There was not any "earthly reason" why the Mormon Tabernacle Choir should come to Russia.

That was the observation of singer Beth Monson as she prepared for the choir's concert in Leningrad, the final stop on an eight-country tour. With tear-dimmed eyes, she took in the interior of the aging, yet still elegant, Philharmonic Hall, and said, "I know we're here physically, but I keep thinking, `Is there any earthly reason why we should be here?' The answer is, `No, there is not any earthly reason. We are here for a heavenly purpose.' "The choral group, identified by some as "America's own choir" and a singing hallmark of religious faith, concluded its musical journey in the Soviet Union with concerts in Moscow's famed Bolshoi Theater June 24 and in Leningrad's Philharmonic Hall June 27.

Even before the singers and those traveling with them left Salt Lake City June 8, they looked forward to the concerts in Russia. The prospect couldn't help but be interesting: how would singers with such deep-rooted beliefs in Jesus Christ be accepted in a nation where atheism has officially prevailed?

The answer was soon discovered: very well. That Russians so readily arose for standing ovations was just one indication of their acceptance of and appreciation for the choir.

Elder Dale Warner, who is serving a mission in Leningrad with his wife, Sister Renee Warner, shared this insight: "Russian audiences don't usually stand and applaud at the end of a performance. I was here years ago and attended a concert of the highest ranking pianist in the nation. He performed an excellent program, followed by six encores, but no one stood to applaud. So I was very surprised when the whole audience stood and applauded the Tabernacle Choir here in Leningrad. That, I think, is a great tribute to this choir."

The choir gave Russians reason to applaud. Concerts in Moscow and Leningrad varied slightly, but the musical offerings were similar. Each concert contained a great portion of religious hymns and anthems of the Savior's birth, mortal ministry, atoning sacrifice and resurrection. Also included in the programs were American folk songs, spirituals and show tunes.

As the choir did in each nation, it sang certain numbers in the language of the country it visited. At both concerts in Russia, the choir sang at least two songs in Russian. One was an old Russian prayer, the title of which is translated as "God Bless Us" or "God Help Us." In recent years, the song has not been sung in public. However, older Russians remember their parents or grandparents singing it in their homes. At the concert in Moscow, many older people in the audience were touched emotionally by the choir's rendition of the song. An older woman usher at the Bolshoi Theater, for example, looked surprised when the choir began singing the Russian prayer. Gradually, tears filled her eyes. By the song's end, she wept openly. "That song touched my heart," she told a missionary after the concert.

The choir's performances touched not only Russians but also the singers themselves. Pat Culverwell said: "When we were singing `Come, Come Ye Saints' on the Bolshoi stage, I thought of the Mormon pioneers. It occurred to me that members of the Church here in Russia are just as much pioneers. I thought, `We're living a miracle.' It seemed incredible that we were able, on a Russian stage, to praise the Lord openly through song. I feel privileged to be part of history.

"There is great significance, I think, in a line from `Down by the Riverside,' which we sang. That line is, `I ain't goin' to study war no more.' I was so excited to stand on that stage and sing that song. I've had to pinch myself many times just to see if I'm really here."

Emotions of choir members were heightened further in Leningrad. They quickly learned about Leningrad's "White Nights," a period of Arctic summer when a faint twilight takes the place of night darkness, increasing daylight to 18 hours and 53 minutes. During the summer, Leningrad is known as a city of light.

The Tabernacle Choir brought even more light to this city by the Baltic Sea as its members freely shared testimonies in songs, words and actions.

Just as the "White Nights" create a surreal atmosphere, the choir's presence in Russia still seems ethereal. When the singers walked inside the concert hall here for a rehearsal the afternoon of their performance, many explored the building.

Several others, however, stood in silence. It seemed as if they were giving reality a chance to gain a foothold in what they described as the dreamlike experience of actually being in Russia. A few wiped away tears as they tried to verbalize how they felt being part of concerts in a nation where the gospel message is brand new to the people.

Almost as if heralding a triumphal conclusion to its tour, the choir began its final performance with "Jubilant Song," which sings of "prophetic joys of lofty ideals, . . . of the universal love awakening in the hearts of men."

Other religious selections during the final concert included "The Lord's Prayer," and "Love Divine," the latter of which is known also as "Wondrous Cross."

The Leningrad hall was one of the smaller buildings in which the choir performed during its tour. People on the front row of the audience could reach out and touch the stage, and singers near the edge could reach down and shake hands with the people. During intermission, singer LaMar Taylor said: "There is a feeling coming back and forth between us and the audience. It's a very pleasant experience. We usually haven't been able to see our audiences' expressions, but we can see them here. In the short time we've been in Russia, I've noticed that the people don't smile very much, but I noticed lots of smiles as we sang `The Lord's Prayer' and `Wondrous Cross.' "

William K. Randall said: "I looked over at a woman in the balcony while we were singing. She had her eyes closed, and a look of euphoria on her face."

Time and again, choir members and those traveling with them commented on the historical significance of the concerts. "Just to realize the importance of being here - it is hard to imagine," said choir member Steve Case.