2018 #LightTheWorld Asks Members to Give as Christ Gave
Contributed By Camille West, ChurchofJesusChrist.org Church News
Article Highlights
- Follow Christ’s example and find ways to share your time, love, and resources with those in need.
For the third year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is encouraging members to #LightTheWorld with simple acts of service and Christlike love during the 2018 Christmas season.
The 2018 theme, “Light the World, Give as He Gave,” is influenced by President Russell M. Nelson’s call to minister in “new, holier ways” (“Let Us All Press On,” Apr. 2018 general conference).
“The emphasis the past two years has been on how can I serve. With President Nelson’s invitation to minister, we’ve adjusted our focus to whom can I serve,” said Greg Droubay of the Missionary Department.
This year’s campaign, detailed at LightTheWorld.org, encourages people to find ways to share their time, love, and resources with those in need, “helping others in a new way each week.” It includes four weekly themes and videos: light the world, light your community, light your family, and finally, light your faith. For service ideas, see the downloadable advent calendar.
Worldwide day of service
Kicking off the season is a worldwide day of service December 1, where Latter-day Saints worldwide are encouraged to do simple acts of service in their neighborhoods and communities. Members are encouraged to use JustServe.org (where available) or to contact local charities to find simple service opportunities.
Giving machines
Light the World giving machines illustrate how easy it is to donate to charities by allowing donors to instantly give instead of receive.
Returning this year are the popular Light the World giving machines. These vending machines symbolically illustrate how easy it is to donate to charities by allowing donors to instantly give instead of receive.
Using credit cards, people can purchase representations of items like a goat or a chicken, socks, a new pair of school shoes, an eye exam, clean water, baby supplies, first aid kits, medication, and food. After the purchase is complete, the machine vends the item into a bin at the bottom. These donations, and the money used to purchase them, are then distributed to charity partners like CARE, UNICEF, WaterAid, and Water for People.
Light the World giving machines will be located in the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City, Utah; at the Water Tower Plaza in Gilbert, Arizona; in Manhattan outside the temple; at the Hyde Park chapel and visitors’ center in London, England; and inside the SW Megamall in Manila, Philippines.
If you can’t make it to a giving machine, you can learn about and donate to the charities involved by visiting LightTheWorld.org.
Special sacrament meeting
On December 23 members and missionaries are encouraged to invite those not of our faith to attend a special Christ-centered sacrament meeting that will focus on the birth of Jesus Christ with appropriate messages and Christmas music.
Learn more now at LightTheWorld.org, available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
