Come to Zion!

We just returned from an amazing trip to L’viv.  My interest in history was totally stimulated and to top it off, my sense of the Holy was keen as we attended a District Conference of the L’viv Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We traveled by train across Ukraine – an eight hour trip, on which we saw small farming villages clad in Autumn oranges and golds.  (I’ve even chosen in which one of them I will hide out after the US election J).  The trip gave me a perspective of the country as a whole. My experience with the saints in L’viv left me again pondering the creation of Zion. 

L’viv, the largest city in western Ukraine, is a fascinating city, an eclectic mixture of Polish, Jewish, Armenian, Hungarian and Ukrainian nationalities, culture, architecture and history.  It was the historic center of Galicia.  Because it is really in the cross-roads of several cultures, L’viv has a history of foreign domination and influence.  At various times in its history, it has been ruled by the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and the Soviet Union.  It was the last area to be incorporated into the USSR and was liberated at its fall.  L’viv is passionately loyal to Ukrainian independence, figuring importantly in the Ukrainian people’s quest for an independent nation and for freedom of belief and religion.  It is just 43 miles (70 kilometers) from the Polish border and looks much more European than do the other cities in Ukraine.

I can’t leave the subject of diversity within L’viv without mentioning the Jewish population which existed before WWII.  Fully one-third of the population at that time was Jewish.  We saw the spot on which the major synagogue once stood and heard the horrific story of the extermination of the Jewish population when the city was occupied by Germany.  One hundred thirty thousand (130,000) Jews were reduced to only one thousand (1,000)!  Such a terrible price extracted because of great prejudice against religious belief!  Man’s inhumanity to man is beyond what one wants to even contemplate!  It stands in stark contrast to the concept of Zion – a place and a people of one heart and one mind who love and care for another and for our Maker – a place whose only ruler is the all-powerful, all-loving Redeemer of us all.

An important characteristic of L’viv is that it is predominantly Catholic.   Both Greek and Roman Catholic churches are plentiful (and very beautiful and historic).  Other regions in Ukraine are predominantly Orthodox, some governed by the Kievian Patriarchate and others by the Moscovian Patriarchate.  Because there are three primary religions with large followings in Ukraine, none of which can claim a majority, and because in the past when a president favored one above another it led to violence, the government has now taken the role of fostering the toleration of all faiths in Ukraine, even small minority ones like the LDS Church. This leads to civil tranquility.  Unlike other nearby nations, Ukrainian identity is not tied to a single religious persuasion.  Ukraine stands out in this regard, and it is evident to me that revelation directed the erection of a Temple of God here and not elsewhere.

Missionaries were first assigned to western Ukraine after the Book of Mormon was published in Ukrainian (1997).  Ukrainian, not Russian, is the language used in the western part of the country. I’ve written about this translation and the translator (our dear friend) in my last blog.  Despite not having a branch or missionaries in L’viv until then, faithful members who had been baptized elsewhere helped to establish the church there.  One of these is Anatoliy Malonos, the first baptized member from L’viv who left Ukraine because he felt directed to go to Germany to find truth about God.  There he encountered missionaries and joined the church.  For a long time, he was the only member in L’viv.  Howard recommended him for full-time missionary service and he served an honorable mission.  He, along with his wife and children, now live in L’viv because, as he says, “God wants me here.”  He is a true pioneer and stalwart member.  Another such early member is Brother Chemizov, who was the second baptized member in L’viv. 

Malonos family

Although Howard wasn’t able to open L’viv as mission president, because no materials were yet available in Ukrainian, the saints there were so very warm and welcoming.  It was a joy to be with them.  We enjoyed a district conference over which L’viv Mission President Stephen Rizley presided.  Seven branches came together for the conference, many members traveling together by bus for hours overnight.  In President Rizley’s talk, he urged the saints to do something about the things they had learned from previous speakers.  He outlined three things they (and we) can do to become a Zion people: 1) Remember that the Sabbath is the Lord’s day; 2) make the Book of Mormon a daily part of our lives; and 3) seek to be unified as a people, reconciled with all, including the Lord.  As the closing hymn, “Come to Zion,” was sung, Howard leaned over to me and said, “Do you feel it  - the spirit of Zion?”  And of course I did.

The church meeting was followed by a dinner and then a joyous celebration concert.  I have been so amazed at the musical talent of the Ukrainian saints wherever we have traveled, and L’viv was no exception.  Howard spoke at the beginning, but the rest was musical and so very lovely.  I thought again and again during the performances of these diverse saints who had come together from great distances to celebrate the Gospel and how they represented Zion in the making.  We love them!

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I have attached pictures below and also a short video consisting of a collage of pictures of the celebration which was done by Ludmila Shepeleva.  Be sure to click on the link for a fabulous peek into what we experienced.