MormonNewsroom.org features stories from its international Newsroom websites to share what leaders and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world are doing to better the communities in which they live.
South Africa: Church Leader Visits South Africa
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited Latter-day Saints in South Africa recently.
In addition to meeting with members of the Church, Elder Christofferson and other Mormon apostles visited with religious and community leaders.
Go to the South Africa Mormon Newsroom Facebook page to see Elder Christofferson’s travels in Africa.
Panama: Mormon Apostle Visits Catholic Leaders
Two leaders of the Catholic Church in Panama met with Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October. Their meeting focused on the two faiths standing together on the issues of defending family values, sustaining traditional marriage and strengthening the bonds of friendship that unite both religions.
Elder Oaks said, “As long as we are together we can strengthen those fundamental principles that have strong and dignified families, strengthening belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, all being better Christians together.”
Go to the Panama Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish) for more of what the religious leaders said.
Argentina: Mormon Apostle Encourages Support for People of Faith
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at the South American Forum for Religious Freedom in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in early November.
He said, “Our society has become so blinded in its efforts to remedy unjust discrimination against various classes of people that it is now at risk of creating another victimized class: people of faith, just like you and me.”
Read what else Elder Rasband said about religious freedom on the Argentina Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish).
India: LDS Charities Gives Girls Health Kits
Orphaned girls in India received hygiene kits assembled especially for them from LDS Charities, the humanitarian arm of the Church.
The 100 kits were donated to girl-only orphanages for a program called “Days for Girls.” The orphanages are run by Udayan Care of New Delhi, India, and are operated in a family-type environment.
Go to the India Mormon Newsroom website to learn more about this needed program.
Ghana: Wheelchair Gives Man Life
“I will never sell my wheelchair for anything. It has given me life, and I am a man now,” said a recipient of a wheelchair from LDS Charities.
Free weeklong medical training was given in October to assist clinicians and technicians in Ghana to provide properly-fitted wheelchairs to impaired people. Needy recipients received an appropriate LDS Charities manual wheelchair, hand-powered trike or walking aid, consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Go to the Ghana Mormon Newsroom website for more on the story.
Pacific: Mormon Helping Hands Perform Service in the Islands
Mormon Helping Hands volunteers worked on several service projects that all took place on the same day in late October.
The service, performed in New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the islands of the South Pacific, included pulling weeds, fixing a basketball court, painting and cleaning flower beds.
The Pacific Mormon Newsroom website has additional photos and information on the projects.
Nigeria: 67,000 Hours of Service Performed
More than 45 communities across 22 African states have benefited by service performed by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The service by Mormon Helping Hands volunteers covered many things including opening and clearing blocked drains, rehabilitating roads and cleaning parks and cemeteries. Schools, hospitals, markets, motor parks and other public places were also given a facelift.
Read more about the service on the Nigeria Mormon Newsroom website.
Guatemala: Latter-day Saints Serve During October
The yellow vests and yellow T-shirts are recognized throughout South America as the Mormon Helping Hands. You can see the volunteers beautifying their communities and cleaning up liter in parks, beaches and orphanages.
During the month of October, Mormon Helping Hands were helping to reforest parks, clear streets and parks, clean cemeteries and work with health departments to help eliminate mosquito-borne diseases.
Go to the Guatemala Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish) to read more about the Latter-day Saints’ service.