Today The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently referred to by the media or friends of other faiths as "The Mormon Church") has over 14.4 million members in over 160 nations worldwide. Over 140 of its beautiful temples adorn sites in North, South, and Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and numerous islands of the sea. Its relief and humanitarian efforts have helped bless the lives of millions around the world, regardless of faith, as it follows the example of its Living Head, Jesus Christ. Sadly, The Church of Jesus Christ is still greatly misunderstood, and many myths and falsehoods still exist. We hope that this site may prove informational to those who visit hoping to find information about Latter-day Saints (nicknamed "Mormons"), either on a given topic in Mormonism or simply about Mormons in general. Articles cover topics about such things as basic Mormon beliefs, Mormon doctrine, Mormon history and leadership, temple work, family life, Mormon literature, controversial topics, and Church organizations and humanitarian efforts.
In the closing session of the April 1999 General Conference, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, gave the following announcement, “I feel impressed to announce that among all of the temples we are constructing, we plan to rebuild the Nauvoo Temple.” The news was received with joy and tears by members and even those not of the LDS faith. (More about the Nauvoo Temple.)
Humanitarian Aid Updates
LDS Church Helps Refugees of Syria's Civil War
As an insurgency in the nation of Syria displaces tens of thousands of refugees, many of these have fled to neighboring Jordan. LDS Charities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated over $590,000 worth of supplies for these refugees, plus another $588,000 to be allocated in the coming months.
“Our focus has been on the particular needs of women and children,” Sharon Eubank said, citing numbers from a recent New York Times story indicating that half of the refuges are under 12 years of age, and women in the refugee camps outnumber the men two to one.
“As the crisis unfolded in Syria it became more difficult for people to stay there,” Eubank said.
“More and more people started coming across the border into Jordan. At first they were absorbed into the cities and towns, but soon the cities couldn’t absorb any more. The refugees were straining the country’s infrastructure."
“In June there were 400 infants in the camps under four months old,” she said. “They were desperate for diapers and formula…”
“For LDS Charities, Eubank said, “there is no expectation or even hope that there will be some reciprocal benefit for the church” from the humanitarian efforts.” [1]
“LDS Charities has been a valued and trusted partner in assisting us to meet the needs of those coming in to Jordan seeking relief,” said Ayman R. Al-Mufleh, secretary general of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization. “This is a strong and important partnership and we are grateful for it.”
The Jordanian government had begun establishing refugee camps in May, but they were soon overflowing. It is important to understand that many Iraqis had fled the Iraq war by going to Syria, so Syria was already housing refugees when her own troubles began.
“We’ve been working in the Middle East for 10 years,” Eubank said, “so we already had volunteer couples on the ground there who had established relationships and infrastructure through their work on our wheelchair project, our neonatal resuscitation project and the other humanitarian efforts we are making in the area.”
Working in coordination with the Jordanian government, full-time LDS humanitarian missionaries Jim and Karyn Anderson and Bret and Ruth Ann Youngberg immediately started buying supplies and assembling hygiene kits to meet a need that was growing every day. Because there are so few Latter-day Saints in the area — there are fewer than 200 Mormons in Jordan, and the church does not proselyte there as it is not officially recognized by the government — the humanitarian missionaries worked closely with other local religious groups, including the Greek Orthodox Church and the Latin Catholic Church, as well as students from the University of Jordan to put the kits together.
With winter coming, there is special concern for refugees who arrived with only the clothes they were wearing:
“Many of these people cross the border with just what they are wearing,” Eubank said. “We’ve sent boots, blankets and coats for those who are in need of winter clothing. We’re still coordinating with the government, trying to anticipate future needs.”
Because of the dusty summer, and coming wet weather, the LDS Church has sent material to lay over the ground to help with dust and muddy conditions. Such foresight is rare among charitable organizations.
Eubank explained that the Church of Jesus Christ will again be partnering with Islamic Relief to extend aid into the future.
“We don’t care about your religion or your ethnicity or anything else,” she said. “If you need help, we are trying to respond.”
On January 11, 2012, the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life released a groundbreaking new survey, the first ever published by a non-LDS research organization to focus exclusively on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their beliefs, values, perceptions and political preferences. [2] The Pew Forum titled the survey, "Mormons in America: Certain in Their Beliefs, Uncertain of Their Place in Society." During the 2011 campaign for a Republican candidate for president, members of the Church of Jesus Christ, who are often referred to as Mormons, came under the spotlight for better or for worse. Journalists began to call this the "Mormon moment." (Read more...)
Slate Magazine annually awards honors to 80 influential people over age 80, called "80 Over 80." In October, 2009, the magazine chose Thomas S. Monson, President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the number one most influential American over age 80.
"The top spot this year goes to 82-year-old Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the only person on the list to rule over millions of people as a prophet of God. Enjoy it while you can, Monson—you're only old once." [3]
In 2010, President Monson won the award again. [4] "Slate predicts that Monson will claim the top spot until his death. It is expected that at that time Boyd K. Packer, octogenarian current president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will succeed him as prophet and president, and most likely as Slate's top octagnerian as well." [5]
Mormon Messages
Church of Jesus Christ Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland—Good Things to Come:
Late Mormon prophet Gordon B. Hinckley—Lessons I Learned as a Boy:
How You Can Help
Find out how to create and edit articles in the Beginners Guide.
Then help us expand and review these articles: Stubs
Please note: The wiki has been locked down because of a recent spate of vandalism. If you have the desire to edit the wiki, or to add material, please contact More Good Foundation.
MormonWiki Community
MormonWiki is just getting started with only 2,275 articles and growing organizational needs. If you would like to help build an encyclopedia about Mormons, we invite you to do so after contacting us.
Beginners Guide Never written for MormonWiki? An overview of MormonWiki features.
MormonWiki is sponsored by the More Good Foundation. The wiki serves as a tool through which positive LDS content can be developed in a collaborative manner, in order to provide sound and true information about Mormons and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes nicknamed the "Mormon Church"). This website is not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but has been mounted by sincere adherents to the LDS Church and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no intent to cover controversial subjects except to explain the stance of Mormonism and the Church of Jesus Christ regarding these subjects. (Read more...)
Call for Writers
More Good Foundation is in need of volunteer writers and translators for its websites. If you have excellent writing skills and a sound knowledge of LDS Church principles, and you would like to help, contact us at email@moregoodfoundation.org.
