Q&A: Mormon Church Spreads Out in Russia

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Interview with Elder Paul B. Pieper

MOSCOW, Jul 18 2007 (IPS) - For more than a century, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been struggling to establish itself in the former Soviet republics and parts of Eastern Europe.

Also known as the Mormon Church, based in Salt Lake City in the United States, this is a controversial church within Christianity. The Mormons originate from the Latter Day Saint movement, a group of churches and adherents who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ as taught by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the United States.

Its followers believe that Jesus Christ leads the church by revelation given to the President of the Church, whom they consider to be a prophet. They consider themselves to be Christians, but many others do not accept them as Christian. The Church has made extensive moves to spread the faith in Russia and the region since the end of the officially atheistic Soviet Union.

Elder Paul B. Pieper, 49, president of the Europe east area and the former Soviet republics, also an attorney and international development consultant for the Church, told IPS correspondent Kester Kenn Klomegah that his Church, despite restrictions and impediments frequently imposed by government authorities, has been made invaluable progress in spreading the gospel.

IPS: What are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints&#39 activities in Russia and the former Soviet republics?

Pieper: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been present in parts of the former Soviet Union for more than 100 years. Activity was nearly non-existent during the Soviet period but revived in 1989. Today, Church membership in the area is approaching 34,000 in more than 230 congregations from Dushanbe, Tajikistan in the south to Petrozovosk, Karelia in the north, and from Kaliningrad in the west to Magadan in the Far East.

The Church is directed by local priesthood leaders who have been called to serve on a volunteer basis. There is no professional clergy, and every man who lives in accordance with the laws of the gospel can be ordained to the priesthood. The true strength of the Church&#39s activity in the former Soviet Union is the local leadership that has served and is serving so well. These leaders are able teach the gospel of Jesus Christ in their own countries and languages.

IPS: How active and successful is the Church in implementing its programmes in some regions dominated by Muslims?

Pieper: The Church has no special programme to target and proselyte Moslems. The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for all people regardless of race, religion, economic standing, or education. Wherever the Church is present, it operates on the principles of respect for the laws of the country and the beliefs of those in that society. Those principles apply to our activities in places where the predominant faith is Muslim.

The Church is always open and interested in participating with those of other faiths to accomplish good purposes. We often undertake joint community service, humanitarian work and other projects with Muslims and those of other faiths.

IPS: Has the LDS numerical strength increased these few years from what it was a decade ago?

Pieper: The Church has experienced steady, but not fast, growth in the countries where we undertake proselyting. More than 1,000 missionaries work throughout the former Soviet Union. They can be easily identified in their white shirts, ties and name tags. They leave their home and family for two years and volunteer to serve at their own cost. They are perhaps the most visible members of the Church. Many of them are from the countries in the area – Ukrainians serving in Russia or Russians serving in the Baltic republics and so forth.

IPS: How did political events have an impact on the Church&#39s work since it restarted in the former Soviet Union?

Pieper: Almost all countries of the former Soviet Union have adopted constitutions and or laws that permit citizens to worship God according to their individual consciences and beliefs. The Church is grateful for the opportunity these guarantees provide. They make it possible for the Church&#39s to operate in these lands. The Church demonstrates its gratitude by remaining politically neutral in the countries where it operates. It does not support political parties or permit its facilities or funds to be used for political purposes. Each member is free to decide how and for whom to vote.

Because religious activities in the countries of the former Soviet Union are regulated differently from those in the West, some say that this restricts freedom of worship. The Church views this as the prerogative of a country and not necessarily as a negative political environment. The Church always operates as an officially registered entity and complies with all legal and regulatory requirements including providing regular reports and being inspected. Over the past 16 years our relationship with authorities has generally followed a pattern of mutual respect.

IPS: Do you think the attitude of Soviet people is low towards Christian life? Is there any crisis in Christian education in the region, and how do you overcome it?

Pieper: The Soviet Union included many different peoples and religious traditions. Although atheism was taught for many years, many in these lands have deep, natural spiritual feelings that endured the period of Soviet atheism and today&#39s focus on consumerism. The main challenge we have is to help people identify and develop their religious feelings.

A fundamental problem in these societies is trust. Because of the many disappointments that these societies have experienced over the past centuries, it is difficult for them to open up and trust God or anything else that they cannot see. That is the main challenge confronting us in teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ – to help people to trust. We have found that much of the information about religion generally and our Church specifically was designed to create fear and distrust. Most of it is inaccurate and misleading. It has taken some time for accurate information and perceptions to develop in Russia and we have seen considerable progress. The recently published book Mormons in Russia by the scholar Sergey Antonenko is a good example of accurate and objective material.

IPS: How are restrictions on basic religious freedom affecting the Church&#39s work? Is it getting better or worse?

Pieper: Our members have not felt any official, centralised restriction of their basic religious freedoms. In some regions, they experience specific and targeted persecution by local groups designed to curtail their right to exercise their religion. At times, the government has been slow to investigate and curtail activities against the Church and its members that appear to violate their right to freely exercise their religion.

Overall, things are improving and the Church has become better accepted particularly by Russian society and people as they get to know us better.

IPS: What is your vision for the future of the Church in this region?

Pieper: The Church itself has grown from six members in 1830 to more than 13 million today, more than half of whom live outside the United States. The Church is a growing, living thing and will continue to be so in the former Soviet Union. After just 16 years we can see great progress in these lands, especially in the quality of members and leaders. There is reason to believe the Church will not only continue to grow, but will accelerate in the years ahead as leaders become more experienced and capable, as accurate information about the Church becomes more accessible, and as these economies integrate more fully into global society.