Around the Church

Haiti Celebrates 30 Years of the Church

Three decades ago President Thomas S. Monson—then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—visited Haiti and dedicated the land for the preaching of the restored gospel.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently visited Haiti to commemorate the anniversary. Elder Andersen presided over the unveiling of a commemorative plaque that will serve as a permanent reminder of the beginnings of the Church in Haiti. The members who gathered for the unveiling ceremony viewed a televised message from President Monson that was recorded prior to the event.

Church Responds to Over 100 Disasters in 2012

Every year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides emergency assistance to people all over the world affected by natural disasters, war, and famine. During 2012 the Church provided victims of 104 disasters in 52 countries with hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, water, clothing, medical supples, hygiene kits, and other relief items. In addition, thousands of member volunteers donated over 1.3 million hours of service.

The Church’s largest disaster relief effort in 2012 was to victims of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast of the United States. In addition to Sandy, the Church’s largest disaster responses in 2012 occurred in Japan, the Philippines, other areas of the United States, and Syria.

FamilyTree Available to General Public

FamilyTree, a long-awaited enhancement to the Church’s FamilySearch.org Internet site, went live to the general public in March 2013. It is accessible free of charge at FamilySearch.org.

FamilyTree is the successor to New FamilySearch, which up to now has been accessible only with a Church membership login and password.

Now other visitors to FamilySearch.org “will be able to start building their family tree entirely online, starting with themselves and then expanding to past generations,” said Paul M. Nauta, FamilySearch marketing manager.

Elder Neil L. Andersen (center) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presides over the unveiling of a plaque that commemorates 30 years of the Church in Haiti.

Photograph courtesy of Caribbean Area and Church News