Newsroom Blog

Peru Earthquake Aftermath - 30 Months Later

2010-02-09T21:04:20Z

Deseret News reporter Jason Swensen covered the 2007 earthquake in Peru and recently visited the city of Pisco to talk to Latter-day Saints for their stories of rebuilt homes and spirits. His story appears in the Church News.

A significant rebuilding effort by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has returned a renewed sense of security for people in Peru.

Former Church branch president Wenceslao Conde has Wednesday, 15 August 2007, etched in his mind for two events. Conde had just returned home from his mother's funeral when the second event occurred, an 8.0 earthquake. It shook and brought down thousands of homes and buildings upon the residents of Pisco and in many other cities.

Pisco, located 160 miles southeast of Lima, was about 80% destroyed, and as many as 430 residents died there.

The Church not only responded immediately after the earthquake by delivering aid and relief but embarked on a major rebuilding project to help Peruvians realize home ownership again in structures more prepared for seismic activity. To date, nearly 350 homes have been completed with Church-provided materials and expertise.

The Conde family now lives in a modest two-level house constructed as part of the Church's home-rebuilding program.

"I feel so much gratitude to be able to live in a home such as this," he said, pointing to the many columns that support his roof and walls. "I have learned to have confidence in the Lord."

United in Love and Help in Samoa

2010-02-05T23:51:17Z

In late January, 40 men from a local Latter-day Saint congregation in Samoa worked together to build a home for a family who lost their home during the September 2009 tsunami. According to the article in the Samoa Observer, the family is one of 40 for whom the Church is building homes in Samoa. Read the full story in the Samoa Observer.

Pure Religion in Haiti

2010-02-03T22:43:10Z

In this week's posting on the On Faith blog, Michael Otterson writes about the outpouring of aid following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Many relief organizations, governments and churches are working together to relieve the suffering there.

It is a scene we have witnessed before: when lives are devastated by disaster, the best of humanity surfaces as many set aside personal conveniences, agendas and interests to selflessly take part in what the Bible describes as pure religion--"to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction..."

The full blog post can be found here.

Physicians Follow Savior's Example in Mending Hearts in Haiti

2010-01-29T23:54:14Z

Dozens of doctors have boarded planes from cities across the country--all with one destination in mind, Haiti. One such volunteer is Oregon physician Dr. Mark Rampton. His journey with a 20-member medical team is chronicled in his hometown newspaper, the Corvallis Gazette Times.

This effort is part of a coordinated aid project to get medical supplies and expertise into Port-au-Prince.

Dr. Rampton and his team joined other doctors in treating broken bones and infections while preparing victims of the 12 January earthquake in Haiti for much-need plastic surgery procedures. Working from a makeshift medical center in one of nine converted LDS meetinghouses, he describes the conditions as "war medicine."

On one typical day, Dr. Rampton said he had seen 80 patients and "more tragedy in one day than I would want to see in a lifetime."

"A man came in, a 42-year-old handsome Haitian man with one leg swollen to twice the size of his other leg," said Dr. Rampton. "He'd lost the feeling in his foot (from the infection), and a general surgeon had to open up his leg to drain it. We got him on antibiotics. Halfway through surgery, someone poked their head in and said a woman was in labor in the hallway. (She delivered), and that was the best thing all day." (See Corvallis Gazette Times for full story).

Sound bites from Dr. Rampton experiences in Haiti: "success stories", "tough as nails" and "stitching up wounds".

Audio Interview With Church Area Welfare Director in Caribbean

2010-01-23T01:22:20Z

Today several Utah media outlets interviewed, Bennie Lilly, an area welfare director who is assigned to the Caribbean area and based in the Dominican Republic. Lilly is involved in coordinating the Church's relief efforts in Haiti. Audio from that press conference call is available here.

CNN.com Features Teenager's iReport of Relief Efforts for Haiti

2010-01-20T18:00:54Z

CNN.com featured 14-year-old Ryan Samuels' iReport from a Church gymnasium in North Miami Beach, Florida, about a relief project for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

According to the CNN.com story, "Samuels has taken a special interest in this project since he has a lot of Haitian friends, and his father lived in Haiti for two years and speaks fluent Creole. Samuels' father, who is the vice mayor of the city of Miramar, has strong ties to the Haitian community in South Florida."

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-395656

See newsroom.lds.org for more information about the Church's relief efforts in Haiti.

Church Relief Efforts in Haiti

2010-01-15T23:53:00Z

The Church has posted the following news releases about its relief efforts in Haiti on the Newsroom Web site. We will continue to post any new information here:

(UPDATE) 22 January: First Presidency Appeals to Church Members to Help People in Haiti

(UPDATE) 22 January: Despite Challenges, Church Aid Reaching Needy; More Is on the Way

(UPDATE) 18 January: Church Aid Continues to Arrive in Haiti

14 January: Church Sending Team of Doctors to Assist in Haiti

13 January: Church Sends Additional Aid to Haiti Earthquake Victims

13 January: Church Response to Haiti Earthquake

Perpetual Education Fund Helping in Samoa

2010-01-08T21:16:53Z

In December 2009, newsroom.lds.org reported that 40,000 people had benefitted from generous donations to the Perpetual Education Fund (PEF), administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One such example, Loukinikini Atonio of Vaiusu, Samoa, is profiled in the Samoa Observer:

"If it were not for the PEF," said Atonio, "I would not have been able to commence (post-secondary) education and would not have been able thereafter to obtain a government scholarship to get my law degree."

Formed in 2001, the PEF is designed to provide low-interest educational loans for tuition, books and fees for individuals in select developing countries. Funds are disbursed to aid in skill development and to further education locally.

Atonio now serves as state solicitor in the attorney general's office in Apia, Samoa.

To read the full story in the 6 January 2010 Samoa Observer, click here.

Church Statement on "White Horse Prophecy" and Political Neutrality

2010-01-06T23:40:00Z

Two weeks ago The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement regarding the so-called "White Horse prophecy" in response to news inquires regarding comments made by an Idaho politician. The matter has received additional coverage in the news media of late and so we reiterate that statement here:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is politically neutral and does not endorse or promote any candidate, party or platform. Accordingly, we hope that the campaign practices of political candidates would not suggest that their candidacy is supported by or connected to the church.

"The so-called 'White Horse Prophecy' is based on accounts that have not been substantiated by historical research and is not embraced as Church doctrine."

Church, Others Help at Georgia Family Center

2010-01-05T15:58:14Z

The Times-Herald ran a story about how volunteers from several different churches and organizations made Christmas better for families staying at the BelAir Family Center during the holidays. Kathy Diaz, president of the local Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Newnan said, "To see joy on the faces of those children, and a sense of peace across the faces of the parents, truly was a delight." See the full story here: http://www.times-herald.com/local/Churches--others-help-BelAir-Family-Center--944942

Writing News Articles About Temples

2009-12-30T14:21:00Z

In December, the Church announced the open house and dedication dates for three new temples (Vancouver British Columbia Temple, The Gila Valley Arizona Temple, Cebu City Philippines Temple). It is customary for the Church to open the doors of its temples to the public and the media before they are dedicated. Temple open houses are attended by tens of thousands of visitors and also frequently garner extensive media attention.

Because Latter-day Saints view temples as sacred, it may be difficult for the news media to know how to write about them. To help journalists better understand the purpose of temples and why we build them, we've created an extensive library of information on our Web site, including the following:

Background Information on Temples
A basic fact sheet on temples.

Official Temple List
The Church's official list of temples.

Of Chapels and Temples: Explaining Mormon Worship Services
Recent research has shown that many people confuse Latter-day Saint temples with chapels, which are used for regular Sunday worship services. This document explains the differences between the two.

Temples Reflect Biblical Patterns
An explanation of how temple worship is based on the Bible.

The Work of Temple Construction
A news story explaining some of what goes into constructing a temple.

The Publicity Dilemma
A Church response to inappropriate depictions of its temples.

A video explaining why Mormons build temples.

We hope these documents are useful in helping the news media, bloggers and the public better understand Latter-day Saint temples.

ABC Radio (Australia) Journalist Sings With Mormon Tabernacle Choir

2009-12-28T16:38:56Z

ABC Radio (Australia) journalist Lisa Millar reported on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir last week on the national news and current affairs program, AM.

In her report, Millar talked to Mormon Tabernacle Choir members and about her experience of singing with the choir. To listen to the report or read a transcript, click here.

Temple Square Named "Favorite Place to Catch the Holiday Spirit"

2009-12-17T14:57:16Z

Inspectors from the American Automobile Association recently picked some of the best places to enjoy holiday festivities around the country, and the lights on Temple Square made the list. AAA inspectors were asked to list their favorite places across the nation to "catch the holiday spirit" during the winter months. Twelve of the places they selected are currently highlighted in a travel article on the AAA Web site.

The travel article explains that experiencing the holidays on Temple Square is a one-of-a-kind experience. The life-size Nativity scene, the music and video presentations and the hundreds of thousands of lights are highlighted as important reasons that Temple Square was chosen. The public is invited to enjoy the festive decorations on Temple Square. The lights are turned on at dusk and turned off at 10 p.m. on Temple Square and 10:30 p.m. on the areas surrounding the square The light display ends on New Year's Eve.

Savior of the World Musical Takes Stage in Spanish

2009-12-16T20:56:55Z

Every year at Christmastime, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosts a Latino Christmas program in Utah. This year's program consisted of performances of the first act of El Salvador del Mundo, or The Savior of the World, performed entirely in Spanish.

The angel Gabriel appears to Mary, announcing the future birth of the Savior.

The one-act drama tells the Christmas story, including the events leading up to and including the night of the Savior's birth as told in the scriptures. The musical was performed on Friday, 4 December, and twice on Saturday, 5 December, at the Bountiful Regional Center.

Many of the performers participated in the event as a family. This was convenient because of the huge time commitment required, sometimes including significant driving time because the volunteers came from many different areas.

The entire cast consisted of 120 individuals.

Despite all the hard work and long hours, there was a huge feeling of optimism backstage before the performance's opening night.

"Your testimony grows and it's almost impossible not to see the message that can be given through a play," costume director Carla Montesino said about incorporating music and acting with the script. "It may reach people in a way that no other medium could."

"It has been a great experience for everyone involved," said Montesino.

The Church has a growing population of Spanish-speaking members, approximately 4.5 million throughout the world.

Currently, an interactive exhibit is on display in the Church History Museum that details the history of Latter-day Saints in Latin America. Media coverage of the exhibit can be accessed through the Deseret News and KSL-TV.

In September 2009, the Church made available a Latter-day Saint edition of the Holy Bible in Spanish.

Two additional performances of El Salvador del Mundo will take place on 19 December at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah.

The wedding of Mary and Joseph, observed by angels above.

The Nativity scene: Joseph, Mary, and the Christ child.

2009 Parliament of World's Religions Gathers in Melbourne

2009-12-15T00:26:19Z

First held in Chicago in 1893, the Parliament of the World's Religions brings together religious and civic leaders from dozens of countries. The fifth such parliament convened in December in Melbourne, Australia, and brought together 10,000 "people of faith, spirit and goodwill" from 220 different faiths and 80 countries. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was represented.

Media, including the BBC, covered the weeklong interfaith event.

During the gathering, Latter-day Saint Church leaders discussed the doctrinal understanding of families and chaired breakout sessions on the need for worldwide service. A choir of 80 Latter-day Saint Samoan voices entertained the audience with their performance.

In his closing remarks Professor Daniel C. Peterson, from Brigham Young University, referred to the late Lutheran bishop of Stockholm, Krister Stendahl, when he encouraged attendees to "compare the best of our own faith tradition with the best of others' religions; not our best to their worst."

See the complete story detailing the Church's participation on the Church's official Australian Web site.