Church Update on Response to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (Mormon)

LDS Newsroom ^ | March 14, 2011 | Press Release

[greyfoxx39]

Church Update on Response to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

14 March 2011 — Salt Lake City

News Release

As the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami continues to unfold, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is assessing how it will best provide relief. News reports indicate that the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is nearing 3,000 and will likely continue to rise. The majority of casualties in Japan are expected to be from the tsunami rather than the earthquake. Tens of thousands more are homeless and millions are without power. The government of Japan has mobilized thousands of troops, planes and ships for a large-scale emergency response operation.

The Church’s First Presidency made the following statement regarding the disaster:

We express our love and support to the people of Japan as they deal with this terrible tragedy. Our prayers, and the prayers of millions of Latter-day Saints across the world, are with them as they begin to recover from this disaster.

Relief Aid
Communication and transportation is difficult in the most affected areas, but local Church leaders are currently discussing with government and humanitarian organizations ways to provide assistance.

Missionaries and Church Members
The Church reported Saturday morning that all of its missionaries serving in Japan are accounted for and mission leaders are taking precautions to ensure that missionaries remain safe. All missionaries are a safe distance from damaged nuclear plants.

It is likely Church members have been directly impacted by the quake, and local Church leaders are working tirelessly to account for them. Approximately 95% of the Latter-day Saints in the affected areas have been contacted, and initial reports indicate there are no confirmed deaths; however, there is limited information on the status of members from the most devastated areas.

Church Buildings
The Church has received several inquiries regarding the condition of its temple in Tokyo and can confirm that there is no significant damage to the building.  While we know that some buildings have sustained varying degrees of damage, Church leaders in the affected areas are assessing the condition of other Church buildings.

[Godzilla]

Nine LDS chapels located in and around Port-au-Prince have been opened as shelters to support local communities.

Are you aware that when the hurricane pass through there last fall, these chapels were open to members only. Further, those haitan members who did seek shelter there received no food or water during the course of their stay.

[svcw]

If you are going to quote Scripture give reference and use historical perspective.
It is just one more example of lds partnering with muslims.
We are not talking about Christians and muslims, we are talking about lds and muslims.

[svcw]

You have no idea what the LDS church is doing, other than what was mentioned in the article.

Yes, because this discussion is about the post not a google search.

[RBranha]

If you are going to quote Scripture give reference and use historical perspective. It is just one more example of lds partnering with muslims. We are not talking about Christians and muslims, we are talking about lds and muslims.

So, lds and muslims aren't your neighbor? You seem to be taking the same tack as the lawyer to whom Jesus gave the parable.

[RBranha]

Are you aware that when the hurricane pass through there last fall, these chapels were open to members only. Further, those haitan members who did seek shelter there received no food or water during the course of their stay.

Your information is out of context:

"While most Mormon buildings were being used as hospitals and shelters, the particular building mentioned was taken by the government to use as a command center. The [volunteer, unpaid] leader of the congregation did not realize he might have been able to convince the government to allow them to also set up shelters. Once the building was taken over by the government, he appears to have felt it was entirely under their control."

[RBranha]

Yes, because this discussion is about the post not a google search.

My statement was in response to your prior insinuation that the Mormons aren't already on the ground helping with the relief effort. ("While they are still assessing, Christians are already on the ground helping with relief effort.") I believe they are doing more than assessing, but the full scope of their effort is more than can be communicated in a press release.

[svcw]

Show me where I said that. Prove it.
Asking you to give Biblical reference is a perfectly reasonable request.
If you keep stretching you are going to snap.

[RBranha]

Show me where I said that. Prove it.

I didn't quote you, I asked if that's what you're saying. Is it your claim that lds and mormons aren't your neighbor? Luke 10: 25-37 -- is that the reference you're asking for?

[RBranha]

Sorry, I meant “mormons and muslims” . . .

[RBranha]

Sorry, I meant “lds and muslims” . . .

[RBranha]

Either one works, I guess. :-)

[svcw]

Not only are they my neighbors they are my family members.

[RBranha]

LDS, Muslims or both?

[svcw]

lds - family, neighbors, co-workers, friends
muslims - neighbors, co-workers, friends (However, the muslims I know are muslims in name only. Several call themselves Christian muslims, and go to AoG Christian muslim churches. I don’t get why they still say muslim, but that’s for them to decide.)

[Tennessee Nana]

As the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami continues to unfold, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is assessing how it will best provide relief.
_____________________________________________

By sending money to MTW

[Tennessee Nana]

As the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami continues to unfold, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is assessing how it will best
___________________________________________

use the tragedy for their own PR purposes

[RBranha]

I hadn’t heard of “Christian Muslim” or of persons calling themselves that. Are they former Muslims who have converted to Christianity, or do they accept tenets of both?

[Tennessee Nana]

I think this is a case of throwin out an accusation with all 12 fingers crossed...

Personally I lived in Japan in the early 1970s

I do not recall any mormons helping out or giving aid after any of the hurricanes...

[greyfoxx39]

My statement was in response to your prior insinuation that the Mormons aren't already on the ground helping with the relief effort. ("While they are still assessing, Christians are already on the ground helping with relief effort.") I believe they are doing more than assessing, but the full scope of their effort is more than can be communicated in a press release.

"My statement was in response to your prior insinuation that the Mormons aren't already on the ground helping with the relief effort."

You gotta be kidding! If the mormons were on the ground there would have been press releases stating so all over the mormon media. The fact that "you believe" is not any kind of evidence.

We have watched here on FR for several years as the mormons have posted these press releases and it wasn't unusual for them to read as though the "first and only" aid relief was by the LDS in their "advertisement yellow tee shirts".

So, provide actual articles AND links establishing the LDS relief in Japan as we Christians have done. We will gladly read them.

[greyfoxx39]

I don’t know the status of the Mormons’ efforts in Japan, but the following update was given 1 month after the Haiti quake

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2441468/posts

 

Salvation Army Continues Massive Relief Operation in Haiti

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2437940/posts

 

Faiths unite in South Florida to help Haiti

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2437112/posts

 

Surviving Day By Day- Christian

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2435094/posts

 

Churches send doctors, medicine and food to Haiti (Trinitarian Christian Caucus)

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2441343/posts

 

Dr. Dick Furman: A Surgeon’s Reflections - Haiti (Evangelical)

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2435125/posts

 

Tents filled with wounded - Christian