President Uchtdorf Brings Hope to Harvey-Weary Texans
Contributed By Jason Swensen, Church News staff writer
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency holds up a Mormon Helping Hands T-shirt at a temporary command center in Houston on September 3, 2017.
Article Highlights
- The First Presidency loves those suffering in Texas.
- The Church works with the Red Cross to provide help to areas affected by disasters.
- Members and missionaries have been working tirelessly to serve those in Houston.
“Service is the true sign of faith.” —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency
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HOUSTON, TEXAS
When President Dieter F. Uchtdorf visited the storm-ravaged Wimbledon Estates neighborhood on September 3, he witnessed teams of Latter-day Saints working alongside their neighbors, assisting people in need.
That “help however I can” attitude, he said, is happening across southeast Texas and all over the world.
“This Church has a mission to help people,” he told the Church News. “We serve God and our fellowmen.”
Destruction has come to define the Wimbledon Estates neighborhood and many, many other areas across southeast Texas. Massive piles of debris, ruined furniture, floorboards, and water-logged drywall being stacked high outside homes are common sights here. Latter-day Saint families are among the seemingly endless list of victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Rebuilding cities forever changed by Harvey will be a long, difficult process.
But for a few moments on Sunday, September 3, many homeowners—along with friends (both old and new) who have been helping them muck out their damaged homes—enjoyed joyful relief.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, made an unexpected visit to the storm-weary Wimbledon Estates neighborhood. He was wearing a yellow Mormon Helping Hands T-shirt over his white dress shirt to blend in with volunteers and clean-up crews.
The Church leader didn’t call for a meeting or ask people to organize around him in orderly rows. He simply chatted with anyone who stepped forward to say hello. He shared handshakes, gave a few hugs, and offered plenty of encouraging words.
President Uchtdorf said he traveled to Houston to represent the Church’s First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who are concerned for any and all hit hard by Harvey.
Earlier in the day, he stood in front of a large group of Latter-day Saints gathered for a Sabbath-day service at the Cypress Texas Stake Center and extended a charge to service-minded people across south Texas: “Let’s go out there and do the work.”
More than 800 people, many donning Helping Hands T-shirts, were gathered for that meeting in north Houston. Similar meetings were held across Texas prior to Church members and missionaries serving in their own neighborhoods and communities.
President Uchtdorf was joined in his Houston visit by Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé; Elder J. Devn Cornish, General Authority Seventy; and Elder Daniel W. Jones, an Area Seventy.
President Uchtdorf began his remarks by speaking of the love the First Presidency has for Texas Church members.
“We love you, and we bless you,” he said, before adding with a smile, “We are not here to get in the way.”
The LDS Church leader spoke of the beauty many members have shown as they have cared for others. A few have served even while floodwaters have damaged their own homes.
“But you turned around and went out and helped others,” he said.
Service, President Uchtdorf added, is the true sign of faith.
He noted that many were wearing Helping Hands T-shirts. But he said, “A helping heart is what is most important.”
President Uchtdorf observed that much of Houston looks normal from the sky for people arriving at one of the local airports. But on the ground, there is much trouble.
“This is true in our spiritual journey,” he said.
President Uchtdorf spoke of his personal love for those who serve. When he was a young boy in war-torn Germany, he was sustained by the love and service of others, he said.
“The world has hope for the future because of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.
President Uchtdorf concluded his remarks with a blessing on all who serve, saying they will be blessed as they lift the lives of others.
In his remarks, Bishop Caussé said the First Presidency was anxious to be with Church members in the Houston area as soon as possible after the storm hit. He told the members gathered in the Cypress Texas Stake Center that “many people will be blessed by your efforts.”
Bishop Caussé recited the third verse of his favorite hymn, “Master, the Tempest Is Raging.”
“Master, the terror is over. The elements sweetly rest. Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored, and heaven’s within my breast.”
He acknowledged that these are troubled times and there are many waves in this world, “but we are on the right boat and with the right pilot, even Jesus Christ.”
In his brief remarks, Elder Jones said all who labor on this special Sabbath day “will be highly favored of the Lord.”
Following the sacrament service, President Uchtdorf and the other visiting leaders made stops in key areas of Church interest in Houston—including Wimbledon Estates, where several LDS families live.
President Uchtdorf also walked through the flood-damaged Houston Texas Temple with the temple president, Marshall Hayes. The waters have receded at the temple site, but evidence of Harvey’s destructive power still remains on the temple grounds and throughout the edifice.
The group also visited the temporary logistical center of the Red Cross in Houston. The LDS Church enjoys a well-established partnership with the Red Cross and has donated money and provisions to help deliver relief to folks impacted by Harvey.
“I’m so glad you could come,” said Charles Blake, the Red Cross coordinating official for Hurricane Harvey in Texas, welcoming the guests. “I honestly believe the LDS people are the best prepared people in the country. You are feeding the body and feeding the soul.”
President Uchtdorf said the Church has enjoyed “wonderful cooperation” with the Red Cross during natural disasters—including Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey. “We love our neighbor and we love God—and we show this by serving our neighbor,” he said at the Red Cross facility.
“It was important for us to come here to express our love to the people affected by Harvey,” said Bishop Caussé after visiting with work crews.
He was inspired to see large numbers of young people working long and hard to lighten the burdens of any in need. Anyone around the world can follow their lead by donating to the Church’s humanitarian fund, by visiting JustServe.org to find service opportunities, or both.
Sunday, September 3, was hot and busy for the visitors from Church headquarters, but it was time well-spent, said Elder Cornish. The First Presidency, he added, wanted to be in Houston as soon as possible to support and lift the people.
“President Uchtdorf would not wait to visit Houston. He has a compassion that is shared by the First Presidency,” he said. “I’m here in delighted support of what prophets do.”
Houston resident Jason Godfrey works as a disaster and relief coordinator in his stake. Over the past several days, he has dispatched hundreds of volunteer crews to homes in need throughout his city. But listening to the words of President Uchtdorf and the others, he said, offered spiritual repair at a challenging moment.
“No one doubted that the Church leaders cared about us, but to have President Uchtdorf here and listen to him express his appreciation for what’s going on is very meaningful,” he said.
Full-time missionaries serving across southeast Texas have been enlisted to muck out homes and do whatever is needed to help folks hit hard by Harvey. For the past week, they’ve mostly kept their white shirts, ties, or skirts in the closet. Instead, they pull on work clothes each day and serve in their assigned communities.
When water began filling his Houston home, Mike Gregg found shelter in an above-the-garage apartment of Latter-day Saints who live close by. Days later, when the waters began to retreat, a team of LDS missionaries and other volunteers showed up at Gregg’s front door.
“They came in and worked their tails off—and as soon as they left another group came in and worked their tails off,” said Gregg, choking back emotion.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, greets volunteers working at a temporary command center on September 3, 2017, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey. Photo by Jason Swensen.
Members gather in the Cypress Texas Stake Center Sunday morning, September 3, 2017, for a meeting with President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. Photo by Sam Penrod, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, center, attends a meeting at the Cypress Texas Stake Center Sunday morning, September 3, 2017, to address volunteers helping in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey. Photo by Sam Penrod, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, attends a meeting at the Cypress Texas Stake Center Sunday morning, September 3, 2017, to address volunteers helping in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey. Photo by Sam Penrod.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, center, attends a meeting at the Cypress Texas Stake Center Sunday morning, September 3, 2017, to address volunteers helping in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey. Photo by Sam Penrod, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, visits with Mormon Helping Hands volunteers in Houston on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Sam Penrod, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, visits with Mormon Helping Hands volunteers in front of the Houston Texas Temple on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Sam Penrod, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, visits with Mormon Helping Hands volunteers in front of the Houston Texas Temple on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Sam Penrod, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, visits the Houston Texas Temple on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Sam Penrod, Deseret News.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, poses with Mormon Helping Hands volunteers on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Sam Penrod, Deseret News..
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second from right, speaks with Red Cross official Charles Blake, far right, on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Joining them are, from left, Elder Daniel Jones, Elder J. Devn Cornish, and Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé. Photo by Jason Swensen.
Volunteer work crews in Mormon Helping Hands T-shirts help clean debris from a flood-damaged home in a Houston neighborhood Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Jason Swensen.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, center, examines the floodwater mark on the exterior of the Houston Texas Temple with temple president Marshall Hayes, right, on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé is at the left. Photo by Jason Swensen.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf greets a group of volunteer Mormon Helping Hands workers during a Houston area clean-up project on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Jason Swensen.
Volunteers help organize work crews at the Cypress Texas Stake Center on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Jason Swensen.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf greets volunteer workers providing relief work to flood-damaged areas of Houston on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Photo by Jason Swensen.
Mormon missionaries sporting yellow Mormon Helping Hands T-shirts help clear debris on Friday, September 1, from a heavily-damaged neighborhood not far from downtown Houston. Photo by Jason Swensen.
