Jump to content

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Nadthoob (talk | contribs) at 22:45, 6 October 2019 (→Temples: Added that members of northwest Russia often visit the Helsinki Finland Temple.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Russian translation of the Book of Mormon

As of January 1, 2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 19,946 members in 13 districts, 116 branches,[1] and 7 missions in Russia.[2]

History

In 1843, Joseph Smith called two missionaries, George J. Adams and Orson Hyde, to serve in Russia, but their mission was called after the death of Joseph Smith. In 1887, Joseph M. Tanner reportedly baptized some Russians in Jaffa, Palestine, who then emigrated to Utah. In 1895 August Höglund, a Swedish native, became the first missionary to proselyte in Russia, where he converted the family of Johan M. Lindelof, after they had written to the Scandinavian Mission requesting that missionaries come to Russia. After the October Revolution, however, most members of the Lindelof family perished and the Church could not take root in Russia at that time.[3][4]

A group was formed in Moscow in February 1989 so that Latter-day Saints working there would be able to gather, and native Russians gradually began attending as well. In 1988 and 1989, Soviet citizens met missionaries in Finland and Hungary and were baptized, after which they returned to the Soviet Union. The first branch in Russia was organized in Leningrad on 11 February 1990 by Steven R. Mecham, who was serving as president of the Finland Helsinki Mission.[3]

Russia was dedicated for missionary work in 1903 by Francis M. Lyman, and again by Russell M. Nelson in 1990.[5] The Church was officially recognized by the Russian government in June 1991.[6]

The Russian translation of The Book of Mormon was published on June 3, 1981.[3]

Starting in July 2016, anti-terror laws passed in Russia prohibit most religious proselyting. Missionaries in Russia are thus referred to as "volunteers."[7]

Stakes

As of November 15, 2015, Russia has three stakes.

Districts

Missions

The Plan of salvation in Russian.

Temples

Russian members have used the temple in Ukraine for a number of years, however hostilities between the countries have made travel more difficult. In the Russian Far East, members have also used the temples in Japan and Seoul.[10] In northwest Russia, members often use the Helsinki Finland Temple .[11][12]

As of April 2018, a temple was announced to be constructed in Russia. The official location has not been announced.[13]

134 Kyiv Ukraine Temple Operating 22,184 sq ft (2,061 m2) 12.35 acres (49,979 m2) 29 August 2010 Thomas S. Monson[14] edit
254 Russia Temple Announced 1 April 2018 Russell M. Nelson[15] edit
124 Helsinki Finland Temple Operating 16,350 sq ft (1,519 m2) 7.4 acres (29,947 m2) 22 October 2006 Gordon B. Hinckley edit

See also

Notes

  1. ^ LDS Meetinghouse Locator. Nearby Congregations (Wards and Branches).
  2. ^ "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Russia", Newsroom, LDS Church, 31 December 2011, retrieved 2012-11-24
  3. ^ a b c "Country information: Russia". LDS Church News. February 1, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  4. ^ Nechiporova, Elena. "Russia - Facts and Statistics". Mormon Newsroom. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  5. ^ "The LDS Church in Russia". LDS Living. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  6. ^ "LDS Statistics and Church Facts | Total Church Membership". Mormon Newsroom. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  7. ^ Woodruff, Daniel (July 19, 2016). "In light of new law, LDS missionaries in Russia now called "volunteers"". KUTV. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  8. ^ "Moscow Russia Stake organized June 5, 2011", Church News, Deseret News, June 11, 2011, retrieved 2012-11-24
  9. ^ "Church leaders visit with heads of state", Church News, Deseret News, Sep 27, 2012, retrieved 2012-11-24
  10. ^ "Seoul Korea Temple District | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". churchofjesuschristtemples.org. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  11. ^ "Helsinki Finland Temple". temples-fe.pvu.cf.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  12. ^ "Helsinki Finland Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". churchofjesuschristtemples.org. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  13. ^ "Russia Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". churchofjesuschristtemples.org. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  14. ^ "Kyiv Ukraine Temple Details", Church News, September 4, 2010, retrieved 2012-10-15
  15. ^ "Seven Temples Announced as April 2018 General Conference Closes: Mormon temples to be built in Asia, Europe, North and South America". Newsroom. LDS Church. 1 April 2018.

References

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_in_Russia&oldid=919965179"