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.
Nebraska USA: Elder Oaks and Nebraska Governor Meet on Religious Freedom
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with Nebraska’s Governor Pete Ricketts (left) last week at the state capitol in Lincoln. Their topic was religious freedom and other areas of common interest and concern. Elder Donald D. Deshler (right) of the Seventy also attended the meeting.
Elder Oaks commended Governor Ricketts for his recent proclamation on religious freedom and his leadership on these critical issues. He presented the governor with speeches on the topic that he and those of other faiths have written.
In April, Governor Ricketts signed a proclamation on religious liberty during the first “Religious Liberty in the Public Square” event held in the capitol. The event, attended by approximately 250 people, was organized by the Catholic Conference, Nebraska Family Alliance and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Oaks participated in a news conference earlier this year on religious freedom. He said the Church’s stand is “based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and on fairness for all, including people of faith.”
Bolivia: Church Makes Wheelchair Donation
A thousand wheelchairs were donated by the Church’s Humanitarian Services in La Paz, Bolivia, recently. The donation was coordinated through the Ministry of the Presidency, the Departmental Social Management Service and the honorable Municipality of the city of El Alto in La Paz.
The wheelchair initiative is just one of many services the Church provides to people with disabilities. There are ongoing global programs to help people, such as neonatal resuscitation training, clean drinking water and vision projects and immunization initiatives.
Go to the Bolivia Mormon Newsroom website for more information (Spanish).
Honduras: Mormons Work to Stop the Spread of Dengue and Chikungunya
More than 600 Latter-day Saint youth, along with community members and medical and military representatives, divided into groups to clean areas that attract mosquitos. The flying pests spawn infectious diseases such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya, a skin rash that can also include flu-like symptoms.
The volunteers were divided into groups to clean areas that attract mosquitos as well as distribute information about the diseases and what to do to avoid creating a habitat for the insects.
Read more about the campaign on the Honduras Mormon Newsroom website (Spanish).
India: New Coat of Paint on Girls’ High School
Youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hyderabad, India, took on a project to help the Government Girls High School. The young people mixed white-wash powder in water and painted all the interior corridors as well as cleaned classrooms.
The finished product was admired by the school’s administration, who were “astonished” at what the youth accomplished; they were also impressed with the quality of the youth.
Go to the India Mormon Newsroom website to read more about the project.
Latvia: Church Members Participate in Great Cleanup Day
Latter-day Saints enthusiastically helped clean up their community in Latvia on April 25. Dressed in the familiar Mormon Helping Hands vests and T-shirts, members and residents worked together.
At the end of the day, about 70 bags of trash were collected.
Discover who else showed up to record the events of the day of service on the Latvia Mormon Newsroom website (Latvian).
Australia: Latter-day Saint Youth Hike to Honor Mormon Pioneers
Outfitted in 1860s period clothing, pulling wooden carts and sleeping and eating outdoors, 120 youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brisbane, Australia, trekked 31 miles in honor of the Brigham Young-led Mormon pioneers.
During their three-day adventure they endured blisters and exhaustion. They also encountered actors dressed as soldiers, robbers and historical figures who helped bring to life the history of the original Mormon trail.
Read more about their trek and the service they performed on the Australia Mormon Newsroom website.