Comments about ‘LDS, Islamic relief supplies touch hearts’

I am so grateful there is a SMALL way I can help. I have sent a check to Humanitarian Services, and can do so again. We can also all pray for the people there, and be thankful for our own blessings.

It is good to see two religions combining resources to help people in need.

May we all be helpful and extending ourselves to the relief effort for those areas devastated by calamities this past month. Samoans are some of the most giving and loving individuals I have seen, and very family oriented. May you find some peace and comfort at this time.

According to many of the persons who commented on the story about President Monson's recent conference admonition to help others, Mormons never do anything to help persons who are not members of the church, let alone work with any other religion.

When did President Monson say we should only help only the LDS members??

Wow, are you off track.

Go back and read. You're living in some distant past belief/attitude that you probably heard from
some anti-Mormon anti-Christian negative droll.

In times of Disasters, the LDS Help ALL of God's
Children regardless of denomination, race, creed, color, etc.

When the Welfare System started many decades ago, it basically did help the LDS community.

When the Humanitarian Services began more recently,
THEY HELP EVERY-BODY that is affected by Disaster.
In this case they are working jointly with an organization from another Religious group. Working Hand-IN-Hand with others to help in Disaster Relief!!

I am deeply saddened by your remark about President Monson. If you read in the article, it states that 2-dozen LDS members died, and there were injuries of "scores other". however, it also stated that the Humanitarian help that is being provided is enough for 2,000 people for 3-4 weeks, using about $500,000 in relief supplies. I believe that this aid will be distributed to the many kind people of Samoa, regardless of their religion. There are also many different volunteer Humanitarian Aid groups that will be helping, not to mention the missionaries that will be there to help build the islands of Samoa back to how it was, originally. I do not think they are going to help the LDS members, and snub those that are not of our faith. That is not the purpose.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Samoa! May you find comfort at this challenging time
Alofa tele to you all.

Reading is Fundamental: President Monson never said that, and my comment didn't claim he did.

The Deseret News story in question about President Monson's conference talk produced numerous cynical comments from bitter anti- and ex-Mormons who claimed that the church and its members were self-centered and self-righteous, never helping anyone who wasn't already a member or interested in joining the church.

"Unpossible" is sarcastic internet-speak for "impossible".

These supplies will be given to those in need WITH NO PROSELYTIZING and no one will be asked what religion they are.

The LDS Church's organization efforts get them into areas affected sooner than most relief organizations can pull off.

Those bashing on these efforts are probably the same people that sit by an do nothing except complain.

I am impressed that not only did the LDS Church do this, but partnered with Islamic Relief to carry this out. We ll need to help each other, even the do nothing complainers.

I beleive "Unpossible's" coments were pointing out that contrary to comments posted on another story, the church indeed helps others and does work with other religions. He in fact is agreeing with you.

I think that what Unpossible meant is that some others made comments on a previous article stating that Mormons only help Mormons, etc., and this is proof that they were wrong. It was just worded in confusing way.

Guys, you need to understand his comment before you attack him. Unpossible was refering to comments on a previous article who stated the Church only helps it own, etc... He was using sarcasm to make a point that those people were ignorant.

President Monson doesn't need to be defended. He knows how much we love, appreciate, support, and admire him. The L.D.S. Church has responded to this disaster as well as many others; quickly, quietly, and without all of the fanfare. The Somoan people will come back stronger than ever. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are people of love, charity, faith, and service. We lift where we are planted. God speed.

How can those who are filled with so much bitterness against the Mormon church ignore the the goodness in their massive welfare program to people around the world? Yes, Mormons, like others, don't always live up to their religion, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

TO: "Un"Possible (@4:27PM)

I have lived through the mountain of lies heaped upon the LDS people for year and years. . . and it's getting a OLD.

I am a ward executive secretary in the valley. I seen first hand the long line of NON MEMBERS getting the assistance they need from the Church. I have personally helped many of them.

I'm sure you haven't heard of Mormons with Helping Hands. I was part of the relief effort with Hurricane Charley a few years ago back in Florida. I lived in the Tampa Bay area and got a call, after Charley took a swipe through Florida, and was asked to go south to Port Charlotte to help out.

Before we set out to homes in the area (ANYONES HOME, NOT JUST LDS) a group of about 100 of us removed limbs and brush from around the LDS Chapel there, since it was going to be command center. Down the street there was an independant Baptist church. The minister was by himself trying to clean up. In mass we went down and cleaned it all up. One story amoung many.

There you are again Unpossible but only under another blog name. You must wake each morning to check out this site to see what negative comments you could put on today and then chuckle. Sad to say you are only hurting yourself.
You know better so I won't waste my time defending the church because you already know the truth. How would it be to be you? Such a sad person.

This is great. The help is desparately needed.

I just get sick of the LDS Church turning these disasters into PR opportunities!

Jesus said,

"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

To anyone who might think that the LDS church does nothing to help people of other religions, it's just not true. I live in Georgia, and my husband and brothers-in-law have frequently been called upon to help after disasters here in the south. The past two weekends our church called volunteers to go door-to-door in flooded areas around Atlanta, Georgia. My husband was one of 2,000 LDS volunteers in one area one day, and I don't think he worked in a single LDS home. It was hard, messy, smelly work, pulling out rotting sheet rock and doing whatever else needed doing. He was sore for days afterward. But he was glad he could help. Our ward also made trips to help after Katrina, and I know church members closer to that area who spent even more weekends there, often camping on church grounds but helping people regardless of religion.

The fact is the Church does a tremendous amount when disaster strikes. I would call upon those who are so vitriol towards the LDS Church to look unto themselves before pointing fingers. We should cast out the beam in our own eye before pointing out the sliver in others...

We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are constantly being watched. We have a responsibility, not only for our own salvation, but for the continued effort of missionary work, to not be hypocritical in our actions. In other words, we need to DO as we SAY. In order for us to have any success, we have to be examples in our communities and neighborhoods we live in. Our daily interactions need to be representative of the values we hold so dear. Too many act as though no one is watching.

Those who are so critical, I would ask why? Why throw so much hate and anger towards a group of people who struggle everyday just like you? We are all in this together. We should be looking for ways to build each other up rather than to tear down, don't you think?

Justin, the Church isn't doing this as a PR opportunity. It is simply letting members know where their donations are going. I, for one, am glad to know and enjoyed the story. If the Church didn't disclose where the relief was being sent, you would complain it was being secretive. It is pathetic that you find something to criticize about a relief effort.

I am most pleased to see that the church is leading out by sending in supplies to those who have been so hard hit by this natural disaster. I am pleased that the church has once again partnered with Islamic Relief to help in the transportation of the relief supplies, what a wonderful thing it is to see true charity in action. The lives of those affected by this disaster will be comforted and will slowly rebuild their lives and will draw comfort and strength from knowing that they are loved and remembered by so many others. The church will be busy helping to rebuild homes and to assist those who have been displaced by this event, member and non member alike will be helped and that is one of the wonderful aspects of LDS welfare. The spiritual and the temporal needs will be met and lives will be impacted and life will slowly return back to normal, all because people helping people, it's called charity or in otherwords - the pure love of Christ.