Moscow meeting
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MOSCOW, Russia — In this ancient land, where the Church has been organized less than a dozen years, many members who had come to hear President Gordon B. Hinckley were only an eyeful of tears away from their own fond baptismal memories. The packed audience in the Cosmos Hotel on Sept. 10 was a testament to the quiet miracle taking place in Moscow and other Europe East countries.
"Everyone in Russia remembers their baptismal date," said one native who served a mission in Ukraine.
For weeks, anticipation of President Hinckley's visit electrified members.
As first-generation Latter-day Saints in their nation, they grasped the historical significance of the president of the Church first to walk on former Soviet soil. Many spoke of a kinship with the man who served as prophet at the time of their baptism. All seemed to sense that his visit validated their membership in the Church.
"I never dreamed I could come to Moscow and see a congregation of this kind," said President Hinckley, addressing nearly 1,500 members, missionaries and investigators of the Church in the conference hall of the Cosmos Hotel. Another 700 were assembled in nearby overflow rooms where proceedings were broadcast. "You look so good," he said.
President Hinckley began his comments by speaking to the youth, urging them to rise above the temptations of the world and prepare themselves to serve missions and to marry in the Church, "to be men of strong leadership and great capacity."
He then quoted John 20:25, recounting the example of Jesus following His resurrection, and urged members to be believing.
"I'm about to lose my voice," he said in conclusion. "But I want to tell you; I love you," he continued, pausing a moment to regain his emotions. "We pray for you, and we know you pray for us."
Following President Hinckley's remarks, members of the gathering applauded.
"They know he extended himself to be here," said Elder Keith K. Hilbig of the Seventy and counselor in the Europe East Area presidency. "With some here who have only been members for a few months, they wanted to show their approval the best way they knew how."
Beyond his message, President Hinckley's visit was like driving a stake in the ground, giving members a visual reference point by which to gauge the growth of the Church during the past decade. It also marks the maturing of the Church from an era of infancy to a new chapter of stability and capable leadership, said Elder Hilbig. "A president of the Church in Russia has never happened before."
As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, President Hinckley visited Russia 21 years ago at a time when there were no missionaries and no members in the country. Orson Hyde was sent to Russia in 1843 by Joseph Smith, and Francis Lyman dedicated the land in 1903, but no president of the Church had visited Russia.
Members traveled great distances to attend, including from St. Petersburg and Vyborg in the north, and Voronezh and Saratov in the south.
Alexey Samaykin of the Saratov Zavodskoy Branch completed work the night before the member meeting, then walked straight to the branch meetinghouse where he boarded the bus with other members for the 15-hour ride to Moscow.
They arrived the afternoon of the conference and greeted other members as they arrived at the hotel. After the conference, they boarded the bus, and with a sack of food and a change of clothes, returned home.
"I felt strong feelings," said Dmitry Marchenko, president of the Moscow Russia District. "I felt a heavenly presence. Some expected comments to be made concerning the creation of a stake. But I'm glad President Hinckley spoke of faith and gospel principles like tithing. That was more important."
"We understood his love before; we know it more now," said Gvido Senkans, president of the Riga Latvia District.
"The thing that impressed me," said Gatis Senkans, president of the Imanto Riga Branch, "was the power and authority with which he spoke. He is a prophet. We felt it. He gave his message with authority. It was good to see him and feel his love and friendship."
Olga Zoobova, a 16-year-old in the Tver Branch who was baptized in August, didn't want to take her eyes off President Hinckley, nor did she want to forget a word he said. So, while staring, she scribbled notes as best as she could. She particularly enjoyed seeing Sister Hinckley come to the podium and hearing President Hinckley say they had been married for 65 happy years. She also prized his teachings about temple marriage.
These are people who believe in a prophet but, until the broadcast of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple dedication in June, had never seen nor heard the president of the Church, said Elder Mel Petersen, a counselor in the Tver Branch presidency who is serving a service mission with his wife, Sister Janet Petersen.
"You should have seen their eyes light up when the district president announced that President Hinckley was coming," he said.
Among those who attended the member meeting were six government dignitaries who sat on the front row. These leaders met with President Hinckley in a private reception prior to the conference. Among the dignitaries was Viktor Zorkaltsev, a leader in the State Duma, Russia's legislative body, who originally planned to attend only the reception, but after meeting President Hinckley, opted to stay for the member meeting also.
During the reception, President Hinckley and Mr. Zorkaltsev spoke casually and informally for about 20 minutes with the aid of an interpreter. President Hinckley noted that returned missionaries become Russia's best ambassadors when they return home. President Hinckley also noted, in jest, that Moscow needed a good rainstorm to clear the air from thick smoke that hung over the city caused by natural fires. All that night, a steady rainstorm scoured the air and refreshed the city.
After the meeting, Mr. Zorkaltsev expressed his appreciation for President Hinckley's visit and suggested working for better understanding in the future. Other dignitaries were moved to tears at times. One city leader requested a compact disc recording of the music performed by the choir, and asked that the choir participate in next year's major "Celebration of the City." Another dignitary said he was impressed by what he saw in the Church, and that President Hinckley's personal visit cleared up misconceptions.
"To think that President Hinckley cared enough about them to come this long way impressed the members," said President John F. Young of the Russia Moscow Mission. "Russians have a guarded, suspicious society, but once you establish a friendship, they are true friends. You are bound like family."
"What President Hinckley did as he waved good-bye to them and lingered on the stage, walking to the edge of the stage and back to the choir, was culturally correct for Russians," said Elder Hilbig. "Friends linger when saying good-bye."
