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By Kent Larsen
Reactions from LDS Members Nationwide
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Statements from local leaders of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the United States have
appeared in local newspapers, and local congregations and leaders
have been active in hosting prayer vigils and memorials across the
nation in the wake of Tuesday's horrifying attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon. Many local newspapers have surveyed clergy
looking for local reactions to the tragedies, and LDS leaders have
given a wide range of advice and counsel on coping with these events.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Temple president Wayne Pratt was quoted
by the Albuquerque Journal on what we can do about the tragedies, "We
all feel so helpless about it," said Pratt. "We can pray about it,
and then when the opportunity presents itself, we should do all we
can to help those families." In Washington State's Tri-Cities,
regional LDS spokeswoman Harriet Sutherland suggested giving to the
church's humanitarian services fund, marking the money for the
terrorist disaster.
At an Interfaith Service at the University of North Carolina in
Asheville, UNC history professor Grant Hardy, who is also a local LDS
leader, worried that the attacks might result in retaliation against
American Muslims, "Let us refrain from indiscriminate hatred and
violence, but open our hearts to Muslims who are Americans and those
around the world who deplore this act," said Hardy.
Bill Burnett, director of the LDS Institute in Pleasant Hill,
California responded to a question from a reporter in the Walnut
Creek Contra Costa Times on how something so awful could happen, if
there is a God, "Well, God is a loving God. He has deemed all the
children the same. One of the greatest gifts he has given us is that
of agency, or choice. God gave us the opportunity to make choices and
sometimes we don't make the right one," said Burnett.
Elsewhere, local leaders cancelled activities or provided resources
to help aid relief efforts. In Boulder City, Nevada, an LDS building
was used for a local blood drive. The La Canada Flintridge LDS
building cancelled a youth social scheduled for Tuesday night and
Bishop Brian Kelley urged families to pray for the victims and their
families.
The Idaho State University LDS Institute in Pocatello, Idaho, which
serves some 1,700 students, didn't schedule a specific memorial
service, but director Richard Openshaw says that the events permeated
the classes, "In most classes, we talked about it and shared
President Hinckley's fireside message that was positive and full of
hope about what may be ahead," Openshaw told the Idaho State Journal.
On Washington's Mercer Island, the local LDS chapel hosted an
Interfaith service sponsored by the Mercer Island Clergy Association,
as did an LDS building in Rancho Palos Verdes in California. Local
church members also participated in Interfaith events at Georgetown
University in Washington, DC.
Even BYU hosted a Prayer Vigil Wednesday evening in the Marriott
Center. Sponsored by the University, Provo City and the Utah Valley
Ministerial Association, the event featured prayers for the victims,
talks by local leaders, a flag ceremony, vocal and instrumental
numbers, and prayers offered by various religious leaders throughout
the community.
In response to the tragedy, the church has also took a series of
steps to commemorate the tragedy and offer support to the victims.
The immediate response was to close church headquarters and all Utah
temples at 2 pm Tuesday. LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley then
appeared at a Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert, which was turned into
an impromptu memorial, which was broadcast locally. The Church also
announced a donation of $160,000 to the American Red Cross for the
relief of the victims and suggested that LDS sacrament meetings on
Sunday be memorial services for the disaster.
The Church is also holding two national memorial services Friday, in
response to President George W. Bush's call for a national day of
prayer and remembrance on that day. The services, held at 10:00 am
MDT and 12:00 pm MDT, will be rebroadcast to LDS meetinghouses
throughout the four continental US time zones at noon local time in
each time zone. The broadcast will also be carried on BYU-TV,
available on the Dish Network, and will be available on the Internet
at http://www.lds.org/.
But not all reactions to the tragedy have focused on its spiritual
aspects or on the victims. The Salt Lake Tribune reports a run on
emergency and survival supplies, which LDS leaders have suggested
that every member have on hand. Demoine Gold of Survival Solutions of
West Valley City says he was surprised to find his first caller
Tuesday morning was "a lady that wanted a year's supply of long-term
food storage," he said. "That took me a little bit by surprise." The
Tribune reports that other emergency and survival supplies vendors
saw increased business on Tuesday as local residents reacted to the
tragedy.
Sources:
Duke City Residents Gather in Prayer
Albuquerque NM Journal 12Sep01 D1
By Rick Nathanson: Journal Staff Writer
Faith brings solace
Kennewick WA Tri-City Herald 12Sep01 D1
By Mike Lee: Herald staff writer
Interfaith service leads prayer for peace
Asheville NC Citizen-Times 13Sep01 N1
By Dale Neal: Staff Writer
Patriotism flows with LV blood
Las Vegas NV Sun 12Sep01 D1
By Emily Richmond: Las Vegas Sun
Donation sites are overwhelmed but open throughout the valley
Churches offer prayer, services, counseling
Los Angeles Times 12Sep01 D1
By Marshall Allen and Gretchen Hoffman
People need something to 'hold up their faith,' pastor says following attacks.
Messages of hope lift area spirits
Pocatello ID State Journal 13Sep01 D1
As tragedy sinks in, an image of America shatters
Seattle WA Post-Intelligencer 12Sep01 D1
By Heath Foster: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter
Amid solemn tributes to victims, skies are quiet
Seattle WA Times 13Sep01 D1
By David Postman: Seattle Times staff reporter
Religious Services, Candlelight Vigils Planned
Torrance CA Daily Breeze 13Sep01 D1
InterFaith Conference's Diverse Faith Traditions Gather for Prayer at Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Thursday, September 13, 2001 at 10 a.m.
PRNewswire 12Sep01 D1
Wednesday evening prayer vigil will honor terrorist victims
BYU NewsNet 12Sep01 D3
Prayer Vigil provides peace for Provo
BYU NewsNet 12Sep01 D1
By Stephanie Richards: NewsNet Staff Writer
Top of Utah's churches offering comfort, prayer
Ogden UT Standard-Examiner 12Sep01 D1
By Cathy McKitrick: Standard-Examiner staff
People, not God, have created evil
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 13Sep01 N1
Utahns Stock Up on Storable Food, 72-Hour Kits, Survivalist Supplies
Salt Lake Tribune 12Sep01 D4
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