Church Lends Expertise with Volunteerism

As a result of a White House request for LDS participation and input regarding volunteerism, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles served as a co-chair of the Communities of Faith section at the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future.

“It’s a compliment to the Church that organizers at the White House asked for our participation,” said Elder Holland. “They were quick to recognize that otherwise there would be a serious gap among the faith groups represented.”

The summit, whose goal is to help 2 million youth by the year 2000, drew thousands of participants from the media and corporate, nonprofit, and faith organizations.

“Recognition of the need to strengthen families was one of the strongest things to come out of the Communities of Faith working session at the summit,” noted Elder Holland.

“Virtually everyone agreed emphatically with the position that we can best strengthen our communities and the nation by strengthening families. We know that by revelation. They know that from all the social data they are collecting.”

Church member Stephen R. Covey, a well-known author and motivational speaker, played an important role as the moderator of a panel discussion at the Community of Faith session.

In addition to the faith groups working session, a “Festival of Faith” session was held, where various speakers talked about the needs of youth. Rachel Moss, a young woman from the Marshallton Second Ward, Philadelphia Pennsylvania Stake, spoke of the need to serve others.