"As people embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ a feeling grows in their hearts that motivates them to help other people," said President Henry B. Eyring on May 16.
"Latter-day Saints are generous," said President Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency. "It is not amazing; it is evidence that the gospel is real."
Offering brief remarks before dedicating a new building for LDS Philanthropies in Provo, Utah, President Eyring spoke on the important role of helping Church members participate in philanthropic activities.
LDS Philanthropies is a department of the Office of the Presiding Bishopric with the responsibility to correlate, identify, encourage, invite and facilitate voluntary philanthropic contributions — beyond tithing and fast offerings — to the Church.
"The success of the organization's work cannot be measured only in dollars or projects, but in effects in people's hearts," said President Eyring.
He asked those working with donors to treat them in such a way that will make it possible for them to feel the Holy Ghost.
"You are not trying to persuade them to do something," he said to those who work with donors. "You are trying to help them do something which comes from their desire to be generous."
Also offering brief remarks, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton thanked the employees for their efforts to "help our Father in Heaven's children as they wish to share their means in building the Kingdom of God."
"I am still amazed and often surprised by the generosity of the Latter-day Saints," he said.
Bishop Burton noted that the building was not built with funds generated by LDS Philanthropies, which promises that 100 percent of every gift goes to the Church program or institution specified by the donor. None of it goes for administrative, salary, or other costs. "In addition," he said, "the building was not constructed with tithing or offerings to the Church. ... It was built," he said, "with the profits from Church-owned businesses."
"I hope this building will be a launching pad to help us go forward," he said.
Through LDS Philanthropies, the Church provides its organizations and activities with shared fund-raising services as well as donor and administrative support services. For Church members, LDS Philanthropies provides a centralized organization through which they can make charitable gifts to Church institutions and priorities.
"Since its creation 36 years ago, LDS Philanthropies has never had its management, professional, and support staff housed in the same building," said McClain Bybee, managing director of LDS Philanthropies.
"Over the years," he said, "the organization has had its staff in various locations at BYU, as well as in Rexburg, Idaho; Laie, Hawaii; and in Salt Lake City."
"As the number of Church members who contribute to Church causes has grown; so has the need to increase the number of our employees," he said.
In 2006, the Presiding Bishopric decided to construct an office facility for LDS Philanthropies near the BYU campus. With the support of BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson and his administrative officers, property was made available to the Church on University Avenue for the new building.
The first permanent organization created to raise philanthropic funds for the Church's charitable causes came about in 1955 when BYU's Destiny Fund was launched. In 1971, the First Presidency commissioned a successor organization, Church Education Development. This office sought private support for the Church's institutions of higher learning, its seminary and institute programs, and its elementary and secondary school systems. In 1982, the organization's name was changed to LDS Foundation. Then, in 2005, the First Presidency changed the name to LDS Philanthropies, noting that this name would better reflect the mission and purpose of the organization.
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