Mormons preparing for troubled times

This New Story, On Mormon's Preparing For Troubled Times, really was an interesting read. It covers an outsider's perspective on Mormon's and their idea of each family storing a year's supply of food for their family. With the economy so down right now, the world is focusing more and more on what we as a church have been doing for decades: preparing ourselves for troubled times.

The article points to church doctrine concerning "the last days", and the calamities that will come. However, members of the Mormon church aren't only preparing for those types of situations: food storage can come in handy if you lose a job, or just have a hard time making ends meet. The plain fact is, being prepared is helpful for every-day life, not just in case of grave emergency or wide-spread calamity.

Give the article a look, it was a very well written and balanced article.

Mormon church 2008 hurricane relief report

Church Releases Report on 2008 Hurricane Relief

The Church humanitarian aid system is experienced and well equipped to respond to a variety of disasters, including hurricanes. For instance, the Church provided 200 semi-truck loads of aid and 42,000 man-days of labor in response to Hurricane Katrina.

Disasters, as horrible as they are, give Latter-day Saints a chance to serve. Randy Ellis, Houston cannery manager and disaster volunteer, said: “We get involved because that’s who we are. We’re trying to follow the example of the Savior. It feels good to help your neighbor. We don’t do what we do to get people into the Church. We do it just to help people.”

The LDS church contributes a great deal to humanitarian efforts, both monetarily and in actual service hours. These efforts are made because of an understanding that people's physical needs must be met before they can even begin to think about spiritual matters.

Hurricane relief starts before the hurricane

This was a great story illustrating just how dedicated the Mormon church is to helping out whenever it can:

In Advance of Hurricane Gustav, Aid Trucks Already Rolling

Trucks loaded with food, hygiene kits and cleaning kits left for the Gulf Coast yesterday and today. More trucks are being loaded and will leave tomorrow, and additional supplies stored at Church aid facilities in Louisiana and Texas are also being made available

The Mormon church assists with natural disaster relief around the world on a regular basis, and it is great to see the preparations starting before the problem is at its fullest.

Mormons on Harleys

For Mormon bikers, faith a common road

I thought this was a fun write-up about a group of motorcycle riders who ride from temple-to-temple around the US. Sounds like a blast!

Basically, this article points out that the image of Mormonism that most people have isn't entirely correct... we like to have fun, and we come in all personality types. You don't have to fit a mold to be a Mormon!

African Clean Water Project Will Help Over 100,000

Benefits Trickle Down From Clean Water Project

Leading from the storage tank, a main pipe with several distribution lines will provide water to an estimated 160,000 people.

“Water is life,” says Christensen. “This clean water will mean less sickness and prevent many deaths. I cannot fully express how excited the people are about this.”

I was really excited when I read this. It is my dream to be able to help in these sorts of projects, and after my young family grows a bit, I really hope that I will be able to.

This particular project addresses a vital need: clean water. So many people in this world go without it, and it is a simple thing that can change their entire life. I am glad that the LDS church (mormon church) is getting involved.

Church Family History Records Lead to Groundbreaking Genetic Research

Church Family History Records Lead to Groundbreaking Genetic Research

Utah is leading the world in genetic research because of the Utah Population Data Base (UPDB), a unique combination of state vital statistics, other medical profiles and genealogical records from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“More human disease genes have been discovered in Utah than in any other place in the world,” explained Ray Gesteland, vice president for research and a genetics professor at the University of Utah.

That’s because the Church’s family history records provide invaluable information to a host of University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute researchers involved in genetic data studies. The records tying one family to another and yet another provide a resource to medical personnel attempting to tie a genetic marker or cluster of markers to another generation.

This is excellent news. The effort that the LDS church makes to gather records together has so many benefits, for everyone.

BYU Ballroom Dancers to Participate in Olympic Cultural Festival in China

BYU Ballroom Dancers to Participate in Olympic Cultural Festival in China

The championship Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Company recently returned from a three-week performing tour in China, including an invitation to participate in the Olympic Cultural Festival, an international celebration prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

I am personally torn about this year's Olympics, since I do not particularly agree with the Chinese form of government. Still, I am glad that the Chinese do make attempts to work well with the world, though many do not agree with them on many issues.

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/byu-ballroom-dancers-to-participate-in-olympic-cultural-festival-in-china