Mormons in Africa (Good story)

The Examiner ^

[StormPrepper]

Whole article

While Africa is one of the fastest growing areas of converts for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, proselyting and maintaining over 900 congregations is just part of the impact the Church has in these countries. In the last ten years alone the LDS church has:

·Distributed nearly 40,000 wheelchairs as well as trained people to construct a wheelchair from basic bicycle parts.

·Aided more than 130,000 Africans with their vision treatment program. Volunteer ophthalmologists assist medical care providers around the world with training and equipment to treat simple vision problems.

· Been able to provide access to clean water for four million Africans in 17 different countries through the Church’s clean water initiatives.

· In partnership with other world health organizations, trained over 53,000 Africans in neonatal resuscitation techniques.

[skip to]

There are no quick and easy fixes to the problems in Africa, but through these initiatives the LDS church not only provides some relief of temporal suffering but also is helping some of the poorest Africans help themselves. They in turn can help their families and fellow citizens. It’s nothing less than a win-win situation.

[StormPrepper]

The LDS Church strives to improve the quality of life in many countries around the world. In part this is accomplished through spiritual edification, humanitarian aid, education, and even teaching self-reliance. One such program aimed at self-reliance is the Perpetual Education Fund (PEF), begun in 2001 by then President of the LDS church, Gordon B. Hinckley. This program was designed to help families in developing nations escape the cycle of poverty

Funded through contributions individuals receive loans through PEF to help pay for training or advanced education. According to the MormonNewsroom.org, “With better skills, the student then pays back the loan to the fund at a low interest rate. Since 2001, around 3,000 people have benefited from the program in Africa.” For schooling alone the average African student will need to borrow an average of $1,200 a year. For citizens in underdeveloped countries this can be a staggering amount to attempt to fund on their own.

[StormPrepper comment] The PEF is not funded from the general tithes of the Church. It's funded by individual Latter-day Saints giving directly to the PEF fund. These monies are specifically for helping people throughout the world improve their futures through funding their education.

[cloudmountain]

Does the LDS Church strive to improve the quality of life here in the USA? Just wondering, NOT being a smart-ass.

[wintertime]

Seems like an excellent idea to me.

[Mrs. Don-o]

This sunds very good -— not increasing peoples’ dependency, but preparing them for self-reliance. Bless you and your co-workers.

[wintertime]

What if the Mormon Church had a “Perpetual Fund” for all their children in all countries. Then their kids could escape their government run, Marxist dominated, and godless K-12 schools.

[StormPrepper]

"Does the LDS Church strive to improve the quality of life here in the USA? Just wondering, NOT being a smart-ass."

People in the USA are especially blessed. Our opportunities are greater than any where else in the world. So help tends to be teaching and local area help when needed.

Teaching people to be prepared

Katrina victims

Tornado relief spurs LDS Church, Layton's Christian Life Center to action

[Tax-chick]

The provision of wheelchairs in underdeveloped countries is a rapidly growing ministry for many churches and service organizations. Training in construction and repair is a great addition to the service.

Welcome to FR. Please consider posting articles with the titles as given in the source, and posting comments in the “Comments” field, rather than as part of the title.

[Vigilanteman]

. . . through these initiatives the LDS church not only provides some relief of temporal suffering but also is helping some of the poorest Africans help themselves.

Damn Mormons don't really give away charity because they expect people to work for it and help themselves.

Real charity is giving away free stuff stolen from someone else and expecting nothing in return except voting Democrat for life.

The Mormon haters and liberals are on the same page here: this type of thing needs to be suppressed. < / sarcasm >

[cloudmountain]

People in the USA are especially blessed. Our opportunities are greater than any where else in the world. So help tends to be teaching and local area help when needed.

Yes, they are.

I still have a cousin (by marriage) who WAS a Mormon. My mother's brother went to live in a SMALL town that had Anglicans, Catholics and Mormons.
The Anglicans were in disarray, battling over everything. The Catholics were out of the questions because they were all Messicans (Read that as Mexicans.). That left the Mormons. My cousin dis-associated himself from the Mormons. They have changed. Of course, it was to be predicted that as soon as the Internet hit Utah, young Mormons would see a bigger world...and want to see that bigger world for themselves.

The Mormons, I understand, are so desperate for folks that they now allow blacks and Indians in their church...un-HEARD of 50 years ago. But, good for them.

[StormPrepper]

"This sunds very good -— not increasing peoples’ dependency, but preparing them for self-reliance. Bless you and your co-workers.

Especially self-reliance. And being prepared. Prep! Prep! Prep!

It's been prophesied for thousands of years that we are going to experience incredible tribulations before the second coming of Christ. Warning our neighbors and teaching them to prepare is what Jesus wants us all to do. It's an act of brotherly kindness and love.

[Dan(9698)]

Does the LDS Church strive to improve the quality of life here in the USA?

The Church has extensive Welfare Services in the USA and other parts of the world.

The Perpetual Education Fund is used worldwide.

Members are called as Church Service Missionaries in all parts of the world.

[cloudmountain]

GOOD for them. May they prosper!

[fidelis]

"The Anglicans were in disarray, battling over everything. The Catholics were out of the questions because they were all Messicans (Read that as Mexicans.). That left the Mormons.">

If you don't mind me saying so, that's all pretty shallow criteria for choosing a church. How about determining as best one can through prayer and study which Church it was that was founded by Jesus Christ himself and join that Church, warts and all? I mean, there's always room for one more imperfect sinner.

Frankly, if I found that if Jesus Christ wasn't big enough of a God to establish a visible Church and protect and sustain it for a paltry 2000 years, I'd say to hell with being a Christian and become a card-carrying hedonist pagan.

[teppe]

Yes! Through strengthening the family and teaching principles that lead to self responsibility the Church focuses on root causes instead of hacking at the leaves. There is also a welfare program for those who face temporary setbacks with a goal to get the people back on their feet again.

[Dan(9698)]

The Church has a Fast Sunday normally the first Sunday of each month.

The members fast for two meals and donate the cost of those meals to a fund that is used to finance the Welfare Services worldwide.

Church Service missionaries serve without any pay or reimbursement.

[teppe]

fidelis. Anyone who knows about education methods would know about the current focus known as the Montessori method. Montessori believed that students learned best by experience with physical objects that teach lessons, and with minimal supervision.

The fact is, God uses the Montessori Method! He gives us the chance to learn about our environment first hand with minimal instruction.

Montessori was right in her methods....but God used them first!

[cloudmountain]

If you don't mind me saying so, that's all pretty shallow criteria for choosing a church. How about determining as best one can through prayer and study which Church it was that was founded by Jesus Christ himself and join that Church, warts and all? I mean, there's always room for one more imperfect sinner.
Which prayers would you use? Ones from your church, family or friends? Who would direct your study? Or, would you direct it yourself?
There are millions of books written about Jesus, His life, death, resurrection and Ascension. That's the problem with the "do-it-yourself" method. Not everyone is capable as you are of discerning. That's why there ARE pastors, priests and (wo)men of the cloth.
And TRUE, there is always room for one more sinner, since we are ALL sinners.
In theory, the Church of Jesus would only have warts that were human. Jesus was incapable of having any warts whatsoever. His Church established itself by the 4th century by the Founding Fathers. THEY were full of warts but they were the standing authority at the time.
The Vicar of Christ, of Rome, from that 4th century, is still around: the Pope.
Gone is the Polish pope; now we have an Argentinian. Viva el Papa.

Frankly, if I found that if Jesus Christ wasn't big enough of a God to establish a visible Church and protect and sustain it for a paltry 2000 years, I'd say to hell with being a Christian and become a card-carrying hedonist pagan.
Well, that is one approach: all or nothing.
That is your choice? Be a Christian or a card-carrying hedonist pagan? OK!
I know what you are saying and I do agree with you 100%

[ansel12]

I didn’t expect you to cheer them becoming followers of Mormonism instead of Christians, which they will be taught that they are doing and most will believe it, without Christians revealing the truth to them.

You “bless” that?

[Not gonna take it anymore]

So what does the Mormon church do with the approx. 6 billion dollars in tithing it receives from its members each year?

I know that they have built a mall (1.5 - 2 billion dollars) and they have just bought 2% of Florida for 585-600 million dollars, but that still leaves a lot of money left over.

It’s the only church claiming it is Christian which actually charges its members to receive blessings, i.e. 10% tithes to receive a temple recommend, otherwise Mormons cannot go into the highest level of heaven ~ the celestial kingdom.

[colorcountry]

This poster is a re-tread. I don’t exactly know why she changed her handle here, but she used to be stourme.