Faith renewed
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LIEPAJA, LATVIA
A renewed spirit of faith is spreading through a branch in Latvia that was recently decimated by criticism and doubt.
The gospel seed took quick root when missionaries arrived in the beautiful seaside city of Liepaja, in June 1992. Following the first baptism a few weeks later, the branch grew quickly — reaching 240 members in about eight years — making the Liepaja Branch one of the larger congregations in the three countries comprising the Baltic Mission.
The year 2005 was a fruitful year with about 25 baptisms.
But such growth stirred feelings among other churches, and when plans were announced for the construction of a meetinghouse, literature against the Church began to circulate.
Other propaganda turned much public sentiment against the Church. Doubts and fears seemed to sweep the community. City officials rejected design plans and delayed building permits.
Some members were affected by the contention and curtailed activity. By the end of 2005, attendance dropped to 20 percent.
Despair and discouragement replaced the joy and unity that once characterized the branch. Investigators were hard to find.
In the next months, missionaries responded by going door-to-door petitioning signatures to validate the rights of members to worship.
A pleasant spirit of fellowship and brotherhood began to develop when a senior missionary couple, William and Rebecca Boehm, arrived in the fall of 2007. That weekend they invited members and their friends to their apartment for a social.
Faith was gradually being restored as missionaries sought the Lord's direction and focused on teaching the gospel.
During one visit with a less-active family, the blessings of Church activity were recounted. The following Sunday two boys from the family, ages 10 and 11, attended Church. A special priesthood preview class was held. Soon, one of the boys was wearing a white shirt and tie. Following his birthday, he was interviewed and sustained to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.
The father responded to a challenge to prepare himself to ordain his son. During a subsequent Sunday, he ordained his son with a blessing of love. The son now cares for quorum members as president of the deacons quorum.
A recently returned sister missionary organized a young single adult activity that was popular among members and their friends.
There is renewed interest in learning the principles of the gospel and qualifying for temple blessings, said Elder Boehm. Members are demonstrating their faith by giving of their time, talents and efforts. Two recent marriages among members hold promise of future strength, he said.
No construction dates have been set, but city officials have lifted bans and improvements are being made to Church property in anticipation that a new branch meetinghouse will soon replace their second-story rented room in a commercial area of downtown Liepaja.
— Shaun Stahle
Latvia facts
Statistics from Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanac:
920 members
7 branches
1 district
History of Church in Latvia
Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea, is a country of the former Soviet Union. The official language is Latvian, though Russian is spoken widely.
Mischa Markow was the first to preach in what is presently Latvia. Markow registered with the district court in October 1903 and then preached to Germans in the city of Riga, which was then part of the Russian Empire.
However, when he was summoned to court and asked to explain what he was doing in Riga, he followed instructions from President Francis M. Lyman of the European Mission to leave the country rather than face the possibility of exile to Siberia.
For the better part of the century, no missionary work was done in Latvia because of religious intolerance, world wars, and Soviet occupation, until after 1991 when Latvia gained its independence from the Soviet Union.
Recent missionary work in Latvia began on June 17, 1992, with the arrival of four missionaries serving under the direction of the Russia St. Petersburg Mission President Charles H. Creel. Dale Franklin, Dennon Ison, Matthew H. Lyman, and Michael G. Van Patten. They were followed on June 30 by a missionary couple, Boris A. and Liselotte Schiel. Boris Schiel was a native Latvian who left Latvia during World War II, and joined the Church in Germany in 1954, and moved to America.
The first convert in Latvia, Gunars Kavals, was baptized on July 25, 1992. Prior to this, a Latvian couple living and studying in Moscow, Russia, Gvido and Velga Senkans, joined the Church. Shortly thereafter, they returned to Latvia to help build the Church in their native land.
