A couple in Texas visited Mormonchurch.com after receiving members’ help in cleaning up in the wake of Hurricane Ike.  Gloria writes:

My husband & I wish to express our heartfelt & deepest appreciation for the help of the Mormon volunteers who helped get our driveway cleared of debris caused by Hurricane IKE.  They did a fantastic job!  They were Heaven Sent!  We live at [  ],  Bacliff, TX.  I did not get to thank them personally but I do hope you can let them know how appreciative we are of their help!

My husband had just gotten out of the hospital & we needed help desperately!  Please pray for all the people in our community & all those affected by Hurricane IKE!  FEMA is doing nothing for us except providing ratty hotel rooms & many people have lost their homes and have no furniture, appliances, etc.!  You just do not know the desperate situation unless you are personally affected!  This place looks like a few bombs were dropped on it!

Please express our sincere appreciation for your volunteers help!  May GOD bless you all!

Gloria

What a great tribute to those Helping Hands and the Savior’s plan to help the poor and the needy worldwide.

We’ve responded to Gloria’s note, including a copy of the World Report in our response, and an offer to connect her with Stake leaders in her area who can assess her further needs and reconnect her with the missionaries or members who assisted her.

As an individual investigating the church over the past few months, I can only encourage Mormons to speak confidently and openly about their faith. Of course, one shouldn’t be too pushy or self-righteous when doing this because that can make others uncomfortable. I, personally, am grateful for the many postings on the various websites and weblogs because they are so personal. It speaks much for your church that it and its members are willing to make available to the general public so much information. When I view the websites of other religions, many are very confusing in their content or organization. Some have little information available online. I admire so much the personal testimonies of the Mormons. In fact, they are what have moved me to accept the missionaries invitation to be baptized in the church (Rick).

LDS.net is a social network that invites people all over the world to engage in real-time conversation with those of all faiths. 25% of LDS.net users are actually friends of other faiths, coming to inquire, to see how we live, what we think, how our lives and the gospel of Jesus Christ are entwined.

A member of the McDoodle family came to LDS.net based on an interest in the Church in October of 2007. Before her baptism, on December 2, 2008, she posted asking for advice on how to help her 9 year old son understand and be ready for baptism at the same time. She is one of many who have used the online forums to seek advice in overcoming her fear of emailing the missionaries. Talking with them, then, accelerated her spiritual progress.

Among the comments from visitors to this widely-viewed YouTube video clip, taken from his address in General Conference (Mormon Semiannual meeting), is the following:

I must say, what Holland is saying here makes incredible sense and something about this video really strikes a cord with me in a way that nothing else ever has. I’ve been to many churches and have heard many sermons, and if they all use the Bible I can’t see how they all come out so different. If this Book of Mormon is indeed an addition to his word, then God sure knows what he’s doing to correct where we’ve been going wrong with Christianity.

He stumbled into the chat room and met with some really nice people. They answered all of his questions. Encouraged him with prayers. Pretty soon he found out about what he needed to do and was baptized. Through the months that followed a lot of things happened in his life. He thought about not only leaving the church but also the site. When he told his new found friends they did not belittle him nor scorn him for thinking of leaving the church. On the contrary, they simply said that he needed to do what’s best. Not many people would do that with someone’s faith.  [Some also said], ”Please stay.” They kept him in their prayers.

And he finally figured out what was missing in his life. . . the Church. When he told his friends online and in real life, [what he discovered], they rejoiced in his decision. Now. . . you might think that this is just another site. No. .to some of the people this site is more like a home. A home of not just people getting together and having a good time, but a group of people that band together in time of need. For Prayer. Learning. Studying. And also for questions. No matter how trivial. Of people helping other people. . .not many chat rooms can say that, nor forums.

I leave you with this. The young man was me, and through the encouragement of this site I did come through a lot with all your prayers and not giving up on me. I want to thank you all personally for that. Each and every person on this moderator staff means the world to me. I want you all to know that. This site is very special to me in so many ways. From the deepest part of my heart I love every one of you in Christ.