Caribbean

“If there is one thing I know, it is that when Jesus Christ asks us to take His hand and walk with Him onto the water, we should have no fear in saying yes.”

I am beginning to see that whether or not I am good enough wasn’t a question God was ever asking.

Help has been provided to about 65,000 affected families in Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

The Stockholm Sweden Temple is going to nearly double in size.

“Faithful Saints flew in from Puerto Rico and bussed in from Haiti. My husband and I watched in awe as people patiently waited outside because there wasn’t enough room inside to accommodate everyone.”

Editor's note: "This week from the pulpit" highlights recent messages by General Authorities and General Officers of the Church.

The Caribbean Area Presidency released a statement asking Latter-day Saints to come together in faith following the 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, January 7.

Following a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on Monday, civilians of Puerto Rico were jolted awake by an even greater earthquake measuring 6.4 on Tuesday morning.

The Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been dedicated by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is complete, and the public is invited to visit the sacred edifice to experience its beauty and receive information on how Latter-day Saints and the community are blessed by having the temple. The Church’s first temple in Haiti is located at Route de Freres Delmas 10, Port‐au‐Prince.

An artist rendering of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was released January 12, 2019.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced dates for the open house, youth devotional and dedication for the Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple.

“I can hardly wait to jump out of bed every morning to see what will happen in this gathering process,” President Russell M. Nelson said about the joy he finds inviting others to Christ. While visiting the Dominican Republic, President Nelson shared with the missionaries how he came to be in that country.

“If you save me, I will serve you," Williamson Sintyl prayed as he struggled to stay alive while buried underneath the rubble that was his father's orphanage. It was 2010, and a 7.0 magnitude earthquake had just devasted Haiti. But little did Sintyl know that this horrific experience would help lead him to the gospel.

Three dozen missionaries are now back in Puerto Rico, with more to arrive from the MTC soon. They continue to serve and help after the devastation of Hurricane Maria and are having great success in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Church has recently announced missionaries will soon return to Puerto Rico nearly three months after the island was crippled by two consecutive hurricanes.

With the groundbreaking of the second LDS temple in the Caribbean, the Church now has 182 temples around the world open, announced, or in construction.

Slate Magazine had quite a lot to say about Mitt Romney, his work rescuing the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the possibility of him helping to rebuild Puerto Rico after natural and financial disasters. "The island needs an adviser to navigate Washington, Wall Street, and an uncertain future. He’s perfect," slate.com writes.

“The hurricane was so tough,” San Juan Puerto Rico Stake President Wilfred Rosa told Church News. “We still have people struggling just to find food and water. We wait in long lines to get supplies. And, for most people, there’s still no [running] water or power."

What touching experiences shared by this sister missionary.

"It was honestly one of the hardest things to hear in my life," Sister Paget said, talking about learning she was going home. "There were lots of tears. I was almost a little bit hysterical. 'I cannot go home yet.' But one of my former companions said, 'You know, it's not often you can know an apostle looked at your name and felt the Lord was pleased with your efforts on your mission and felt it wasn't necessary for you to go to another mission for two months."

With 182 temples around the world, it's exciting to see construction begin on Haiti's first temple.

Last Sunday, the Church created Cuba's first district, despite no full-time missionaries currently serving on the Caribbean island.

"What brings hope is that once the priesthood is there, once the Lord has his hand blessing the people, it won't take long for good things to happen," Jorge Mena says about the Church in Cuba.

Prior to the general women's session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference, Sister Neill F. Marriott, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, and Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society general president, helped bring comfort to Church members in Louisiana, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

A new Dominican Republic program teaches youth how to live productive, safe, and happy lives, and it drew much of it's inspiration from "For the Strength of Youth."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles made a special visit to the Church's Caribbean Area that included meetings with local leaders and many other members in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles created the Church's second branch in Cuba on Sunday, June 15, during a branch conference attended by almost 100 people.

For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic, serving the Lord is second nature. Here are just five of the many amazing things that set Dominican Saints apart and inspire us all.

Mormonnewsroom.org shares stories of what Church leaders and members around the world are doing to better the communities in which they live.

Even as members in Haiti labor to build a promising future for their faith and families, they remain grateful for the Church’s humble beginnings—and the pivotal, historic role of a prophet in their island nation. It was three decades ago that President Thomas S. Monson—then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve—visited Haiti and dedicated the land for the preaching of the restored gospel. Since that time, the Haitian members and their neighbors have endured staggering economic struggles and, three years ago, a devastating earthquake.

A day of service, two devotionals, two clinics and dodging a swarm of killer bees were all part of BYU baseball's trip to the Dominican Republic in November. Cheered on by crowds of locals and Church missionaries, the BYU team won all four games against Dominican club teams run by the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals on the tour permitted by the NCAA.

At age 18, Reyes lost both of her legs when a car lost control and hit her as she stood in front of her house. Because the DR doesn’t have accessibility laws to help those with mobility impairments, it was difficult for her to get around in a wheelchair. Then she discovered Innovación Ortopédica, a prosthetic clinic that partners with Latter-day Saint Charities.

*To watch the video that goes along with this article, click here.

The devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 shattered and changed millions of lives, but the relief efforts and outpouring of support by organizations and individuals worldwide offered hope. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been working diligently since the disaster to provide aid to the people of Haiti through its humanitarian aid program. In January of 2010, Bishop H. David Burton, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who oversees the Church’s humanitarian program said, “Our hearts ache for the people of Haiti and our prayers are with them as we witness the unimaginable suffering they are experiencing. We are grateful for the many generous donations that enable the Church to provide extensive relief in Haiti, as well as other parts of the world.”

Haiti's devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake in January 2010 and a deadly cholera outbreak last month has kept the Caribbean island country a central focal point for LDS Church humanitarian-relief efforts for a year. Similar to providing ongoing humanitarian assistance in other disaster areas such as Samoa and Indonesia, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is committed to aiding Haiti and its people with long-term assistance.

Sadly, reconstruction efforts in Haiti have inched forward at a painfully sluggish pace due in large part to a nearly nonexistent government. That, compounded by a cholera outbreak that has killed 3,600 people and hospitalized 50,000 since mid-October, has paralyzed the country.