christmas music.

One man approached Carl Boyington and asked why the Giving Machines were not available online for convenience. Just then, a little boy began jumping up and down with excitement after making a purchase.

“That’s why,” Carl Boyington said. ”You can’t duplicate that.”

‘Hard but Joyful Work’

Pratt, from Provo, Utah, was a service missionary host at Temple Square for seven years.

After the Giving Machines opened, she and others serving in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building were sometimes there all day and all evening. She said it was not easy to manage the crowds, and the machines broke down often.

“It was hard but joyful work,” Pratt said. “I am so glad that I had the opportunity to be in on the beginning of this marvelous experience. I don’t think I have ever been a part of anything so meaningful before.”

One busy night, when the crowd was “massive,” someone began to sing a Christmas carol and one by one, others joined in. Soon, the building was filled with the joy of Christmas in song. With the Christmas tree in the center of the lobby and other decorations, it was a magical scene.

“Seeing the joy of giving at Christmas and the love of the Savior was something that I will never forget,” Pratt said. “People are good. People want to be part of spreading their love and the love of the Savior with others.”

‘Sacred Experience’

Larsen, from Alpine, Utah, remembers when she first heard about the idea of Giving Machines.

“It just impacted me and so many others. What an incredible idea,” she said. “It is so much fun to see the impact of the machines throughout the world now.”

She praised the devotion and dedication of the building hosts who gave “consecrated service and sacrifice to shepherd this [Giving Machine] project.”

“They were so inspired and full of the spirit of love. The hosts were remarkable at this time as well as every other day they served in their service missions. It was sacred to watch. Covenant service was compensated with the spirit, and it was magical,” said Larsen, who served as a Church service missionary in hosting from 2014 to 2020, including three years as assistant director of Church Building Hosting.

One memorable moment for Larsen came when she walked out onto the mezzanine of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and was overcome by the sight below.

“That beautiful tree in the middle of the floor and so many Saints gathered around that tree in a line to help their brothers and sisters in need around the world. The love that was in that room and the excitement of feeling that they could really make a difference,” she said. “People are so good and want to help. It was so apparent that Christmas season to me. I loved walking out of my office as much as I could and watching from above. What a sacred experience for me. I’ll never forget it.”

‘It Was Pure Joy’

Kim Olsen, a Church service missionary from 2004 to 2020, was the director of Church Building Hosting in 2017.

The Latter-day Saint from Sandy, Utah, remembers being in the meeting where the idea was presented and explained. It was exciting, she said, and they were thrilled to participate.

“The enthusiasm was contagious, and the idea lit a fire in the hearts of every host that served in the building,” Olsen said.

Despite the long lines and waiting time some faced, she enjoyed watching people, especially children, react as they purchased items from the machine.

“It was pure joy,” Olsen said. “The decisions were deliberate and intentional as people made selections that mattered to them. Watching the process and hearing the conversations as families decided how to spend their money was a peek into a sacred space of love.”

Being “a witness to the goodness of humanity was a privilege” Olsen will never forget. For those who participated in 2017, it is a “forever Christmas memory” and was humbling to watch.

Olsen said the Giving Machines are continuing to bless lives — both the giver and receiver.

“There will always be a feeling of Christmas magic around every machine, no matter where it is in the world,” she said. “I always hope that those hosts who stayed extra hours to accommodate every person that wanted to give felt a little part of the success of this amazing gift to the world.”

Learn more about this year’s Giving Machine locations, participating charitable organizations and how donations are at work at GivingMachine.org.

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