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SALT LAKE CITY — Mormons are being asked to "Light the World" daily with service for the second-straight year as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints relaunches its global Christmas initiative.
The church’s “Light the World” campaign will begin Friday and run through Christmas Day. The goal of the initiative is to encourage church members serve others as Jesus Christ taught in the Bible, Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy and executive director of the church's Missionary Department said in a statement.
"Building on last year’s ‘Light the World’ Christmas initiative, this year’s effort continues the invitation to serve others as the Savior did," Elder Nielson said.
Nielson said “tens of thousands” participated in the initiative in 2016.
Much like with the 2016 campaign, the church released a calendar for 2017 that uses Bible verses as daily themes to help generate service ideas for those who are participating, such as visiting the sick or donating to charity.
Those participating can share their experiences using the hashtag “#LIGHTtheWORLD on social media.
In addition, the church is setting up “Light the World” vending machines in the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake. Visitors can buy items that will be donated to various LDS Church local, national and international charity partners. People can also buy vouchers for livestock to be given to those in need in developing countries.
The initiative also includes more than 90 events to help feed the hungry in Canada and the United States. The "Light the World" campaign will also help with 28 more local service events around the world, including sending Christmas packages to orphanages in areas in eastern Europe, and holding food, clothing and cleaning supply drives in various places in North America.
Concerts by The Piano Guys, David Archuleta and other “Light the World” brand ambassadors, will also occur during the initiative.
