Inspirational Stories about Caring for Those in Need

A Christmas in Peru

Humanitarian service missionaries in Peru arranged for medicine for children in an orphanage, but they lacked funds to also give a toy to each child for Christmas. Then a truckload of toys destined for another town was not needed, and the 550 orphans each received a toy.

The Boy Who Moved

Simon was 13 years old and had rarely left his house. Stricken with muscular dystrophy and paralyzed from the waist down, he had grown too heavy for his parents to carry him. Then one day, through the efforts of humanitarian service missionaries, he received a wheelchair from the Church.

Letters from High School

Students in the Marshall Islands sent letters of gratitude for the pallets of books and supplies donated by the Church.

I Am Not an English Teacher

Dr. Ralph Francis, a dentist, and his wife, Charla, were called as humanitarian service missionaries, but instead of assisting at a dental school in Indonesia as planned, they were reassigned after the September 11, 2001, attacks to teach English to students in Cambodia.

A Mormonish Jew

Two young elders visited Betty, a Jewish woman, who had been very ill. As she recovered, she tried to plant a small flower garden, which proved to be difficult. The elders helped her plant her flowers, and she read the Book of Mormon.

Bitter Integrity

Melvin Bitter, 86 years old, overcame many obstacles to travel from his home in Kaysville, Utah, to the Welfare Square bishops' storehouse in Salt Lake City each day to do quality testing on dozens of products.

A Refuge from the Storm

Lily Santino became a refugee when her African homeland was ravaged by civil war. She eventually was united with her husband in the United States and started a new life working at Deseret Industries.

An Outsider’s Look

Included here are comments from people who are not Church members about the Church's humanitarian efforts and its members.

Where There Is Work, There Is Hope

Clyne and Ann Long served a humanitarian mission in Ecuador, a country filled with the poor who felt little hope for change. The Longs gave the people hope and taught them about finding work.

A Moving Experience

After three 26-foot moving vans were all packed, a family moving to Canada discovered that documents needed to cross the border were missing. The next morning, neighbors spent all day helping them unpack until the documents were found. They then helped repack the vans.