In response to historic fires in Los Angeles County, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is working to mobilize its resources and volunteers to support the tens of thousands impacted by the still-raging blazes.
Those efforts include opening bishops’ storehouses in Southern California to those in need of food and other basics, according to a news release from the Utah-based faith, plus the Friday delivery of 1,500 cases of bottled water to affected areas.
The global church’s main bishops’ storehouse in Salt Lake City is also providing emergency supplies.
Church buildings in the region have been opened up for community response and shelters.
The faith estimates that 1,000 Latter-day Saints have been evacuated and that more than 30 of those individuals have lost their homes to the climate change-fueled flames burning in eastern and western Los Angeles County.
All missionaries, meanwhile, “are safe and accounted for and are continuing their service,” the release noted, and the Los Angeles Temple, which closed earlier this week, is back to operating on its regular schedule.
“Local leaders deeply appreciate the outpouring of support and willingness to volunteer from so many,” the release said. “Until this is needed, those who wish to help can donate to the church’s humanitarian efforts or offer volunteer support through local organizations.”
“Our hearts go out to all affected by the fires that continue to cause destruction in Southern California,” general authority Seventy Mark A. Bragg, president of the faith’s North America West Area, said in a previous news release.
Stressing his own “deep roots” to the region, Bragg, who was born in Los Angeles, added: “Our prayers are with those who have lost their homes and are displaced and for the first responders. We mourn with those who have experienced loss and ask for the Savior’s comforting spirit to be with them. We also express gratitude for the acts of faith and work sustaining those affected by this crisis.”
Neither news releases cited any damage to the church’s many chapels or other properties in the region. California is home to about 730,000 Latter-day Saints, the second most of any U.S. state after Utah, where the worldwide religion of 17.2 million members is headquartered.
