Adding a new page in the history of the Church in Russia, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve arrived in Vladivostok on a chilly evening, Nov. 18, to be greeted by a group of faithful Latter-day Saints and friends.

His arrival marked the first time an apostle has visited the geographical region that today is called Far East Russia; it was formerly known as Eastern Siberia. Vladivostok is headquarters for the Russian Navy in the Pacific. It was a "closed city" during the Cold War but in 1992 it was opened to the outside world.Elder Wirthlin and his wife, Elisa, traveled to Vladivostok with Elder David E. Sorensen of the Seventy and president of the Asia North Area, and his wife, Verla.

The visit to Vladivostok was added to Elder Wirthlin's itinerary of missionary training meetings and firesides in Japan and Korea. Vladivostok, which is in the Church's Asia North Area, is an eight-hour flight from Tokyo.

Three humanitarian missionary couples were called to serve in Vladivostok in 1995, with an assignment primarily to teach English: Elder Ki Young Kim and Sister Kum Jae Kim, Elder Clair Morris and Sister Suzanne Morris, Elder Jack Burr and Sister Nora Burr.

About the same time the missionary couples were called to serve in Vladivostok, several expatriate families who are members of the Church moved here as the heads of their households accepted positions with multinational businesses. Among those families are Michael and Joyce Williams, Kevin and Dellory Matthews and Dean and Shelli Nielson.

The first district in Far East Russia was organized earlier this year, on March 8. Brother Williams now serves as president of the Vladivostok District, and Brother Matthews is president of the Vladivostok Branch. Ten full-time missionaries serving in Vladivostok are under the direct supervision of the Asia North Area presidency. Elder Rex D. Pinegar and Elder L. Edward Brown of the Seventy serve as counselors to Elder Sorensen in the area presidency.

During the afternoon of Nov. 19, Elder Wirthlin and Elder Sorensen met with Vladimir Ivanovich Kurilov, president of Far Eastern State University.

That evening, Elder Wirthlin and Elder Sorensen held meetings with priesthood leaders, missionaries and members and friends of the Church. At an evening fireside, Nov. 19, they addressed 76 people in a public auditorium. Among those present were 27 who are not members of the Church.

"The best part of our journey has been here in this beautiful city with you wonderful people," Elder Wirthlin told the small congregation. "You have a tremendous future. Your natural resources of minerals, timber, fishing and shipping are great; but your greatest resource here is the people."

Elder Wirthlin quoted the 12th Article of Faith and explained that Church members are counseled to obey the laws of their countries. He told the attentive audience that his favorite author when he was in high school was Leo Tolstoy. He quoted Tolstoy, who said in 1892: "If Mormonism is able to endure, unmodified, until it reaches the third and fourth generation, it is destined to become the greatest power the world has ever known." (The Improvement Era, Feb. 1939 [Vol. 42], p. 94.)

Elder Wirthlin mentioned that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is involved in many humanitarian initiatives in many parts of the world. He said this is evidence of members having the true spirit of Christ. After teaching about the Plan of Salvation, Elder Wirthlin concluded, saying, "The Church is true. There is a plan for you and me to return to our Heavenly Father."