Comments about ‘Former LDS missionaries wanted for service in Haiti’

I am so greatful for leaders with so much love in thier hearts for thier follow brothers and sisters and the Fathers little ones. Brother Studdert my prays and love for you and the missionaries, all of you wonderful brothers are truely liveing as our Lord wanted us live. may the Father in Heaven truely pour out a abundence of blessings on you and the Brothers and all the people of Haiti!!

This is just great- should be national news, national good news

I love Steve Studdert! If anybody can get the job done, Steve is the guy. He and Bonnie served the people of southern California valiantly and have left an indelible impression on many.

Unfortunately, those who have spent much time around Steve Studdert know that everything he does is done in the spirit of self-promotion. Although his self-serving press release published as a news story may sound good, it is nothing but hot air. Steve is hoping to convince some rich guy to finance what will end up being a sight-seeing tour for Steve, a few of his boys, and some friends. They will end up being nothing more than mouths to feed in a country full of people dying from lack of food and water.

I know Steve well, and couldn't disagree more with your comments. What have you done to help those in Haiti?

And what is he gonna go sight seeing, a destroyed place and dying people! Wow what a vacation!

@ Mark Jensen: I am glad someone is putting money where there mouth is and doing something to actually help. I read an interesting essay about how news personnel are actually using up precious resources (housing, food, water, fuel, etc.) instead of pool reporting - taking it away from relief personnel. It looks like this plan is to be self-sufficient - the relief personnel will bring their own supplies to support themselves while helping others. How is that hot air and taking away needed resources?

Mark,
This is one Steve’s sons. Normally such a belittling post as yours deserves no response. But this time is different. Your disparaging words are exactly what is wrong with the world today. It’s always someone else’s fault. My Mother didn’t hold me when I was a kid, I was picked last for kick-ball, Steve Studdert offended me… We’ll Mark; this isn’t about you or my father. This is about the people of Haiti. They need our help and by “our” I mean all of our help. So Mark, here is the challenge, park your self-delusions of grandeur and come with us. You may not speak Creole, you may not have any medical skills, but you have the fundamental capability of making a difference in the lives of others. Or don’t. Stay home, surf the web, leave a couple nasty posts on desertnews… your choice.

If someone knowing Steve Studdert reads this, could you forward him the name/info of the native Haitian in today's (thursday) Des News story by Cathy Free called "Haitian Native Wants to Help Out".

He speaks the language and would dearly love to serve if he could just get there.

Thanks.

What a great post! I bet you'll look back on that with pride for years to come.

I wish I could go. God's speed. Brother Jensen, God loves you.

I don't know Steve and I don't know Bro. Jensen, but I do know Steve deserves a medal and Bro. Jensen should be taken out into the West Desert and left for the buzzards.

It is truly unfortunate to use this opportunity to gain converts. It is really alarming.

I have spent a year of my mission with President Studdert. Mark Jenson's post couldn't be further from the truth. I have never known President Studdert to make a selfish decision. If only we had more people like him to help out in situations such as this. God Bless you President Studdert and may His guidance guide you and those who join you on this journey to those who need your help the most.

'use this opportunity to gain converts'???

I didn't see anything about gaining converts in the article. Nice reading between the lines though.

Having served a mission I can tell you if I had the chance to go back and serve the people again I would do it in a minute. My guess is the former missionaries of Haiti are torn apart by the suffering there and will be thrilled to go dig trenches, build walls, or whatever else is required.

To assume they're just doing this to gain converts is astounding.

I applaud Bro Studdert for using his connections to bless these suffering people.

....and to those who think it's self-serving on his part, pffffft! I'm sure there are a million other ways he could build his connections, reputation, or whatever else you think he's doing for attention. I think you're way off base though.

This article has shown me that close reading is good. I assumed that Studdert had been mission president in Haiti. However, on closer examination I found that there was nothing in the article that said that was so, but I only realized that after I had done an indepth study on him, found references to him serving as mission president in Carlsbad California and no references to him serving in Haiti.

Nothing in the article implied he was a mission president in Haiti...His experience as MP means he knows what missionaries are capable of and how to organize them, and his political ties means he can get things past the red tape. I applaud him for his efforts and shame on the naysayers...He is DOING something and that is wonderful! There will always be those who fight against goodness and good deeds (they never go unpunished) but those who fight against 'the good' will eventually lose! The LDS church buildings in Haiti held up and at least a few have been used as refuges and medical facilities...Good for the people of Haiti and thank God for the LDS people.

Self serve away!

Maybe Mark Jensen(4th comment) could also do some self-promotion stunts.

I, for one, would be very willing to bow down and worship him and publicize his self-serving, self-promoting, egocentric stunts if he too takes plane load of people to help in Haiti.

How about it, Mark??

I could have an attitude that some guy is getting all the attention, or I can look and see that this man has used what has been given to him to help. He has worked in the Government as a presidential adviser, he has been a mission president and stake president. He has a very compassionate heart and his idea is what Haiti needs, it needs these guys who can speak the language to work along side with people in that country who do not. This is like 9/11 where all religions work together, all parties work together, this is not about an ego, and as far as I see, the only egos here are those who are looking down on this great idea of service. Nothing but good will come from this, and I am glad that Brother Studdert's son spoke out in defense of his father. You know though, I bet that his father doesn't mind, cause right now, he cares more about these people who are going through such a terrible tragedy and will be so grateful for the help of these missionaries. Please let us know how this works out. I care.

As a graduate student studying Emergency Management, I must say this is indeed a wonderful idea. This is a good mix of muscle, heart, and other unique abilities. This is a group that can easily integrate with the existing relief networks and won't need hand-holding. God Speed!