Mormon Helping Hands

Have you ever seen those media spots that show a natural disaster and a bunch of people in yellow t-shirts that say "Mormon Helping Hands"? Did you ever wonder about the propriety of that? I have. I've wondered if it wasn't a little too... boastful. A bit like the fellow who gives his donations to be seen of the world.

I just listened to Sharon Eubank talk about her work with LDS Humanitarian Services. She helped me understand.

They work really hard in the Humanitarian group to keep proselyting and humanitarian work strictly separated. We don't ever wanted to be perceived as providing help only as a door to get in missionaries, or else we will find that many people won't open the door at all.

So why the t-shirts? Aid organizations are encouraged to have t-shirts like that to help identify the members of the organization to other workers, to help gain access to affected areas, and to help volunteers find each other. Also, it is important for the church to build up a reputation for its ability to help, and to respond quickly, so that we can continue to have access to disaster areas in the future. So more than a proselyting tool, it is a tool to further our ability to contribute to humanitarian causes. In the official church guidelines for the program, we read that, "When used properly and consistently, it will become a recognized symbol of the Church’s good works."

Now you know.