By Carla Long, member of the Presiding Bishopric

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

I have always been a person who is good at saying “yes.” When I was a college sophomore, that “yes” took me on a three-week journey through Malawi and Kenya. Later, as a young teacher, it led me to the Philippines and Australia with World Service Corps. Eventually, my journey transitioned into paid ministry, serving as a financial officer in California, a bishop for Western and Eastern Europe, and a seeker minister in Utah.

While my travels spanned continents and cultures, a single, golden thread tied every experience together: Communal Generosity. In every new place, I arrived as “the other.” I was the stranger with a different accent, a different background, and often, a different set of needs. Yet, everywhere I went, the church caught me. I was fed, cared for, and loved by members of this church who understood a profound truth: True abundance is created when communities share resources and ensure that no one is left behind.

This is the essence of abundance. It is the spiritual shift from “me” to “we.” When I fell—whether it was from homesickness, exhaustion, or the steep learning curve of a new mission—the community was my safety net. They didn’t just offer me their surplus; they offered me their hospitality and their lives. They taught me more than I could ever teach them, demonstrating that our resources are not meant to be hoarded for individual security but poured out for collective flourishing.

This communal generosity has been a foundational experience of my life. It has shown me that when we move away from the isolation of “mine” and embrace the interconnectedness of “ours,” we find a wellspring of support that never runs dry. I am proud to be part of an organization that doesn’t just preach support but embodies it, catching one another time and time again in a beautiful, global cycle of grace.

Prayer Phrase

“I am about to do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18).

Embrace Abundance

Take a slow breath and open your hands. Consider one thing you have received—love, grace, time, resources, or opportunity. Now ask: “What has been given to me that I can share with someone else?” Hold that thought for a moment. As you breathe in, say: “I receive with gratitude.” As you breathe out: “I give faithfully with generosity.” Pray: “May I trust there is enough when I choose to share what I have for the welfare of all.”

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.