LDS youth athletes in Moscow hold services
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MOSCOW, Russia — On July 20, 250 Utah athletes participating in the first Moscow-Utah Youth Games found themselves thousands of miles from home.
So home came to them.
With the permission of Church authorities, LDS members of the Utah delegation — that is, most of them — held a special sacrament meeting in English in a conference room of the team's hotel.
A large majority of the athletes attended, showing up in the best clothes they had with them. Some came in suit and tie or dress, some came in warm-ups, and most came in some combination of the two.
The motley attire did not detract from the spirituality of the gathering.
"Words can't express it," runner Steve Strickland said of the meeting. "It was incredible."
Elder Douglas L. Callister of the Seventy, president of the Europe East Area, told the athletes that, while they were there to compete, they should also concentrate on discovering Russia.
"Our prayer is that you will see the great good that is in this land," he said. "Sister Callister and I love Russia because we love the Russian people."
Vladimir Nechiporov, a member of the Church and president of the legal entity of the Church in Russia, said there's no question that it was the Lord who opened the doors of the country.
"I know the gospel is true because you are all here," he said. "Nineteen or 20 years ago no one would even have imagined that."
Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, who emphasized that he was speaking only as "Brother Leavitt," said, "Don't miss the real value of being here. Yes, it would be nice to see Red Square, but don't miss the real value: the people. . . . I would encourage you to sit down and talk with them, even if it's talking with pictures."
Some priesthood-bearing athletes blessed and passed the sacrament, and a few native Russian youths spoke through an interpreter.
Aaronic priesthood holder Sergei Okuntsev bore his testimony and briefly described his first encounter with the missionaries. He also mentioned that the Utah athletes had inspired him.
"After your stay here, I'll start doing morning exercises," he said.
The notion to hold the Youth Games developed from a conversation between Gov. Leavitt and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Next winter, 160 Russian youth will compete in Utah.
Games continue through July 28.
E-mail: aedwards@desnews.com
