Monday, February 22, 2010

39q - Our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Requires All of Us to Serve Our Fellow Man!

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TODAY'S THEME

King Benjamin's Farewell Address -by Gary Kapp
Mosiah: 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Those were the words of King Benjamin, a Nephite prophet of God who lived in about 124 B.C. which are recorded in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are taught that the words of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ are meant to guide us in our living.
A prophet of God of our day, Ezra Taft Benson* (since deceased) has said:

“The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign
Magazine, November 1986, page 4
My beloved brethren and sisters, today I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel. I speak of the gift of the Book of Mormon, given to mankind 156 years ago.
This gift was prepared by the hand of the Lord over a period of more than a thousand years, then hidden up by Him so that it would be preserved in its purity for our generation. . .(emphasis added)
I will provide the entire text of that address given by the Prophet, Ezra Taft Benson at The General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (October 1986) in my next post. 39r.

In recent posts I have been providing information about world-wide service the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been providing throughout the world, over a long period of time to alleviate stress to afflicted people of many nations throughout the world, regardless of their nationality, race or religious affiliation.

Most recently I have provided information about what the LDS Church is presently doing, in cooperation with others to provide assistance in the Caribbean nation of Haiti that was struck by a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake very recently.

Again I have copied an article from lds.org.

Church to build temporary housing in Haiti before rainy season
From lds.org
Published: Monday, Feb. 15, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is launching an aggressive program to put as many as 600 urgently needed temporary housing kits into the hands of Haitian members before the rainy season starts in April. A single kit includes lumber, corrugated tin for the roof, cement and hurricane straps for the roof.

Copyright Intellctual Reserve, Inc.
Transitional housing allows people to prepare their own site and assemble a house from a kit.

The goal is to get families back on their properties by clearing away the rubble through organized service projects. Once properties are cleared, tents or the new temporary shelters can be set up. It is a continuing effort by the Church to restore normalcy and promote self-reliance.

“The principle of welfare should take place, where we help the people help themselves,” said Berthony Theodore, a senior Haitian Church leader.

Church welfare managers have assisted local Church leaders in establishing a well-stocked storehouse of life-sustaining supplies such as beans, rice and milk.

Orders are filled through local congregational leaders. Deliveries are then made to the nine Latter-day Saint meetinghouses that have been used as shelters for those displaced by the quake.

Copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Transitional housing allows people to prepare their own site and assemble a house from a kit.
Havens of safety and calm

Hundreds of families continue to seek shelter at the nine Latter-day Saint meetinghouses around Port-au-Prince four weeks after the temblor. The meetinghouses have become known as places of calm and security to those staying there.

Copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Jeannicia Alexandre, the LDS Relief Society president in a local congregation in Haiti, helps assemble temporary housing.

The Church has provided nearly 1,500 tents to those left homeless, and many now dot the property around the chapels. “A neighbor told me about this place and invited me to come,” said 16-year-old Cazy Lenlingy. “I am very happy to be here. Everyone has been kind and has received me well, thanks to God.”

Over 7,000 people originally took refuge at the meetinghouses, with those not of the Mormon faith making up more than two-thirds of the homeless.
Copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Haitians use a Church meetinghouse courtyard for temporary shelter

Doctors

The Church has sponsored several member teams of doctors to administer to the medical needs of the many people injured in the quake.

"I couldn't sit back on my couch and watch it if there was something I could do," said Dr. John Matheson of Kennewick, Washington, in a voice choked with emotion.

Volunteer doctors from the United States served side-by-side with Haitian pediatrician Gislaine St. Louis, a member of the Church.

“After the earthquake I closed my private clinic to devote my time to helping the children in these areas,” said Dr. St. Louis. “I love the children and want them to do better.”

When Dr. St. Louis and her fellow doctors began to visit the injured at various meetinghouses, word of mouth quickly spread throughout the community and dozens of patients began to trickle in for help. The doctors were making sure wounds treated immediately after the quake were healing properly and free from infection.
Copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

The Church is launching an aggressive program to put temporary housing kits into the hands of Haitian members before the rainy season starts in April.

"What has touched me the most is seeing people congregate to the Church and seeing how quickly the Church organized after the initial disaster and responded,” Dr. St. Louis said.

Even with the chaos there often springs hope. Three doctors say the same day they arrived in Haiti they faced their first medical emergency.

"I noticed a woman breathing heavily and pushing. She was going into labor!" said Dr. Rodney Anderson of Vernal, Utah. Dr. Anderson knows all about labor. He has delivered more than 4,000 babies throughout his career. "I was hoping to deliver a baby while I was here. I just didn't think it would happen so soon," he said.

Doctors Matheson, Anderson and Craig Coleby of Houston, Texas, placed the expectant mother on a pingpong table and delivered a tiny but healthy baby boy.

The new mother, Noiselia Saintdor, said she and her five children were panicked after the earthquake destroyed their home. They were running down the street with nowhere to turn for safety.

"We are not members of this church but I prayed to God to know where to go," said Noiselia. She saw others going to the meetinghouse and followed.

"When I arrived I was really happy because of the security that I feel here," recalled Noiselia. “I am grateful for the people that have received us here and for everyone who is doing this great work.”

Future plans

Response teams on the ground in Port-au-Prince are continuing to assess the situation and coordinate with other nongovernment organizations and relief agencies. While details are still being worked out, future activities will likely include assisting in agricultural, water and mobility projects, providing employment assistance, providing continued support to temporary settlements, and continuing work with other relief agencies.

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*Ezra Taft Benson, (since deceased), served for eight years as the Secretary of Agriculture in the cabinet of U.S.A. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower while on leave as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After President Eisenhower's two term presidency ended, Elder Benson returned as a full-time member of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve. He later served as the President of that Church. (This clarification was added to this Church News Article by Neil Birch, blogger.)

The following is The current Mormon Message!

Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?

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DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.

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