Kicking off the Holiday Season by Spreading His Light
- Ella Katzenbach
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Ella Katzenbach
The Holiday Season has made its return again as people are gearing up to finish finals and end the work year on a high note. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this upcoming Christmas Season is an opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth through serving others.
Since November 2016, the Church has developed the slogan, “Light the World,” to encourage people to serve one another in celebration of Jesus’s birth. The Church even released an annual Advent service calendar to challenge members to perform an act of service each day leading up to Christmas.
This trend of Lighting the World through service grew in 2017 with the introduction of the “Giving Machine.” Since then, the Giving Machine has expanded to an international scale and has been present in 126 U.S. cities and is now in 21 other countries, several of which will have the Giving Machine for the first time. In the past year alone, over 850,000 people visited a Giving Machine, and 490,000 made donations to help those in need.
This bright red box has the potential of blessing thousands; each is accepting donations from over 600 non-profit organizations. According to Church News, “Items will vary by city, but a typical machine includes food, clean water, clothing, shelter, health care, education support, hygiene kits, bedding, job and career training, and even livestock”.
As a kid, I remembered when the Giving Machine was first introduced to a city near me. I remember going to it with my cousins over Christmas break, and I chose to donate some clothing and medicine. It was so mind-boggling to me to think that I was able to help give clothes to someone across the world. I know how much of an impact the Giving Machine has made on my life, and I look forward to going each year during Christmas time. The power of service has a ripple effect, and it can help bless generations!
Despite the chaos on campus about finals, I wondered if my peers at BYU shared a similar appreciation for the Giving Machine and if it’s made an impact on the way they can “Light the World”.
When students were asked about their experiences with the giving machine, one shared that they've been going with their family every year since the launch in 2016. Another student said his family plans to be, “...volunteering at one of the Giving Machines so we can help people give back”.
At the library on campus, one student was surprised to hear that BYU had a Giving Machine on campus and said, “I actually had no idea”, which is shocking to hear since so many students are actively participating at the Giving Machine at the Wilkinson Center (AKA the main social hub at BYU).
Many students were anxious to donate at the machine when asked, and wanted to give back by donating a goat or a chicken. One student said, “I don’t know everything that’s on there, but I know you can buy a chicken”. This brought in a few laughs from surrounding students. Tatum Westover, who is a freshman at BYU, states, “I will always make time to serve others. This is the time where it matters most. That’s what our Heavenly Father would want us to do”.
The reason for the season is to give back to others who need it most. The Giving Machine has provided thousands globally with an opportunity to donate to charities that support causes to help the poor and hungry. Keeping Christ in mind during this Christmas Season invites us to serve others, just as he would for us.
The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent the position of Ward Radio News. Ward Radio News is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Church) and does not officially represent the Church.