"Great things do not come easily; events that shake the earth run into mountains of resistance."
(Bruce R. McConkie, “Once or Twice in a Thousand Years,” Ensign, Nov. 1975, 18)
Just as the Lord called seven worthy men to assist the Twelve in providing for the temporal needs of the Church as recorded in the book of Acts, the Lord has called the Presiding Bishopric to assist the Twelve in providing for the temporal needs of the Church today. The Presiding Bishop and his two counselors serve under the direction of the First Presidency to administer the temporal affairs of the Church. Fast offerings are an essential part of this program and provide temporary, life-sustaining assistance for the poor throughout the world. (For more information, see the topic “Presiding Bishopric” at newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)