Elder Holland Talks Charity with British Parliament

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed the All-Party Parliament Group (APPG) in the UK on behalf of LDS Charities.

Baroness Emma Nicholson, APPG on Foreign Affairs chair, invited Holland to the House of the Lords to address the APPG. She told Mormon Newsroom, “I want [Holland] to share his deep reservoir of knowledge and understanding — his heart, his head and his wisdom. My colleagues here on all sides of the House work mightily to help people and are always looking for knowledge and ways that we can do more.”

The APPG is a group consisting of some members of the British Parliament as well as religious leaders from around the world. The political and religious leaders discuss foreign policy with charity organizations.

Holland focused his remarks on Foreign Affairs and how charity can prove beneficial. Mormon Newsroom reports that Holland explained how religious violence is continually increasing, leading to humanitarian crises around the world and that “the need to help remains enormous.”

“Because of our religious convictions — convictions grounded in the command to love God and our neighbor as ourselves — we sponsor humanitarian relief programs,” said Holland.

Throughout his message, Holland explained that members of the Church are “not only obligated but empowered in the gospel of Jesus Christ to reach out, to care for the poor, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry.”

The meeting, which took place Wednesday, June 10, 2015, is the first time a leader of the Church has spoken in the Houses of Parliament.