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Mormon Helping HandsGuidelines for

Public Affairs Directors

2007

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ContentsTable of ContentsOverview 1

What Is Mormon Helping Hands? 1

Objectives or Mormon Helping Hands 1

Getting Started 2

Step 1: Prepare 2

Step 2: Propose 2

Step 3: Plan 2

Step 4: Implement 3

Step 5: Evaluate and Follow Up 3

How to Identify Opportunities 4

Principles for Project Planning 5

Frequently Asked Questions 6

Appendix A: The Mormon Helping Hands Logo 8

Appendix B: Examples of Successful Mormon Helping Hands Projects 10

PublishedbyTheChurchoJesusChristoLatter-DaySaints

SaltLakeCity,Utah

2007byIntellectualReserve,Inc.Unpublishedwork(copiesnotdistributedtothegeneralChurchmembershiportothepublic)

AllrightsreservedPrintedintheUnitedStatesoAmerica

Englishapproval:10/06

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OverviewOverviewWhat Is Mormon Helping Hands?

MormonHelpingHandsisapriesthood-directedChurchprogramtoprovidecommunityserviceanddi-sasterrelietothoseinneed.Theprogramprovidespriesthoodleaderswithanoptionalserviceoppor-tunityorChurchmembersandhelpsestablishthenameandreputationotheChurch.ItisaprovenmeansohelpingdispelstereotypesotenheldabouttheChurch,showingthatLatter-daySaintsareChristianswhocontributetothegoodotheircommunities.

TheMormonHelpingHandsdesignationhelpsidentiytheChurchsroleintheactivity:toprovideservicelaborersandusuallynotgoodsormaterials.SuccessulprojectshavebeenconductedthroughoutLatinAmerica,Arica,Asia,Europe,thePacic,andtheUnitedStates.

Coordination,implementation,andevaluationotheseprojectsisusuallydelegatedtolocalpublicaairscouncils.

Objectives or Mormon Helping Hands

Help the Needy and Improve Communities

ServicetoothersisanimportantcharacteristicotheollowersoJesusChrist.MormonHelpingHandsprovidesorganizedopportunitiesorChurchmemberstogivetheirtimeandtalentstoblessthoseinneed.Italsogivesmemberstheopportunitytobeautiycitystreets,parks,schools,andrecreationalareasandtoserveinotherways,showingthattheChurchisariendtothecommunity.

Strengthen Church MembersThroughMormonHelpingHands,youthandadultsbecomemoresensitivetothechallengesothersace.AsChurchmembersollowtheexampleotheSaviorinreachingoutandhelpingothers,theirtestimo-niesarestrengthened.TheseprojectsarealsovaluableopportunitiesorChurchmemberstoellowship

less-activeriends.

Share the Gospel Indirectly

ThroughMormonHelpingHands,ChurchmembershaveopportunitiestoportraytheruitsotheiraithanddispelunoundedcriticismandprejudicetowardtheChurch.Whilethisprogramisnottobeusedorproselyting,theseactivitiescanhelpcreateconditionsthatareavorableorgospelconversationsandmayonoccasionprovidetheopportunitytoengagemissionariesinteachingthosewhowanttoknowmore.

Build Relationships with Opinion LeadersChurchPublicAairsexiststobuildstrategicrelationshipswithopinionleaderswhoaectthereputationotheChurchoJesusChrist.Serviceisapowerultoolorinfuencingthebeliesandopin-ionsoprominentindividuals.MormonHelpingHandsisespeciallyeectiveindevelopingbenecialrelationshipsbetweenChurchleadersandgovernmentocialsorotheropinionleaders.

Enhance the Reputation o the Church

MormonHelpingHandshelpsbringtheChurchoutoobscurityandcangreatlyimproveitsreputation.LocalmediainterestintheseprojectshelpsspreadtheknowledgeotheChurchtomanywhowouldnototherwisehearoit.

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StartingGetting StartedPublicaairsdirectors,workingwithlocalpriesthoodleaders,shouldusetheollowingchecklistwhenorga-nizingalocalMormonHelpingHandseort.

Step 1: Prepare

OrganizeaMormonHelpingHandsactivitycommit-tee.Thiscommitteemaybetheexistingpublicaairscounciloritmayincludeotherparticipants.

Thoroughlystudytheinormationinthisbookletandprovidecopiesorcommitteemembersasappropriate.

Asacommittee,andwithlocalpriesthoodobjectivesandprioritiesinmind,identiyappropriateservice

opportunitiesinthecommunity.Discussthemeritsoeachprojectwithspecialconsiderationor:

q Thepotentialorhelpingothersandimprovingthecommunity.

q Thepotentialorbuildingrelationswithkeyopinionleaders.

q ThepotentialorstrengtheningtheaithandcondenceoChurchmembersandbuildingthetrustandrespectotheirneighbors.

Asappropriateorasneeded,arrangeorthepublicaairspriesthoodadviserandpublicaairsdirectortomeetwithcommunityleaderstoidentiyspeciccommunityneeds.

Identiythebestdatesoraproject.

Considertheneedorpartnerorganizationsandhowsuchorganizationsmightbeutilized.

Step 2: Propose

Writeabrierecommendationorthebesttwoorthreecandidateprojects.Includewithyourrecommen-dationadetaileddescriptionoeachpotentialproject,alongwithsuggesteddates,anticipatedchallengesandoutcomes,andbudgetrequirements.Submitthisproposalorpriesthoodreviewandprojectapproval.

Step 3: Plan

Whenpriesthoodleadershavechosenaproject,meetwiththecommitteetoplanthedetailsotheproject.(Itmaybeappropriatetoinvolvepartneringorganiza-

tionsinsomeothisplanning.)Includeinyourplantheollowing:

q Objectives

qDates

q Opinionleaderstocontact

q Suppliesneeded

q Availableresources

q Anticipatedbudgetneeds

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q Participants(includingpossiblenon-LDSgroups)q Specialistsneeded

q Supervisorsorteamcaptains

q VestsorT-shirts(distributionandpossibleretrieval)

q Permissionsandapprovals

q Workerparking

q Workercomort(restrooms,ood,water,etc.)

q Firstaidandsaety

q PrepublicitytoChurchmembers

q Publicitytocommunityandmedia

q Photography

q Workertraining

q Two-wayradiosorotherneededcommunicationdevices

Submitplantopriesthoodleadersornalapproval.

Step 4: Implement

ProducethevestsorT-shirtsandanyaccompanyinggraphicmaterials,usingguidelinesprovidedonpages8and9.(Thisstepmaytakesometimetocomplete.)

Trainalocalpriesthood-approvedspokespersonormediainquiriesabouttheprojectandtheChurch.

Carryouttheproject,beingmindulocustoms,policies,anddesiresolocalocials.

Asappropriate,properlydocumenttheprojectthroughvideography,stillphotography,andwrittenaccounts.

Step 5: Evaluate and Follow Up

Holdaposteventevaluationmeeting.

Prepareareportothesuccessotheprojectorpriesthoodleaders,detailingthenumberoparticipants(membersandriendsotheChurch),man-hours,approximatemonetaryvalue,andotherpertinentinormation.Provideasummaryotheservicerenderedtotherecipientorganization.

Ininternationalareas,considerpublishinganarticleabouttheprojectinthemediasectionotheChurchWebsiteorthatnation.

Visitleadersotherecipientorganizationandreportontheworkperormed.

ConsiderutilizingthevisualandwrittenrecordotheprojectinmeetingsandothersettingstorecognizeparticipantsandencourageparticipationinutureMormonHelpingHandsactivities.

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IdentifyHow to Identify Opportunities

OpportunitiesorMormonHelpingHandsprojectscomeinmanyorms.Projectsthataddressarecognizedneedinthecommunityaregenerallybetterreceivedthanthosethataresimplyconvenientoreasytoaccom-plish.Taketimetothinkthroughthepotentialorgood(toothersandtheChurch)beorerecommendingprojectstopriesthoodleaders.Generally,chooseprojectsthatdothemostgoodorneedyindividualsororthecommunity.

Organizersotheseprojectsshouldalwaysconsiderbuildingrelationshipstobeanimportantobjective.Proj-ectscompletedincooperationwithgovernmentandcivicleadersgenerallyproducethebestresultsandbuildthestrongestrelationships.ChurchHumanitarianServicesrepresentativesmaybeagoodsourceorprojectideasandopportunities.

Involvementromthird-partysponsorssuchaslargecorporationsandhumanitarianorganizationscanhelpincreasethepotentialorgoodandthevisibilityoaproject.Alsoconsiderthatsomeprojectslendthemselvesbettertophotographyandvideotapingthanothers.

ExamplesoMormonHelpingHandsprojectsromaroundtheworldarecontainedinAppendixB:ExamplesoSuccessulMormonHelpingHandsProjects.Otherideasorprojectsarelistedbelow.PleasenotethattheChurchsroleinmostcasesistoprovidelaborersonly.Asageneralrule,goodsandmaterialsshouldbesup-pliedbytheorganizationbeingassistedorbyprojectsponsors;however,priesthoodleadershavetheoptionousingChurchresourcesinappropriatecircumstances.

Project Ideas

Clearingbeaches,riverbanks,androadwaysotrash.

Paintingorcleaningschoolsorhospitals.

Beautiyingcityparksbypullingweeds,pickingup

trash,andplantingnewtreesandshrubs. Gatheringordistributingnutritionaloodortheneedy.

Deliveringsuppliesandgoodstotheneedy.

Removingunsightlyjunkromneighborhoods.

Knittingortyingblanketsanddeliveringthemtotheelderly.

Preparingkitsorneedyparentsonewborninants.

Deliveringtoysandschoolsuppliestoorphanagesandplayinggameswithchildren.

Repairing,sorting,andcleaningbooksatschoolsandlibraries. Comortingthephysicallyandmentallyimpairedbyprovidingquiltsorstuedanimalsandbyspending

timereadingorplayinggameswiththem.

Providingemergencypreparednesstrainingandmaterialstotheelderlyorhandicapped,orhelpingtosponsoranemergencypreparednessair.

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PrinciplesPrinciples for Project PlanningTheollowingprinciplesshouldguideyourMormonHelpingHandsprojects:

Projects Are Implemented under Priesthood Leadership

Allotheseprojectsareorganizedandimplementedunderthedirectionopriesthoodleaders.Publica-airscouncilsandotherspecialistsarecalledtoimplementtheprojectplan.

Organizers Should Not Commit to Providing Repetitive Services or Financial Resources

BecausetheyutilizethevolunteerlaboroChurchmembers,theseprojectsaregenerallyintendedtobeone-timeevents.Similarprojectscanbedoneinsubsequentyears,butindividualsandorganizationsreceivingtheserviceshouldknowbeoretheprojectbeginsthatChurchleaderscannotcommitthetimeomembersorlong-termservice.Likewise,itisimportanttoremembernottoobligatetheChurchtomakenancialcontributions.Instead,theseprojectsareotenundedbyprivatedonors,localbusinesses,

governmententities,ortheorganizationbeingassisted.(Forexample,goodswouldbeprovidedbytheorganization,andlaborwouldbeprovidedbyChurchmembers.)

Projects Are Not Proselyting Activities

TheChurchsreputationorproselytingiswellknownandsometimesdiscouragesothersromparticipatinginChurch-sponsoredactivities.MormonHelpingHandsprojectsshouldremaintruetothepurposeoprovidingChristianserviceandshouldnotbeusedorproselyt-ing.Todootherwisemayviolatethetrustothosenotoouraithandmayhinderutureopportunitiesorserviceandrelationshipbuilding.(GospeldiscussionsandansweringquestionsabouttheChurchareappropri-atewheninitiatedbythosenotoouraith.)

Choose Appropriate Days or Projects

NationalholidaysandpubliccelebrationsaretimeswhenChurchmembersareotenavailabletoserve.LeadersshouldavoidholdingprojectsonSundaysandonMondayevenings,exceptwhenemergencyreliedictatesotherwise.

Saeguard the Use o Vests or T-Shirts

WhenwearingMormonHelpingHandsvestsorT-shirts,individualsrepresentTheChurchoJesusChristoLatter-daySaintsandmustbecareultosaeguardtheChurchsreputation.ThevestorT-shirtmustbewornonlyduringtheactualproject.Anyotheruseisinappropriateanddiscouraged.WhenthevestorT-shirtbecomespermanentlysoiledorwornout,itshouldbedestroyed.

Relationships Established through Projects Need to Be Nurtured beyond the Initial Project

Theseprojectshaveproventobeeectiveinestablishingrelationshipswithcommunityleaders.Publicaairsdirectorsseekwaystostrengthentheserelationshipsatertheprojectisnished.

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FAQFrequently Asked QuestionsQuestion Why does the Church sponsor the Mormon Helping Hands program?

Answer TheprogramgiveslargenumbersoChurchmembersopportunitiestoparticipateinorganizedserviceactivitiesthatbenetothers.Well-organizedprojectsmayalsobuildriendshipswithgovernment,civic,andothercommunityleaders.Churchmembersbenetastheyexperiencethesatisactionoservice.

Question Who should organize these projects?

Answer Projectsareapprovedandimplementedunderthedirectionolocalpriesthoodleaders,althoughindividualsservingonlocalpublicaairscouncilswillbeassignedtoorganize,supervise,andevaluatetheprojects.

Question What Church units is the Mormon Helping Hands program designed to serve?

Answer Churchunitsworldwidecanbenet.Projectslargeandsmallcanbeundertaken.Largeprojectsarebestsuitedtostakesordistrictsandgroupsostakes,wheresucientnumbersomemberscancontributesignicantlytoacommunityorrelieeort.

Question Who can participate in these projects?

Answer AllChurchmembersandinterestedriendsootheraithsmayparticipate.Familiesareen-couragedtoparticipatetogetherwherepossible.TheprogramhasbeenespeciallypopularwithChurchyouthandyoungadultsastheylearntheblessingsoservingothers.AllparticipantsshouldberemindedtoupholdChurchstandards.

Question How long should projects last?

Answer Projectsshouldnotcommitvolunteersorlongperiodsotime.Withsucientnumbersovolunteersandadequateplanning,anactiv-itylastinghaladayorlesscanaccomplishatremendousamountogood.

Question What do participants wear?

Answer ParticipantsshouldwearyellowvestsorT-shirtsimprintedwiththeMormonHelpingHandslogowheneverpossible,alongwithclothingthatisappropriatetothetypeoservicebeingrendered.

Question Why use the vests or T-shirts?Answer ThevestorT-shirtisanimportantelementotheMormonHelpingHandsprogram.Itidenties

theChurchastheorganizationprovidingtheservice,instillscondenceinthosebeingservedthattheworkwillbeorganizedandohighquality,andgivesChurchmembersasenseosatis-actiontobeidentiedwithotherLatter-daySaints.Indisasterreliesituations,theshirtorvestmayalsohelpocialsquicklyidentiythosetheycancallonoraparticularassignment.

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Question Is it more appropriate to use vests or T-shirts?Answer Vestsarethepreerredchoiceinmostcasessincetheyarelesslikelytobemistakenoreveryday

clothingandcarriedoorwornoractivitiesnotassociatedwithaMormonHelpingHandsproj-ect.VestsmayalsobelessexpensivethanT-shirtsandcanbewornoverotherclothingincasesocoolorinclementweather.Insituationswherealoose-ttingvestmightprovehazardous(orexample,usingchainsawsandotherpowerequipment),aT-shirtisgenerallythebetterchoice.

Question What guidelines should govern the use o the Mormon Helping Hands vest or T-shirt?

Answer ChurchmemberswhoweartheT-shirtorvestrepresenttheChurchastheyserveandshouldbeawarethattheirconductrefectsontheChurchasawhole.VestsorshirtsshouldonlybeusedorMormonHelpingHandsprojects.

Question Who pays or Mormon Helping Hands T-shirts and vests?Answer LocalunitbudgetsorlocalmembersshouldpayorvestsandT-shirtsornondisasterrelie

projects.WhentheChurchsHumanitarianEmergencyResponseparticipatesindisasterrelieeorts,asupplyovestsandT-shirtsisotenincludedaspartotherelieshipment.

Question Is more inormation available on how to produce the T-shirts and vests?

Answer Instructions,colorspecications,andelectroniclogoartorlocalT-shirtsorvestsareavailableinthispublicationandromChurchPublicAairsocesworldwide.

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LogoAppendix A:The Mormon Helping Hands LogoThelogopicturedonthispagehasbeenapprovedbytheFirstPresidencyandshouldsupersedeallpreviouslogos.*Whenusedproperlyandconsistently,itwillbecomearecognizedsymbolotheChurchsgoodworks.

Proper Logo Usage

ThelogorepresentstheChurchanditsmembers,andeveryprecautionmustbetakentoensureitsintegrity.Eachuseothelogoshouldstrictlycomplywiththeollowingguidelines:

UseonlytheociallogoobtainedromChurchPub-licAairsoces.Donottrytore-createit.

PrintthelogoonaplainyellowvestorT-shirtthatmatchesascloselyaspossibletheyellow-coloredeldbehindthehandsonthelogo.Whereyellowshirtsandvestsarenotavailable,awhiteshirtorvestmaybesubstituted.

Onthebackotheshirt,usetheprovidedlogoat100%ooriginalsizetotcomortablyonanadultvestorT-shirt.ThewordsMormonHelpingHandsandtheocialChurchlogoshouldbeeasilyvisibleromseveraleetaway.Ontherontotheshirt,thelogomaybeusedatullsizeorreducedtoapproxi-mately40%ooriginalsizetotinthespacewhereapocketwouldnormallybeound(seeexamplesbelow).Forchildrenssizes,reducethelogoasap-

propriate.

Donotmixthelogowithanyotherpatterns,symbols,logos,orothercompetingelements,includingthelogosormarksopartneringorganizations(iany).

Thelogomaybeusedorotheritems,includingpostersorfyers,orinpresentationstopromotetheserviceprojectorrecruitvolunteers.

T-Shirt (front) T-Shirt (back) Vest (front) Vest (back)

Logoisabout4.25wide Logoisabout10.5wide Logoisabout4.25wide Logoisabout10.5wide (40%oforiginalsize) (100%oforiginalsize) (40%oforiginalsize) (100%oforiginalsize)

*Certainexceptionsmayapplyinareaswherethelogohasbeendeterminedtobeinappropriateoroffensivetolocalcultures.

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Technical SpecifcationsThecolorschemeshownisapprovedoruseonyellowvestsorT-shirtsanddoesnotrequireaprintedcolorbehindthehands.WhenprintingonyellowT-shirtsorvests,instructtheprinternottoprintanycolorintheboxesbehindthehands,allowingtheT-shirtcolortoserveasthebackgroundtothehands.

WhenwhitevestsorT-shirtsareused,printthebackgroundboxessurroundingthehandsinyellow,asshownbelow.

T-Shirt (front) T-Shirt (back) Vest (front) Vest (back) Logoisabout4.25wide Logoisabout10.5wide Logoisabout4.25wide Logoisabout10.5wide

(40%oforiginalsize) (100%oforiginalsize) (40%oforiginalsize) (100%oforiginalsize)

Color-separatedimagesorprintingareavailableromChurchPublicAairsoces.Colordesignationsareasollows:

Blue: Pantone 301 Yellow: Pantone 123 Green: Pantone 341

Unacceptable Uses o the Mormon Helping Hands Logo

Thelogoisorwillbeprotectedbylocaltrademarklawsineverycountrywhereitisused.Churchmem-bersshouldsaeguardthistrademarkbyusingthelogoonlyinthewaysspeciedaboveandbyreportingtopriesthoodleadersanyblatantmisusesoit.

Examplesomisusesincludeanyusethatispersonal,commercial,orpromotionalinnature.SuchusesothelogomaymisrepresenttheChurchandcouldjeopardizetheChurchsownershipothistrademark.

Languages

ThelogoisavailableinmanylanguagesromChurchPublicAairsoces.

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ExamplesAppendix B:Examples of Successful Mormon Helping Hands ProjectsTheollowingexamplesillustratehowMormonHelpingHandsprojectsoalltypescanblesslivesandhelpestablishtheChurch:

So Paulo, Brazil

Some50,000ChurchmembersandtheirriendspitchedinApril21onBrazilsnationalholidaytoim-provetheconditionso200schoolsacrossthecountry,whichareattendedby350,000students.

HandsHelpingtoImprovePublicSchoolsistheChurchsthannualnationalschoolsproject,ane-ortthatgrowsmoreappreciatedeachyear.

TheprojectwasdevelopedthroughapartnershipbetweentheChurch,governmenteducationocials,schooldirectors,parent-teacherassociations,alumni,mediaanddonationsromprivatebusinesses.Volunteerswearingthenow-amiliarHelpingHandsvestshandledthousandsogallonsopaint,brushes,

whitewash,concreteandmetal.Theyimprovedclassrooms,replacedsinksanddoors,paintedwallsandwindows,andweededgardens,alongwithmakingminorimprovementstothewaterandelectricalsys-temsotheschools.

TheentireprojectservedtostrengthenthepublicimageotheChurchinBrazil.Thisyear,the17multi-stakepublicaairscouncilsworkedwiththepublic,themediaandthecommunitytocommemoratethe175thanniversaryotheChurchandthe200thanniversaryothebirthotheProphetJosephSmith(50,000inProjecttoReurbishSchools,ChurchNews,May14,2005,14).

Setbal, Portugal

Ontheircountrysnationalholiday,ChurchmembersinPortugalorganizedHelpingHands,acountry-wideserviceprojectinprincipalcitiesandontheislandsoMadeiraandtheAzores.

DuringPortugalDayonJune10,1,300volunteerscleanedparks,streetsandplazas.InSetbal,theyreconstructedthreepicnicareasoacitypark,whichmanypeoplehadstoppedrequentingbecauseoitscondition.

ObservingtheprojectinSetbal,anearbyresidentprovidedcementtonishthechanges.Heemphasizedthathisexampleshouldbeollowedbyothers,especiallythosewhowouldusethepark.

Alargenumberochildren,alongwiththeirparents,participatedintheactivitywhichhighlightstheim-portanceocommunityactionstocreatestrongbondsoriendship(HelpingHandsBegins,ChurchNews,Aug.7,2004,15).

Brisbane, Australia

HundredsosistersromaroundtheAustralianstateoQueenslandspentmanyweekscrocheting,shop-

ping,collectingandpackagingaspartotheirHelpingHandsprojectthatplayedaprominentroleintherecent2005AnnualWomensConerenceheldhereinSeptember.

Eachwardandbranchinthestatewasaskedtocompletethreeprojectsintimeortheconerencemak-inglaprugsorAustraliannursinghomes,andmaternityandschoolkitsortheneedyintheneighboringnationoPapuaNewGuinea.

EachChurchunitwasaskedtocontributeenoughsquarestomakeup25laprugs,eachowhichismadeupo36knittedorcrochetedsquares.The804completedlaprugsweredonatedtotheNursingHomeAssociationonthedayotheconerenceandhavesincebeendistributedtonursinghomesandindividu-alsthroughoutAustralia(HelpingHandsinQueensland,ChurchNews,Nov.5,2005,15).

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Mobile, Alabama, USATheMobileRegisterprintedastorySept.23detailingtheChurchscontributionooodorhurricane

evacueesintheDaphneCivicCenter.Whenmembersheardthecenterneededood,localleadersmadeanocialrequestthroughheadquartersandoodwassentromtheTucker,Ga.,bishopsstorehouse.

WhenIsawtheormthattheirrepresentativepulledoutandstartedcheckingo,Icouldntbelievetheamountooodtheyoered,BillMeese,avolunteersupervisoratthecenter,toldtheRegister.Casesocannedvegetables,ruits,stews,reshproduce,reshmeatsyounameit,theyhaveit.Andtheyoeredasmuchasweneeded.

AvolunteerpastorquotedinthearticlecalledtheLatter-daySaintdonationananswertoprayer.

TheChurcho[Jesus]ChristoLatter-daySaints,headquarteredinSaltLakeCity,Utah,hasfoodedtheGulCoastwithvolunteerswearingwhiteMormonHelpingHandsT-shirts,thearticleconcluded.

NicknamedtheStorminMormonstheyhavebeenassistingcommunitieswiththeclean-upeortsincethestormhit(HelpingHandsReachOuttoVictims,ChurchNews,Oct.1,2005,10).

Toyooka, Japan

Oneoanunusuallyhighnumberotyphoons24tohitJapanthisyear,Tokagefoodedthebranchsmeetinghouseandthehomeso32members,aswellasmissionariesquarters,accordingtoBranchPresi-dentYoshihiroFurutani.Somemembersandmissionariesmovedtoemergencyshelters.

Twodayslater,ourcarloadsoChurchvolunteersromtheOsaka-Kobeareatraveledourhoursoverfooded,damagedandnearlyimpassableroadstoreachToyooka.Theyhelpedincontactingallmembersothebranchtoconrmtheirsaety,lendingwhateverassistancewasneededbymembers,theirriendsandneighbors.

OnSunday,thebranchheldsacramentmeetingonthesecondfoorothefood-damagedmeetinghouse.PresidentFurutanisaid,Truly,ourbodiesweretiredandworn,butthroughthatone-hour,irregularmeet-ing,eachmemberreceivedspiritualnourishment.Attendancewasupdramaticallyandhascontinuedtoclimbsince.

Toexpeditetheirabilitytohelp,ChurchvolunteersworeHelpingHandsvests.TheHelpingHandslogo,registeredbytheChurchinJapan,isontherontothevestwiththenameotheChurchontheback(JapaneseTyphoonVictimsBenetromHelpingHands,ChurchNews,Nov.13,2004,4).

Bristol, England

OnSeptember23,2006,550membersromtheBristolEnglandStakeworkedthroughoutthedaytrans-ormingacommunityparkarm.Thisarmhasstruggledoverthelastewyears,havingtosellitscowstogainsucientundstoeedtheotheranimals.

Onehundredpriesthoodholdersarrivedat8:00a.m.tostartworkonawheelchairaccesspath.At10:00a.m.another300startedpainting,digging,andcleaningthearm.Atthenearbystakecenter,another150membersmadeeducationaltoys,birdboxes,andeedersortheresourcebarn.

Attheendothedaythemayorandhiswiearrivedandwereshownaroundbythestakepresident.Themayorsaid,Iamdeeplyimpressedandcannotbelievehowmuchhasbeenaccomplishedinoneday.Itslikeamake-overprogramonTV.Thearmmanageradded,Itisamiraclethatsomuchhasbeendone,andtherewasnotaswearwordused,anangryvoiceheard,soorganizedandsuchhappypeople.

Bytheendotheday,2,600hoursoservicehadbeenprovidedbymembersothestake.

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Dongmuang, ThailandCommunicationAuthorityoThailand(CAT)holdsaNationalChildrensDayeveryyear,andDong-muangBranchgainedpermissiontohaveanactivityboothaspartotheCATevent.CATprovidedatentorthebranchactivityandallowedSYS(missionarysinginggroup)sometimetodoaperormanceonstage.ThepurposeotheactivitywastosharetheloveoGodwiththepeopleoThailand,specicallythechildren.

Aterthedaysactivity,amemberoCATstasaidthattheChurchboothwasthemostpopularboothattheevent.Therewereover3,000peoplewhocametothebooththroughouttheday,andmanystayedortheSYSperormancelaterintheevening.

Over30branchmembersandmissionaries,wearingMormonHelpingHandsvests,helpedwiththisevent.AdditionalmembersstayedlateatCATtosetupanddecoratetheboothandtotieballoonsculptures.Not

onlywerethemembersgivingserviceinthispreparation,buttheywerealsolearninganewskill.BranchPresidentPrasongeltthemembersgrewclosertothecommunityastheyservedthem.TheactivityhelpedpeoplehaveabetterunderstandingotheChurch.Atthesametime,itgavemembersanopportunitytostrengthentheirtestimoniesastheyservedtheThaipublic.

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