'God Is Love' inscribed at church
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Among the many visits and addresses by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder Neil L. Andersen while in Russia and Ukraine in late May and early June was a visit to the Central Baptist Church in Moscow. Here, 50 years ago in October 1959, another apostle, Elder Ezra Taft Benson, then serving as Secretary of Agriculture in the U.S. administration, spoke at a meeting of Christian believers.
On Tuesday, June 2, President Uchtdorf and Elder Andersen were welcomed by Vitaly Vlasenko, the director of external relations for the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists of Russia, and Pastor Sergey Zolotarovsky.
The guests were given a tour of the 200-year-old building that has been home to the Baptist congregation since 1917. They stood at the pulpit where Elder Benson spoke cast against the backdrop of a large, stained glass window inscribed with the words "God Is Love," and looked out over the balcony and main hall where nearly 1,000 Christian believers listened to words of encouragement and testimony during Soviet times.
After the tour, guests and hosts held an informal meeting to share experiences and discuss topics of common interest to the members of these two minority religions in Russia. President Uchtdorf asked Pastor Zolotarovsky about his experience as a Christian. Pastor Zolotarovsky said that he was baptized in 1971 when it was difficult to be a believer. He shared how Christians were often denied educational and employment opportunities. President Uchtdorf commended them for their faith and explained that such has also been the case with Latter-day Saints.
President Uchtdorf shared his feelings about the wars and discord of the past that have brought sorrow and suffering to the people of Russia and Ukraine. "Fortunately, those times are in the past," he said. "Today, there is greater unity. With Jesus Christ as our Savior we can all be united and serve Him. We have different doctrines, but we all believe in God, and believing in the goodness of the people unites us."
President Uchtdorf introduced Elder Alekandr N. Manzhos and Elder Sergiy N. Mikulin, Area Seventies, and shared their background and Church experience. It was agreed that there are common issues on which the two Christian faiths can work together and that the meeting was the beginning of a longer relationship.
