Hallelujah!

When I was a senior in high school, three friends and I drove into downtown L.A. to attend a Christmas concert - Handel’s Messiah performed by the Southern California Mormon Choir and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. As we stood for the Hallelujah Chorus, the Spirit bore powerful testimony to me of the divinity of our Lord and the tears streamed down my face.    Since that evening, each time I hear that stirring chorus my heart feels that it will burst with joy and gratitude for the life and love of our Savior.

Of course, I am a normal person in that I love, love, love the Christmas season.  It seems as if people are friendlier and more thoughtful as they prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child.  I have really enjoyed the “Light of the World” initiative done by the LDS Church.  This was presented to the missionaries at the Thanksgiving Day zone conference we attended.  He really IS the light of the world and as we emulate Him, we become that light on the hill.  Our light becomes a reflection of Him.  The world is better and so are we.

For us, Christmas this year was devoid of shopping and gifts.  We decided instead to spend the money we would have normally spent on gifts for our family on a dinner for Ukrainian Latter-day Saints who first made a pilgrimage to the temple, traveling by old, rickety buses from Kyiv to Freiberg, Germany in the years of 1992-3.  We invited 68 persons, of whom about 60 were able to attend.  Elder Jeff and Sister Kathy Anderson (on a two year hiatus from the Orchestra at Temple Square to serve a mission as mission doctor and his best assistant for several missions in our part of the world) blessed us with beautiful violin music accompanied by another great senior talent - Elder Don Wood.  As we projected pictures of the first 3 temple excursions, people shared their memories of the trips.  The Spirit was very strong as our guests recounted the miracles that allowed them to travel to make covenants with God.  These wonderful people made great sacrifices to receive their temple blessings.  One example recounted was a sister (since deceased) who rented out her apartment (becoming homeless) for an entire year so that she could have the money to make the trip to Germany. 

The best part of our evening was the excited expressions of agreement when Howard asked our guests to go with us on another temple trip – this time to the Kyiv Temple.  It was a thrill to us to see such a positive response especially from those who have been less active in recent years. We have set a date far enough in advance that all can have recommends ready.  We’ve worked with our new temple president, President Gerold Roth, to schedule a special baptismal session, endowment sessions and sealing sessions for our group.  Each “traveler” to the upcoming temple trip is to bring with him/her the name and story of at least one late family member for whom ordinances will be performed. In the meantime, we will be planning family history classes and temple preparation classes to be ready.  We hope all of those who were baptized during Howard’s tenure as mission president (1991-1994) will participate in some way.  We believe that the reason that the Lord has so far preserved Ukraine as an independent nation is the temple.  We also believe that as temple attendance increases, the protection afforded by those on the other side desiring their temple blessings will also increase.  We expect these pioneers who began the tradition of temple worship in Ukraine to inspire an upsurge in temple activity among all of the members here.

The dinner we hosted took place on December 19^th, the Ukrainian “St. Nicholas Day.”  I love it that Ukrainians separate Christmas itself from St. Nicholas gift giving.  For me, that would mean a more Christ-focused Christmas.  However, I have yet to see what actually happens on Christmas, as the official day for that is January 7^th.  At least January 7^th is the Orthodox Church’s Christmas (that is most of the population).  Catholics and Protestants celebrate on December 25^th, which is to say there are two Christmas days here and some celebrate them both!  Additionally, New Years’ Day is a big celebration too.  During Communist years, celebration of Christian holidays was frowned upon and New Years’ Day was made into a big holiday, complete with Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), who has a long white beard, wears a floor length blue fur coat and gives gifts.  The change in regimes, did not negate the celebration of the new year.  Ukrainians brighten the dreary winter months by celebrating everything! 

Although we didn’t personally spend all month shopping, baking and decorating, it seems as if we’ve celebrated the Savior’s birth all month.  It started with a family home evening shared with the senior missionaries serving here wherein we enjoyed a Christmas program and good food.  We then enjoyed the First Presidency’s Christmas Fireside, which we saw twice (how wonderful is that!?).  We then were completely blown away by the Sacrament Meeting program presented by our ward Primary children – all ten of them.  We were amazed at how well they spoke and by how well they sang.  The entire room was filled with their clear voices.  If one’s eyes were closed, one would have thought there were 30-40 children singing.  I couldn’t resist going into the Primary room to congratulate them afterwards, I was so impressed.  There they were, eating well-deserved treats.  We have listened to Handel’s Messiah over and over, along with other Christmas music that we have on CDs.  A great highlight of the season was the Stake Christmas concert.  Have I mentioned how musically gifted are our Ukrainian brothers and sisters?  So many of them are unusually talented!  We commented upon how the wonderful program was produced by just one stake.  And then we thought of the concert we attended in the Opera Theater in September to celebrate 25 years of the gospel in Ukraine which was produced by this very one and only stake.  Wow!  And finally, Christmas Day consisted of Sacrament Meeting, dinner with just the two of us and visiting via telephone and Skype my four and Howard’s five children plus my mother.  More is yet to come, as our ward family will be celebrating at an Ukrainian Christmas party on January 5^th. 

As you can see, we have thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas season, in spite of being away from home and without the normal dinners and gifts.  What we have most enjoyed is the focus that we have been able to put upon the true meaning of the holiday, precisely because we have been away from our normal routine.   We have had time to “Be quiet and know that I am God.”  We have felt the love of God expressed through the awe-inspiring gift of His Holy Son.  We love the Lord Jesus Christ with all of our hearts.  We are grateful for His love, strength, support, inspiration, healing and forgiveness.  We are also grateful for how much more that we are because of His power and willingness to enhance the gifts with which He has blessed us.  We are so grateful for the hope that he gives us that we will live again to see those we love so much in this life!   He truly helps us to comprehend the love that our Heavenly Parents have for each of us.
  

Hallelujah! The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth! 

These (3 pics) are some of the people who went on the first three temple trips to Freiberg, Germany.

What a great reunion of the first travelers to the temple in the early 1990s! They have changed just a little in 24 years.  We hope we didn't miss anyone! 

Yevgeniy took the pictures of the temple trip gathering, and so he wasn't in any of them! He helped us organize the event.  He is pictured in front of our grand tree.

Slava and Zoya Gulko also helped organize our temple trip event.  Here they are pictured (at a different event) with their delightful daughter, Kyra and her family. Kyra was sealed to her parents on the third temple trip. 

Kyiv Stake Christmas concert.  It was spiritually moving and very beautiful. I have many more pictures but not enough room to post them.

Primary children of the Pechersky Ward.  What great singers!

Do you think visions of sugar plum fairies are dancing in his head?

Beauty From Ashes

We were privileged to spend November 24th (the American Thanksgiving Day) with the full-time missionaries here in Kiev at a wonderful zone conference.  Our hearts were filled with gratitude for the amazing young and not-so-young persons who have dedicated two years of their lives to serving others.  We were so inspired by President and Sister Packer’s instruction.    Additionally, Sister Packer had planned and, with the help of senior missionaries, served a delicious noon-time dinner complete with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, salads, and deserts.   A few hours later, Americans sat down to a similar dinner to give thanks for the hand of the Lord in preserving their forefathers who settled North America. 

   

While Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving, Ukrainians were commemorating Holodomor Remembrance Day.  On this day especially, Ukrainians remember the unimaginable suffering and death of many millions of their forefathers who were intentionally and systematically starved to death by Josef Stalin in 1932-33. Although I have always loved history, this horrific event is something of which I was unaware.  Conquering nations have a habit of rewriting history to fit their narrative. Some in the West combine coverage of this mass murder together with the collectivization of the farms in the Soviet Union.  But this was more, much more.  Proletarska Pravda in 1930 wrote that the collectivization in Ukraine was intended to “destroy the social basis of Ukrainian nationalism.”  Once the farms were collectivized, Stalin sought to destroy Ukrainian culture, traditions and yearnings for independence.  Not only was the countryside stripped of grain, but of anything else that was remotely edible.  All farming tools and cooking utensils were confiscated and the borders were sealed to prevent food from coming in and people from going out.  This happened in Ukraine and also in the parts of Russia adjoining Ukraine where there were large Ukrainian populations.  Genocide was the intention.  Entire villages disappeared.  Estimates range up to ten million victims.  Russia then colonized portions of Ukraine where the population had been decimated.  When media outlets mention people of Russian ethnicity living in Ukraine, this is why. 

The spirit of freedom has always burned brightly in Ukrainian souls, and in 1991 they choose freedom as an independent nation and withdrew from the Soviet Union, catalyzing the dissolution of the USSR.  The current leadership in Russia is now seeking to rebuild an empire. Realizing that there has never been such an empire without Ukraine, (the bread-basket of Eastern Europe with rich soil and ports on the Black Sea), Russia has sought to reclaim Ukrainian territory as its own.   I’ve seen western media reports which claim that the ethnic Russians here want to be reunited with Russia.  And indeed, those still living in cities where armed Russian soldiers are stationed do say that, presumably for their own protection.  But those who descended from the Russians transplanted by Stalin into Ukraine with whom I’ve personally talked, claim now to be Ukrainian in nationality and allegiance.  They love the freedom enjoyed here and have no desire to lose it.  As a result, there are in Kiev hosts of refugees from the Crimea and Donbas areas. 

You can imagine the distress felt by Ukrainians as they contemplate the 55,000 Russian troops stationed on their borders.  They are further distressed by media reports of the American president-elect’s friendly attitude toward Russia.  No wonder, with such a tragic history behind them, Howard didn’t often see smiles on the street 25 years ago.  (He actually saw cheering when independence was declared).  No wonder I don’t see smiles on the street now!   But, don’t let that fool anyone – underneath the stern exteriors lie hearts with the capability of a full range of emotions.  This is abundantly clear with those who have embraced hope in Christ through covenants made in the waters of baptism.  Such love expressed to one another!  Such smiles and hugs!  Such love expressed within families and among close friends!

The depth of emotion felt by Ukrainians, and not just by those of our faith, is also abundantly clear in their music.  An amazing number of people here show unusual musical talent which we enjoy at almost every event.  Howard and I were deeply moved by a Rachmaninoff concert we attended.  (Yes, I know Rachmaninov was Russian). Three members of the L’Viv Philharmonic orchestra performed the entire Second Concerto on piano, cello and violin.  We barely noticed the hard upright seats and were disappointed that it had to end, so beautiful and full of passion was the performance given by these talented Ukrainians.  Two days later, we attended a concert of Ukrainian folk dancers.  Oh, my goodness!  I could never have imagined anything so amazing and wonderful!  The costumes!  The music! The colors!  The happiness! The athleticism of the dancers!  No words can come close to describing it.  Attached to this post are pictures, which don’t do the experience justice. 

It has been my experience that deeply held emotions, even joy, arise from suffering, and that the height of our joys can be measured by the depth of our sorrows.  I was asked to speak to a group of LDS sisters last Saturday evening about how I had survived adversity and still retained my ability to be happy.  The event went very well.  Several sisters told me that I spoke directly to their hearts and lives.  I spoke of the blessings that come from adversity, the most important of which is that we can come to know the Lord personally and deeply when we experience the most profound distresses, but only if we truly turn to Him in our anguish.  I used examples from my own life to illustrate the concept.  I have lived through much adversity and I have never failed to acknowledge the Lord’s critical role in strengthening and helping me through all of it.  However, I have always taken it a challenge at a time.  It wasn’t until after the speaking event that the totality of the things I’ve suffered hit me.  I could visualize the events transpiring over the length of my life.  It was quite overwhelming, not just the realization, but the gratitude that I feel for the Lord and His love.  What a paradox!  It is impossible to survive severe adversity on our own without becoming bitter, but if we accept the Lord’s help to successfully navigate the deep waters, He loves us for our faithfulness in coming through not only intact but transformed by Him.   Oh, how wonderful that is to me!

Not only can the Lord use adversity to shape our individual character, but He can use it to transform a nation.  Adversity can soften hearts and prepare them to receive divine tutoring.  I think of the way in which a farmer harrows his fields to prepare them to receive seed.  Perhaps Holodomor prepared Ukraine to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I hope that this thought doesn’t trivialize what happened, because, like what is happening currently in Aleppo, there are no words to describe the horror.  In spite of that, I believe deep in my soul that the Lord, who does not cause, or even condone such inhumanity, can and does use even horrific events to bless.  There is not one soul who turns to Him who will not feel His love and transformative power, if not in mortality, then in the hereafter.  In 1991 when Howard and his little band of missionaries arrived in Ukraine, the people were seeking for truth.  Many were prepared through dreams and other divine intervention to receive the glad message.  The harvest was bountiful.  It was common to see more than 100 baptisms a month, more than all of the European missions combined.  It was a true miracle.  The first stake in Zion formed in the former Soviet Union was organized in Ukraine – and the Kiev Temple is the first, and only, temple operating in the former USSR. 

Our Father is truly a God of miracles, a God of love, a God of mercy!  The reach of His power and compensatory blessings is seen in individual lives, and collectively in a people prepared to receive them.  Truly He creates beauty from ashes. 

Ukrainian Folk Dancing concert.

                                    

Zone Conference

Off the subject, but above is a picture of a protest taken from the window of our apartment. The white edge at the bottom is our window sill.

Rachmaninoff Concert: 

Far right is the violinist, third from right is pianist and the one with the beard is the cellist. 

Who is My Neighbor?

Winter has arrived in Ukraine, along with icy sidewalks and roads.  I’ve had a couple of experiences that have made me smile, but have also made me consider the question posed by the Savior “Who is Thy Neighbor?” 

On our way home from shopping, we drove onto a road that had an uphill slant (not super steep).  We were at the end of a fairly long line of cars.  Nothing was moving. We waited for nearly half an hour and our driver was calm and unquestioning about the wait.  I poked my head out of the car to see what was holding up the line, only to see that front car was unable to make it up the slippery hill.  Wheels were spinning and snow was flying.  The poor driver finally solved his own problem and the line was able to move.  I was dumbfounded!  Had even a couple of people left their cars and pushed, we would have all been on our way in no time at all.  Instead, everyone just patiently waited.  Our driver said, “It happens in the winter.”  There is was again – “It happens.”  While I think that is a great attitude when there is nothing that can be done to change the situation, it certainly seems odd to me to take that attitude and do nothing when something can be fixed or helped.

Two days later, I was waiting on the street outside of our apartment building for someone who was coming to see Howard.  He was having a hard time finding our address, and because I knew that even when he found the building, he wouldn’t know which of the many entrances led to our apartment, I went down to direct him, telling him that I was not wearing a coat (an unusual sight during this time of year), but that I was wearing a grey sweat shirt.  While I was waiting, a car was spinning its wheels, stuck in the snow between the sidewalk and the road.  Without a second thought and without being asked, I planted my feet in the slushy snow and pushed the front of the car with all my might as it slowly backed out of the slippery mush.  The visitor arrived while I was doing this and recognizing that I must be Howard Biddulph’s wife (an American woman in her 60s in a sweat shirt), he said (without helping), “Why are you doing that?” “Because he needs help,” I replied.  “I don’t care about that guy,” said he.  “Well, I do!” said I very emphatically.  (BTW, I wonder what that driver thought)!  

Why did I care about that guy and others seemingly didn’t?  I suppose that it is partially cultural.  It has been only twenty-five years that Ukraine shook off its communist overlords and became an independent nation. During communist years, Ukrainians, and I assume those in other communist ruled countries, were not only discouraged from helping one another but were actually prohibited from becoming involved in welfare service activities.  That was the domain of the state. Even religious organizations, when tolerated, were only to administer religious sacraments and no more.  I imagine that people helped those in their own families, but it did not go beyond that.  It takes a long time to change a perception of what one’s obligation is to those around him/her, especially if someone or something else (the government) is perceived as responsible for the relief of suffering.  Howard tells stories of how his missionaries undertook service projects, such as cleaning up the filthy hallways inside, and the courtyards outside, their apartment buildings to the absolute amazement and disbelief of those observing their service.

I have also observed the lack of communication or even acknowledgment as people pass one another on the street.  I most often pass people with a smile and a greeting.  I NEVER get a smile in return, just a stare and a quick looking away like I am some kind of crazy person. One time, when I held a gaze with a smile, the woman finally asked me what was wrong.  This contrasts starkly with a beautiful story we received about one man’s introduction to missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He wrote, “I went for a walk in the park the next morning.  It was summer.  I was walking along the river pondering over my life problems and my religious search.  Deep in my thoughts I noticed two young men dressed in white shirts and ties, they were still far away. I thought those were students and wanted to continue in my pondering, but there was something special about them that had caught my attention.  I didn’t quite understand it at once therefore I took a closer look at them.  Then I saw the reason of my interest—their faces were shining with happiness and joy.  I felt it!  I wanted them to be my friends so much! I wanted them to share with me the secret of that joy.”

Also contrasting are the ways in which active members of the church treat and help one another.  They are being changed by the gospel. They greet the ones they know like beloved family members.  They have welcomed refugees from Donetsk with love and critically needed assistance.  I watch each week as several members take turns signing for a deaf and mute sister.  This attitude towards others was not always so, and it is something learned after joining the church.  Howard tells me how one branch learned to love and help one another after a sister’s apartment burned.  They housed her while they rebuilt the inside of her apartment.  He tells another story about a branch that bought an accordion for a blind musically talented brother so he could support himself.  These acts of kindness were encouraged and taught by Priesthood leaders, and I marvel today at the difference I observe between Ukrainian Latter-day Saints and the other people I meet daily.  How the gospel changes lives!  And how everyone needs the gospel to be happy! The active Latter-day Saints that I know smile and show in their faces and actions the joy that good man saw in the faces of the missionaries so long ago.

So, who really are my neighbors?  Well, it is easy to be kind and neighborly to those we know.  When we know them, we love them and we naturally reach out.  But how successful are we in reaching out to those we don’t know?  How about those who serve us as we visit stores or other public places?  How about those we pass on the street?  How about those with whom we share public transportation?  How about those who once attended church with us but are no longer seen there?  How about those for whom we have been assigned to visit as visiting or home teachers, but who are hard to reach or who don’t seem especially glad to see us?  I believe that the Savior would tell us that yes, these are our neighbors.  He would plead with us to show kindness and compassion to all those with whom we come in contact.  He would especially ask us to seek after His lost sheep and bring them back to the fold – back into the love we feel in the presence of good friends – back into the joyful presence of our Savior.  I love our good bishop who is seeking to teach our ward members this important lesson in compassion.

Why did I care about that guy?  It’s because over the many years of making covenants with my Heavenly Father, the Lord has helped me to see his children, not just as my neighbors, but as my brothers and sisters.  

When All is Said and Done

To follow the mainstream and social media in the USA, you’d think the world is at its end.  In my inconsequential opinion, however, the things that really matter – well, they still matter. Imperfect people are still good. Good people can differ in opinions and remain friends. God is our Father. And Jesus is Lord.  When all is said and done, what really matters are the loving relationships we foster between ourselves and our God, our families and our fellowman.

We’ve had some great experiences that make us optimistic about the future, not only in our own country, but also in the spot in the world where we currently live and love.  Before I get to those here in Ukraine, I need to rejoice just a little (amid tears) that Annie Schmidt’s body was found.  She lost her footing and fell from a place high above a steep incline covered in rocks and undergrowth.  It is evident that she died from the fall and didn’t suffer from pain, fear, cold, exposure or dehydration and starvation.  She was found only through the intense and unrelenting efforts of many people, most of whom didn’t know her or her family.  Her family credits their success in finding her to the many prayers offered from those across the country and the world.  What an outpouring of love and service!  If you have lost faith in your fellowman, this should bolster it.

Another lesson gleaned from the Schmidt family experience is how dear to us are our families, and how merciful is our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness which binds us eternally with those we most love.  Extremely moving are the messages of love, gratitude and comfort extended to all of us by Annie’s parents.  They demonstrate the peace that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings to families, especially during times of extreme distress.  They know that Annie is theirs to love and cherish in their forever family – they will be with her again as mother, father, daughter, sister – because they were sealed together in a temple of our God, bound together as a family with cords that even death cannot sever. 

Some of our most cherished experiences in Ukraine have been watching members come to the temple to seal their families together by the power of the Priesthood of God restored to earth in fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy:

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4: 3-4 

      

This past week, in addition to latter-day saints from Kiev, we have welcomed to the temple members from Rostov-on-the Don, Aksai, Donetsk, Minsk, Saratov and Crimea.  Crimea, although a part of Ukraine, is currently under the control of Russian-backed troops.  An elderly lady presented herself to the temple after walking long distances past the soldiers on both sides of the conflict.  We were amazed at her courage and fortitude.  All of these saints who travel for long distances and at great sacrifice bring with them the names of family ancestors so that they can perform proxy ordinances for them.  They bring so many with them that they are disappointed when they can’t do all of them before it is time for them to return home again.  Our time serving in the sealing room is especially wonderful, as the veil is gossamer-thin and we often sense families from both sides of the veil there together.  Children’s hearts are turned to their fathers.   And the fathers (and mothers) are close to their families here upon the earth, providing heavenly assistance.

One very interesting temple experience involved meeting Brother Picard from France.  He is in Kiev often as the Deputy Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre, located in Vienna, which organization is working to peacefully resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.  It was heart-warming to see the saints from Aksai, where he had served his LDS mission, hug him and greet him with love and joy.    It reminds me of how long-time members greet Howard.  It seems we really love those who brought the good news of the Gospel to us.  And missionaries truly love those with whom they have had the privilege of sharing in their spiritual journey to Christ.

We have asked the members to record their spiritual journeys.  These stories will be compiled into a book of remembrance – a spiritual history of Ukraine’s first 25 years.  As these stories are written, hearts are again touched by the Holy Ghost who brings all things to our remembrance.  We’ve already received some of these wonderful stories.  A week before yesterday, we taught in the third hour a combined class of both women and men.  Our focus was to encourage the members to write their stories and to reach out to the less active through the sharing of spiritual stories.  Our good bishop is doing all in his power to move this program forward.  I don’t understand all of his words (yet), but I understand his humble and willing spirit and I am moved with awe and love for him.  He is such a good man.  He spoke in Sacrament meeting yesterday and later led the elders and high priests in considering what it really means to love and nurture those for whom we are responsible to home teach.  Oh, and yes!  We were called and set apart as missionaries!  We are official!

That each of us will have and remember our spiritual journeys into the baptisms of water and the Spirit is the desire of true followers of Jesus Christ.  As we enter into sacred covenants with our God - covenants of obedience, sacrifice, service and consecration - we become covenant sons and daughters of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We promise to bear one another’s burdens and mourn with those who mourn.  We feel a kinship with others of the covenant, regardless of nationality, race or culture.  We are family.  And families not only strengthen one another, but they have fun together too.   

What fun we had as we attended an event of the Kharkovsky Ward family!  It was a wonderful cultural celebration of happy Ukrainian music, varenniki, a (staged) marriage, dancing and food.  The kindness with which the members treated us and each other is a testament to their covenant relationship with God and to their spiritual brothers and sisters. I smile every time I think of it. I have attached some pictures and videos at the end so you can catch a glimpse.  I have to say that it was quite an experience traveling to and from the event via the metro.  I marvel that man could construct such a thing so far beneath the surface of the earth!  We never would have been able to manage without the help of our dear friend, Yevgeniy Zaryugin.  Howard isn’t steady enough on his feet to jump on and off the (extremely long) escalators or the trains by himself, as they move so fast.  We were quite a sight with Howard in the middle and Yevgeniy and me on each side! 

We also enjoyed a “family home evening” with the senior couples serving here in Ukraine.  We shared stories of our holiday traditions. What struck me the most was that all of the traditions shared centered around strengthening family ties and teaching children about the goodness of our Father in Heaven and His Holy Son.  And really, after all is said and done, isn’t that what really matters?   Isn’t this the true desire of our hearts -- that through the mercy and goodness of our Father and Jesus Christ we can return home to our Heavenly Family, not alone, but with our earthly families and with all those whom we encompass with our familial love?

To end this epistle, I want to share a poem Howard wrote and which he dedicated to me in anticipation of my birthday in a few days.  I know positively that I don’t deserve such high praise, but I am thankful for a husband who demonstrates his love for me and for faithful, covenant-keeping children.  I count the successful raising of them, despite difficult circumstances, the greatest achievement of my life.  Howard insists that I include pictures of me and my children to go with the poem.   When all is said and done……  

For Laurel (and her children)

Your ark,

            like Jochebed’s reed cradle on the Nile,

Prepared a progeny

            to come forth of the water and a burning bush,

Allegiant to their true identity,

Although apprenticed in strange lands that bow the knee

            before Osiris, Ashtoreth, Minerva’s owl.

Striplings your chrysalis formed

            like Ammonites of old,

Whose armament near Antiparah

                                    was their mothers’ faith.

            Howard L. Biddulph  

Kharkovsky Ward Event:

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.