HomeChurchDieter F. Uchtdorf of Church’s First Presidency Recounts Childhood Refugee Ordeal

Dieter F. Uchtdorf of Church’s First Presidency Recounts Childhood Refugee Ordeal

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Originally posted on Mormon Newsroom.

World leaders met Thursday in London with the United Nations Refugee Agency to find solutions to the growing refugee crisis in Europe. Their goal is to create long-term work and education opportunities for the millions now in refugee camps.

Mormons in many countries are also finding ways to help victims of the crisis by participating in service projects and giving donations.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has deep empathy for those enduring the current crisis.

It’s similar to his own experience as a child in war-torn Germany after WWII and again at the beginning of the Cold War when Russia began blockading the border of East Germany from West Germany, eventually closing it.

Watch President Uchtdorf’s personal account of some of those memories and his thoughts on the current crisis in this video:

 

In its ongoing effort to respond to the refugee crisis, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is giving an additional $5 million to aid victims of the European refugee crisis.

In November, the Church made a similar contribution to help displaced families and asked Mormons worldwide to help refugees by participating in local relief projects and through donations.

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Aleah Ingram
Aleah Ingram
Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast "Single to the Glory" about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.

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