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.

Nope, I'm not a mind reader

Ah. The only thing you deny is being a mind-reader...which, BTW, we already knew. You rip off the mask of your own pretense -- pretending know what emotions underlie a poster's motivations.

As for the rest, since you didn't deny that you like being an elitist bully who engages in ad-hominen attacks, thank you for your tacit admission.

The amount of time I've spent posting is nothing compared to the average time the average Mormon ward engages the dead in some way.

So, I guess by your complete-stranger diagnostic skills, that must mean many Mormons have an unhealthy obsession with the dead.

But, of course, par for the course of your inconsistency, no mention of that comes from your keyboards.

Your comments on this thread, therefore, are questionable on accuracy even as they are laced with criticism, Which makes your posts all the more ironically funny.

Here, you supposedly don't like others issuing religiously based criticism. Yet, that's mostly all you've done on this thread. But that's the way it is with the two-faced: They issues themselves a license to engage in religious criticism; but attempt to frown upon, censor, or forbid others from doing the same.

So, please, keep posting. I couldn't make up a better string of posts showing how your personality is rife with inconsistencies. Maybe you better get in touch with your other half.

Apparently the mormons and muslims have less in common than some would imply. From the link you posted:

Theology Is Not the Common Ground
Despite some arguable similarities in doctrine and practice, there is no apparent theological basis for the deepening ties between American Muslims and Mormons.

Maybe the lds/muslim partnerships in getting aid to the stricken is an example of what it means to be a good Samaritan? Again, I'm sure a starving child doesn't care whether it was a muslim or a mormon who brought them a meal.

Many of us on FR would appreciate it if you were to get a blog and use it to obsess over the mormons instead of doing it here.

Many? It is quite an honor then to be elected as their spokesperson. ;-)

Greyfoxx39 gave you some really sound advice: if you don't like the topic and you just come here to complain about it, go to another thread.

I've read a lot of your posts, Colofornian, and I'm reminded of Emerson : A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

Then why didn't you respond until now? I'm sure our "little-minded, foolish" Colofornian would love to dispel some of your ignorance. An opposing view with some substance would be a welcome change from the typical Mormon apologist.

I don't recall discussing whether or not mormons are Christians, but perhaps we did. I suppose if Muslims can be Christian, then perhaps the mormons can, too.

Boy, that's rather interesting.
Muslims label Christians as "infidels."
Mormons label Christians as "apostates."
Mormons label Christians in their "Scriptures" as "corrupt."
And yet you somehow think Muslims & Mormons want to be on par with the infidel-apostate-corrupt ones?

(Oh, I get it...they just covet the "brand" Name of "Christian")

Otherwise, hey, with advocates abroad like yourself, no wonder people slide down a religious Bahai-like pathway where they run everything together about God and begin to conclude things like a fundamentalist Mormon-is-a-Mormon-is-a-Christian-is-a-Jonestownite-is-a-Branch-Davidian-is-a-Heavens-Gate-ian-is-a-Urantia believer-is a Church Universal & Triumphant-is-a-Wicca-Witch-is-Voodoo practitioner-is-a-New-Ager-is-a-whirling dervish-is-a-Hindu-is-a-Sikh-is-a-Muslim!

"Elder Holland said Tuesday that all 638 Mormon missionaries of many nationalities living in Japan, including 342 from the U.S., are safe and accounted for.

The LDS Church also announced it has been able to identify and document the safety of all members of the Church in the affected area except for one ward and two branches.

"We want to express our sympathy and support for all of the people of Japan. This is not just a concern for Latter-day Saints who are there," Elder Holland said. "Substantial financial help has already been committed to the nation, to the people regardless of their religious affiliation."

LDS Church to move Japan missionaries out of tsunami area a>

Hmmm..."substantial" financial help has "been committed"...I'll bet details of the financial aid amount, the timeline and the recipients thereof will not be forthcoming. It's an easy out though, Br. Holland. I wonder if there will be an appeal this coming Sunday for more monetary donations from the faithful. for which there will be no accounting of disbursements.

Oooooo, I'm a "bully"! Who was it, just a few posts ago, who accused someone of name-calling? I'm sure I'll think of it in a second.

So, I guess by your complete-stranger diagnostic skills

Yours are pretty good, too. Perhaps we unwittingly learned them from the same place.

par for the course of your inconsistency

This must be a par-3 course, because until today I've posted here pretty infrequently. You're a fast learner, I guess. Oh, inconsistency? You mean something like saying someone is a name-caller, then calling them a bully?

Both of us have accounts on this site at the good will and pleasure of its operator. It's your business to post whatever you like, and it's not my place to use the powers that be to prevent you from doing so. However, it's also my right to post the observation that your constant criticism of the lds has gotten tiresome. We know you don't like them or their theology or something. We get it. Get yourself a blog, sell some ads, and get rich talking about the mormons. Until then, perhaps someone could tell me how to set up a killfile.

The local leadership are in the best position to know what to ask for.

Of course, this involves many assumptions on your part:
It assumes that the "local leadership" in many areas are in a position to update their communications. Cellphones batteries do run out in a climate where millions are without access to electricity. Often, cellphone battery usage is dwindled in the early days after a crisis finding out just the most basic info about what happened & calling loved ones to check on their status.

While many still have vehicles, the tsunami wiped out many of the roads or left them so cluttered that access by road is impossible. So mobility is an issue to get to locations where other types of communications can be utilized.

Even neighbors helping neighbors has been hindered in regions where radiation has led to people being told to stay indoors 24/7.

So, will you settle for "I'll bet details of the financial aid amount", etc. or will you to do some research into what they are doing? It's easy to sit here and ready press releases and internet posts and be a Monday morning quarterback. How much financial aid would they have to commit in order to satisfy you?

Apparently the mormons and muslims have less in common than some would imply.

Well, it seems that you didn't bother to read the entire article...even the other headings:

"Shared Values and Histories of Persecution and Prejudice"

Cooperation in Word and Deed.

Muslims and Mormons who attend each other’s religious services or events often report feeling very much at ease. The two faiths often co-host social and educational programs. The Mormon-owned Brigham Young University operates a world-class research operation in translating ancient Arab religious texts, which many Muslims interpret as more than a token sign of interest. The Mormon Church has also donated land for the construction of Islamic mosques, and opened the doors of its meetinghouses to Muslims who feared retribution at their own places of worship after 9/11. Perhaps more importantly, Muslims and Mormons have co-operated in massive disaster relief and other charitable efforts in the wake of the Southeast Asian tsunami and earthquakes. Such efforts are just a part of the Mormon global charitable outreach"

-------------------------------------------------

IMO, mormon leaders who are in the process of highjacking the name "Christian" would be better off in doing more of that "global outreach" with the Christians that have been demeaned by your prophets for over 150 years.

The Muslim Mormon Connection

Apparently the mormons and muslims have less in common than some would imply.

Well, it seems that you didn't bother to read the entire article...even the other headings:

"Shared Values and Histories of Persecution and Prejudice"

Cooperation in Word and Deed.

-------------------------------------------------

The Muslim Mormon Connection

Oooooo, I'm a "bully"! Who was it, just a few posts ago, who accused someone of name-calling? I'm sure I'll think of it in a second.

Any substitute teacher in their first recess-viewing can discern a bully on campus. It doesn't take an in-depth personality profile.

On the other hand, you overrate your psychology skills by somehow upon first glance being able to discern whose mind is in order, "tiny," "small" and "little." (Maybe you have some kind of Branha Psychological chart you go by...still not sure how you do that with complete strangers -- conduct some kind of full-scale mind eval based upon a post or two...and conclude that you know the entirety of their mind...takes a tremendous amount of hubris, arrogance, pride, and haughtiness on your part...but hey, if that's what you've come in here to show...so be it).

...it's also my right to post the observation that your constant criticism of the lds has gotten tiresome

Well, fine if a poster wants to express that view to me. But I'd like to hear that from a given poster who isn't in a full-blown mode of religious criticism on a given thread.

Don't you see the dilemma you provoke in other posters? I mean, do we take your words at face value? -- that we should reconsider critiquing other religious claims? Or, should we believe your actions -- your fruits?...Fruits that tell the entire Freeper community that you think criticizing others' religious expressions is "OK," after all.

It gets rather confusing...so why don't you clear that up for us:
(a) Do you want us to adhere to your message of cutting back or stopping the religious critiques?...
(b) Or your actions??...Actions which tells the world to go full-blown ahead with critiquing others' religious expressions?

[Please...you can't choose both (a) & (b)]

You keep communicating to us in two tones...two messages...two communiques...two of everything. Please simplify your communication 'cause your two-tongued approach just doesn't make the grade.

(Just have a convo with yourself and let us know how you voted...If you have a 1-1 tie with no tiebreaker, hey, we'll understand)

Your quotation from the article doesn't imply there are any theological similarities between the religions, so I'm not sure I see your point. From what I understand, Mormon buildings have been used in the past for meetings of other religions (although I don't know to what extent), but that doesn't mean they agree theologically.

demeaned by your prophets

Not my prophets. Do you mean "demeaned" like the lds are here?

I wonder if there will be an appeal this coming Sunday for more monetary donations from the faithful. for which there will be no accounting of disbursements.

Bingo.

Of course, the Mormon grassroots will step up. I know many of them...'cause many of them are my beloved Mormon relatives, of whom I have zero "bitterness" toward.

But how would anybody ever know if what the Lds grassroots gives to its leadership to pass on is ever passed on to its designated target? We don't. Because Lds, Inc. never gives any accounting of its financial resources and how they are spent.

Oh, sure, if they reveal an amount they give...we can assume they indeed gave that...but what came in from its grassroots to pass on? That number you won't know.

I'd like to hear that from a given poster who isn't in a full-blown mode of religious criticism on a given thread.

Does hearing it in this thread make it any less true than if you heard it somewhere else?

(b) Or your actions??...Actions which tells the world to go full-blown ahead with critiquing others' religious expressions?

I'm not critiquing anyone's religious expressions. In fact, I haven't seen any religious expressions on this thread. I have seen a lot of criticism of the lds church response to the Japan disaster, however, and that's what I'm addressing. Now, if criticism of a church's relief efforts qualifies as religious expression, then I stand corrected. If a person believes in Christ, Allah, or another god, that's between them and their god, a matter of faith which is for them to decide. Deriding an organization (religious or otherwise) for the manner in which they deliver aid to victims of a natural disaster is petty.

Of course, if your religion is to criticize the lds, then there have been religious expressions in this thread. If this is the case, I sincerely apologize and will leave you alone.

Hmmmm . . . where is that killfile . . . I know it's around here somewhere . . .

I'll say it again in case you missed it: "Despite some arguable similarities in doctrine and practice, there is no apparent theological basis for the deepening ties between American Muslims and Mormons."...From what I understand, Mormon buildings have been used in the past for meetings of other religions (although I don't know to what extent), but that doesn't mean they agree theologically.

(Oh, so Mormons would let a Wicca group use its buildings? Yes?)

Nov. 1, 2010: Muslims and Mormons share worship space in St Charles

Your quotation from the article doesn't imply there are any theological similarities between the religions, so I'm not sure I see your point.

Well, read this FR article posted by a Mormon: Latter-day Saint Perspective on Muhammad (LDS/Muslim Caucus)

So here we have a Mormon, Restornu, citing an article written by a BYU prof which says:

Latter-day Saint appreciation of Muhammad’s role in history can also be found in the 1978 First Presidency statement regarding God’s love for all mankind. This declaration specifically mentions Muhammad as one of “the great religious leaders of the world” who received “a portion of God’s light” and affirms that “moral truths were given to [these leaders] by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.” In recent years, respect for the spiritual legacy of Muhammad and for the religious values of the Islamic community has led to increasing contact and cooperation between Latter-day Saints and Muslims around the world.

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