Since members of the Church were strongly encouraged to aid refugees in the April 2016 general conference, KSL reported on the new efforts Utah citizens have implemented to support, aid, and welcome refugees.
It’s been six months since leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked members to aid refugees as some 60 million people from across the world sought asylum from conflict-riddled areas.
Since then, refugee aid organizations in Utah have experienced a dramatic influx of volunteers as LDS members have flocked to serve. Individuals and church groups have also taken it upon themselves to organize donation and relief efforts sending much-needed items across the world while also befriending refugees that settle in Utah.
In these last six months, the state of Utah has also witnessed several new changes designed to help refugees that have positively influenced the state and the rapidly-growing refugee population in and out of Utah. The following are six changes from the last six months:
Utah Refugee Center's "Serve Refugees" App
Soon after the LDS Church urged members to aid refugees in April, the Utah Refugee Center launched a new smartphone app called “Serve Refugees” that enables users to learn more about refugees in their area and discover how they can help.