Hiding our alms vs. letting our light shine

the LDS Church start telling more about its humanitarian efforts around the

world, but also don't be surprised if the church doesn't always publicize its

giving.Sharon Eubank, manager of major initiatives at LDS

Humanitarian Services, this week said the LDS

Church is preparing to tell its story of good works in a more visible

way."You will see the church make a bigger effort to define its own

story rather than allowing some detractors to define it." Eubank said in

her presentation.It is interesting to observe that Eubank seems to be

caught between the dichotomy  Latter-day Saints often face when inviting the

public and the media to view good works. In Matthew 6:1-2 it reads: 

"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of

them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." At

the same time Matthew 5:16 also says, "Let your light so shine before

men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is

in heaven."So LDS Humanitarian Services must walk the line between

anonymous alms-giving and letting the LDS Church's light shine. Eubank told

the audience about the difficulty in deciding when the church tells

about its humanitarian efforts and times when it doesn't.  At times,

the alms remain undisclosed when church gifts have involved LDS members

of the U.S. military or when the donation involved a well-known

celebrity who eventually joined the church.In particular, the church

also walks a delicate balance and must keep its humanitarian efforts at a