by Charlotte Wilson | May 23, 2013 | About Mormons
On Monday, May 20, a cluster of tornadoes hit several states, the most severe storms hitting Oklahoma. Reports say that at least twenty-four people have died, including several children. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) sends its deepest condolences to the victims and has already 
started assisting in the relief effort.[1] These efforts are not unique to the Church of Jesus Christ and are characteristic of the faith’s emphasis on administering to those in need and serving those within the community.
The Church of Jesus Christ Is Already Involved in Helping the Tornado Victims
Within hours of the disaster, local leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ were in the process of coordinating with other local relief agencies to organize and execute relief efforts for the victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes. These volunteer efforts also include establishing a relief center that will help coordinate supplies, volunteers, and volunteer assignments. The relief force from The Church of Jesus Christ will consist primarily of local church members and full-time missionaries. (All of the Mormon missionaries—approximately 200—have been accounted for.) (more…)
by Charlotte Wilson | May 13, 2013 | Mormons in the News
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church) was restored in the United States, but has since spread to the whole world. The Church of Jesus Christ has a presence on almost every continent and seeks to influence the world for good. Its leaders and members seek out opportunities to serve communities, reach out to those in need, and share its message of hope and faith. [1]
The Church of Jesus Christ Donates to the Community
Some humanitarian service is headed up by the official Humanitarian Services department of The Church of Jesus Christ. Recently the Humanitarian Services donated large kitchen equipment—including stoves, ovens, and freezers—to an orphanage in Snyatyn, a town in southern Ukraine. With this equipment the orphanage can better prepare healthy meals for the children.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ don’t need the official Humanitarian Services department to give back to their communities, however. Church members in the Jinja district of Uganda recently rounded up footballs (what Americans call soccer balls) to donate to the Federation of Uganda Football Association. The giving of the donation was done in conjunction with the kickoff of the annual Presidential Under-16 Cup. The Church of Jesus Christ has offered loyal support to this organization, and this relationship is a great way for Ugandan Church members to involve themselves in their community. (more…)
by Charlotte Wilson | May 8, 2013 | Mormons in the News
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) have great programs in place to help them serve the community. One of the most noteworthy programs is Mormon Helping Hands. Mormon Helping Hands reaches out to poor and struggling communities and provides volunteers to help accomplish community projects. One of the most recent Mormon Helping Hands took place in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
Working together as families and friends
On April 27, 2013, families from all over southern California came to volunteer with Mormon Helping Hands. Men, women, and children donned the yellow vests and went to work on a landscaping project and a food drive. Parents brought their children with them, which made this day of service a wonderful family opportunity. Adult volunteers worked on applying mulch to a dog park, planting decorative plants by a parking lot, and repainting park benches. Youth and children volunteers collected food and hygiene items from neighbors and brought them to a local LDS chapel as part of a food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank.
On this one Saturday family members of all sizes had the opportunity to connect with others in the community. Through this service, parents not only taught their children about the value of hard work, but they also taught them the value of reaching out to those in need and the importance of connecting to your community. (more…)
by ashley | Nov 1, 2012 | About Mormons
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church” by friends of other faiths) is politically neutral; members can choose which political stance they feel is best. While political liberal Harry Reid is prominent in Washington, conservative Mormon Mitt Romney is in the presidential race. During each Presidential election there is a Republican National Convention—but this year it was cut short because of Tropical Storm Isaac knocking at their doors. So what did the Utah delegation do during this time? They did what is typical of their state’s Mormon majority—they served! During this political gathering, they focused on the needs at hand and assembled 1,000 hygiene kits to be distributed by LDS Church (see Deseret News). Was this something done to get attention by the media? No way. Just your typical Mormon way of doing things.
Mormons believe that as human beings, we should be our “brothers’ keepers” (Genesis 4:9). Which is why there are so many Mormons gathering in efforts to serve others. How do we do it? Here is an example of an e-mail sent to a local Relief Society (the women’s organization in the LDS Church): (more…)
by Keith L. Brown | Sep 1, 2012 | About Mormons
Because of the country’s political climate, people in the United States are discovering that voluntary service and charitable donations go hand in hand with being a Mormon (a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also called LDS or Latter-day Saint). As the story of the private life of presidential candidate Mitt Romney has unfolded, so has his personal commitment to both causes.
Now, two independent studies confirm that members of the Church of Jesus Christ not only “talk the talk;” they actually spend the greatest amount of time and money bolstering the LDS Church and their community, despite being only about 2% of the national population. One study reveals that Utah, which is 60% Mormon, is the most generous state, while the other study indicates that Mormons donate “significantly” more time and money than the average American. (more…)
