As part of its 150th anniversary, Brigham Young University (BYU) has welcomed several Light the World Giving Machine kiosks to its campus this Christmas season.
“Tonight, we’re celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ,” said BYU President C. Shane Reese on Monday, December 1, 2025, at one of the university’s “Nights of Light” parties, where Giving Machine kiosks were available. “We felt like on this campus, where we’re trying to become a Christ-centered, prophetically directed university of prophecy, what better way to celebrate Christmas than to have our sesquicentennial be a night of celebration of that event. It’s an opportunity for us as an entire campus to commemorate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.”
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
More than 10,000 students attended Monday’s festivities, which also included a Christmas tree lighting.
This is the first year the Giving Machine initiative has come to the BYU campus. The kiosks are being hosted this Christmas season in 126 cities, in 21 countries and on six continents — including the first in South America. New international countries this year include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Italy, Japan, Spain and Thailand.
“It’s so neat to be able to have [Giving Machine kiosks] on campus,” said BYU Student Body President Caleb Rogers. “Even though we’re students and we might not have a lot that we seem like we can give, there’s still all sorts of ways that we can give, even in small ways. It’s meaningful for us to have that opportunity to choose to give.”
Each customized Giving Machine is loaded with tangible items and services that help people in need, providing a meaningful and memorable way to show love and extend hope to individuals and families. Items vary by city. A typical machine includes food, clean water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education support, hygiene kits, bedding, job and career training, and even livestock such as chickens, goats, pigs and beehives.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
“For us, [Christmas] is a time of renewal, a time of giving, a time of peace,” said Aaron Essilfie, a student and native of Ghana.
“We just want to create more memories for our kids,” added his wife, Nina. “[These Christmas celebrations] will help us feel the spirit of Christmas.”
Donny Beyer, who attends BYU, said it is important for students and their limited means to remember that “when you have nothing to give, it is when you have the most to give.”
“It’s really awesome being here and seeing all these students who are in the same boat trying to get by on little money, and we’re still willing to go and give and try to serve,” Beyer said.
Student Sydney Landini added that the Giving Machine initiative “helps to point us away from ourselves and towards others, which is exactly what Jesus Christ would do.”
The Giving Machine initiative is only one way BYU is focusing on service to celebrate 150 years. All 466,000 of its living alumni are invited to do 150 hours of service during the year.