From Deseret News archives:
LDS leaders praise progress
First Presidency is marking 10 years at the helm of church
Addressing questions from local broadcast reporters, the trio detailed some of what has been accomplished during the administration of President Gordon B. Hinckley, both at home and abroad, since they were named as First Presidency of the church on March 12, 1995.
President Hinckley noted several initiatives during the past 10 years, including the formation and expansion of the Perpetual Education Fund. "When we announced that, we didn't have a thing. But through the generosity of our people, that corpus has grown to a point where we can now educate some 18,000 young people," he said, "lifting them out of a place of poverty to rise above what they've known all their lives to a far better position."
Construction of the Conference Center downtown has been a "very significant thing. We didn't know the Tabernacle was as worn out as it is," he said. The world-famous home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was closed recently for a seismic upgrade and restoration work.
The church has also distributed $641 million in humanitarian aid during the past decade, he said, to assist those in need the majority of them not members of the LDS Church. Millions of children have been vaccinated against measles in the past couple of years through a donation by the church in partnership with the American Red Cross.
President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, said the church has expanded its cooperative efforts with people of other faiths to help the less fortunate. He detailed LDS cooperation with Catholics, Jews, Muslims and those of other faiths to supply food and volunteers for a local soup kitchen, provide tsunami relief and provide clothing and relief supplies at home and abroad.
He and President Hinckley agreed that such efforts have helped ameliorate Utah's religious divide, and all three agreed they are committed to continuing to encourage people to serve each other as the basis for greater understanding.
President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, said he sees a wider acceptance and understanding about Latter-day Saints reflected in the growing number of congressional representatives who are LDS three U.S. senators and nine congressmen from outside Utah.
Comments
- Aggies hold on, win wild one 9:15 p.m.
- S.L. wheels forward with initiative 9:12 p.m.
- Jones' joy for life remembered 9:11 p.m.
- Photos: Hogle Zoo lights up 9:09 p.m.
- CBS producer dies 9:08 p.m.
- A reason why they play the game 9:07 p.m.
- Writing contest entries due 9:07 p.m.
- Public option is a low priority 9:06 p.m.
- Child prostitutes don't get help 9:06 p.m.
- Students on the job front 9:05 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Cougars beat Utes, 26-23
262 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
134 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
114 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Letters: Trump card for believers
99 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Hate crimes against gays rose 11%
74
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
Couldn't agree with you more. Max Hall may have won games, but he won ugly. I...
The comments by the first poster on this thread say it all. How do you even...
Finally someone speaks the truth about the utes and their fans. I normally...
Utah rushes the field when earning a spot in a BSC bowl. YBU rushes the...
The past is the past, be it 2008, or 1984. Today, Utah lost.
Let's just all revel in the fact that we have one of the greatest rivalries...
Yeah Gator In Utah - real impressive non-conference wins against Charleston...
Hall is a year older than Alex Smith. He'll be trying to find a place in the...
BYU - well done. Good game. A little lacking on offense, but decent...
Lot's of Ute whining here, to be expected. So no more of that "Why does BYU...




You can be the first to comment on this story.