LDS Church begins Haitian relief efforts; missionaries all safe

With its missionaries in Haiti all safe, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is beginning its humanitarian-relief efforts in the wake of Tuesday's massive earthquake and Wednesday's aftershocks in the Caribbean island nation.

"We express our sympathy and prayers on behalf of the citizens of Haiti following the recent devastating earthquake," said LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter, adding that the church "is immediately shipping humanitarian relief including personal hygiene kits and supplies for newborns."

Efforts are underway to determine further humanitarian response in coordination with government and disaster-relief organizations, he added.

Donations for the church's relief efforts in Haiti can be made at give.lds.org/emergencyresponse.

Earlier Wednesday, the church reported all of its missionaries serving in Haiti were safe and accounted for. No North Americans were serving as full-time Mormon missionaries in Haiti at the time.

The LDS Church is continuing to account for its Haitian members in the aftermath of the deadly quake and had no reports available on members Wednesday morning.

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