President Holland Opens His Heart to Families Impacted by California Wildfires 

The January wildfires in Los Angeles County brought damage and destruction for people living in a beautiful part of the United States. For thousands, their world turned upside down as strong winds enabled ferocious fires to destroy trees, homes and neighborhoods.

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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Pasadena, Palisades and Altadena, California, who were impacted by the recent wildfires gathered in a chapel on Saturday, February 22, 2025, to hear from President Jeffrey R. Holland, the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“[God] loves us,” said President Holland to a capacity gathering of Church members and their friends who continue to experience excruciating loss. “I don’t know whether a meeting like this means anything to you, but it means a lot to us that we want you to know. We cry with you. We pray with you. You’re not isolated. You’re not forgotten.”

Hilary and Jonathan Cannon had a home in Pacific Palisades. “I can’t help but think of my kids’ grief,” said the mother of four young girls, ages 3 to 10. “They are just devastated.”

Days earlier, she was scouring the lot looking for family keepsakes.

“I can walk through; I can see everything in my home,” she said, recalling a desire to find the Christmas tree with personalized Christmas ornaments made for each of their daughters. “But it’s like your brain knows that it’s gone, you can’t accept it because it’s too much to, it’s too much.”

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“We cling to what we know,” President Holland said. “That means faith, perseverance, patience and brotherly kindness.”

He also testified that too often, we pursue “long-suffering but don’t want it to be very long … and don’t want to suffer.”

“This is just a tiny moment in our lives that is really difficult and probably will be for a long time,” said Jonathan Cannon, “but knowing that there’s something greater with God’s love that will strengthen us and protect us and help us get through this.”

President Holland acknowledged the role of “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” in overcoming loss, frustration, sadness and sin.

“We need to pray more,” he said, referring to his own health challenges. But he acknowledged they are a beneficial part of God’s plan for blessing each of His children.

Wildfires in January are rare as they typically appear during the summer months. Meteorologists have noted that the rains that followed the wildfires created additional damage to streets and public spaces due to flooding.

The Palisades, Eaton and Hughes fires are among the 10 largest fires to hit this area since 2013.

“I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” said President Holland, referencing the Savior’s words to young people and offering a blessing to their mothers who are flying “the flag of faith.”

Read more in this related Church News story Faith, hope and resilience after Southern California wildfires

Elder Mark Bragg, North America West Area President, along with his wife, Yvonne, joined in support. They are lifelong members of the West Hollywood area.