The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may be headquartered in Salt Lake City, but more than half of its members live outside of the United States, making it a thriving global church.

The LDS Church now counts its membership above 14 million, with more than 28,700 congregations worldwide. Here’s a look at what some of those members are doing around the world.

Australia

Much of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia, experienced “once-in-a-century magnitude flooding” after torrential rain hit the area in January and February. Mormon volunteers got to work, assisting with cleanup efforts and distributing 2,000 personal care packs to victims of the flooding, via the Red Cross.

Youth in the Sunshine Coast region felt a real need to lend their support, according to Mormon Newsroom: “When the call went out from the Red Cross, nearly 100 youth arrived at the Latter-day Saint church hall in Kawana, ready to work.”

Ashely-Kaye Burke, 17, has family living in an area affected by the flooding. “My aunty lost her quilting shop and I know people up there who have lost their homes,” she told Mormon Newsroom. “Coming tonight and making these kits helps me to help my friends. I may not be able to get back all they have lost, but I can do this.”

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In an October 2010 visit to Burundi, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated, "Africa will someday be seen as a bright land full of gospel hope and happiness." Just two years later, the LDS Church reached a milestone that may help prove his words to be prophetic.

Pacific IslandsA special ceremony was held in Pago Pago, American Samoa, as digital mammography and biopsy machines were donated to a local hospital by the LDS Church.

The equipment was given to L.B.J. Tropical Medical Center to replace outdated machines that used film, necessitating a two- to three-week wait for results that had to be sent off-island.

Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy and the Pacific Area Presidency attended as a special representative of the church. Mormon Newsroom reports that in his remarks at the ceremony, he announced that “this donation is for all the people of America Samoa, as well as others who may come here from other Pacific Islands to benefit from its uses.”

Linda K. Burton, general president of the Relief Society, and Rosemary M. Wixom, general president of the Primary, were also in attendance.

Dominican Republic

Young women in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, came together Jan. 31 to “Walk for Virtue.” Carrying colorful banners promoting the virtues of the church’s Young Women’s organization, the teens, ages 12-17, marched about eight miles from a local park to the LDS temple.

"Putting the temple as the common goal of all young people, despite the fatigue, heat and hardship of the journey, is symbolic of our young people and their efforts to reach their goals, particularly goals and ideals that they come closer to God," said Mayra Tejada, president of the Young Women’s group. She said they also aimed to teach others about the values — which include individual worth, choice and accountability, good works, and integrity — which enable the youth “to live virtuously and to serve God in the midst of a society increasingly in need of moral values and principles.”

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is home to the LDS Church’s newest house of worship. The new 14,000-square foot building was built on a half-acre of land donated by the Crown Prince of the Abu Dhabi Emirate and dedicated on Feb. 13.

The building, to be used primarily as a stake center, has three levels and a dome-shaped steeple, in keeping with the local culture and character. The building includes a chapel, offices, classrooms and a small cultural hall.

United Kingdom

In 2012, LDS Church members in the Yate, South Glouchester, area of the United Kingdom began gathering donations for the local food bank. Working throughout the year, the congregation was able to deliver 590 pounds of food — enough to feed nearly 65 people for three days.

The members went the extra mile: When asked to donate Christmas treats, they also collected toys for local children in need. Their offering overwhelmed the food bank staff, who told Mormon Newsroom they did not expect such unanticipated generosity.

The congregation’s Relief Society members also made little girl’s dresses out of pillowcases, T-shirts and other fabric to be donated to children in third-world countries.

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