Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve dedicated the Voronezh Branch meetinghouse on Oct. 20, a little more than 17 years after the first members of the Church from this Russian city were baptized.
Elder Nelson dedicated the building, originally constructed in the 1950s as a theater of classic design and recently renovated to serve as an LDS meetinghouse, to be "a sanctuary of safety and a haven of peace where the everlasting truths of the gospel will be taught" and as "a gathering place for Thy sons and daughters to rejoice together and strengthen families."
He said the dedicatory service brought to his mind fond memories of an earlier visit to Voronezh. He visited the city in 1993 when his son, Russell M. Nelson Jr., was serving there as a missionary in the Russia Moscow Mission. "Back then, my son served as my translator," Elder Nelson told the Church News in a telephone interview shortly after he dedicated the meetinghouse.
About 175 people attended the dedication, a number that Elder Nelson described as "quite amazing for a Tuesday night in Russia."
"Many of them remembered with fondness Russell teaching them. To see that they were still members of the Church with gratitude for that missionary who taught them warmed this father's heart," Elder Nelson said.
In attendance at the meeting was Nina Bazarskaya who, during a visit to Moscow was baptized on Christmas Day of 1992. All her family later joined the Church. Elder Nelson acknowledged her presence and that of her husband, Oleg Bazarsky, who was baptized on Jan. 15, 1994. He became the first Russian to serve as president of the Voronezh Branch (previously, missionaries had served as branch president), and she became the first Russian to serve as the branch's Relief Society president.
Elder Nelson said that when he visited Voronezh in 1993, Sister Bazarskaya invited him and Sister Nelson to her home for dinner.
Elder Russell M. Nelson meets with Alexandr Fyodorovich Zaytsev, Head of the Religious Affairs Department, the Voronezh region Administration, right, after the dedication of the Voronezh Branch meetinghouse in Russia.
Courtesy Europe East Area
"I spoke about Sister Bazarskaya and said that back in those days the missionaries didn't have much time even to shop for groceries, so members of the Church did that for them. The missionaries were busy teaching referrals from the members. It was a nice combination of member-missionary cooperation."
That cooperation led to the Church's growth in Voronezh.
Elder Nelson described the atmosphere at the dedication of the branch meetinghouse as one of "great gratitude and reverence. It was so quiet in there. After the meeting was over, nobody wanted to leave. There was a hush over the place; it was very, very significant."
Elder Russell M. Nelson poses with members following the dedication of the Voronezh Branch meetinghouse in Russia.
Courtesy Europe East Area
He said that in addition to members of the Church and their friends and families, local and regional government officials attended the dedicatory service. He said the officials expressed gratitude that Church members had "such a nice, spacious place" in which to meet.
"There was a pretty good mixture of people, a lot of younger people," Elder Nelson said. "There were some students and some of middle age as well. They are from all walks of life. There was a nice cross section of society. They were so grateful for their liberty and their privilege of worship."
Elder Russell M. Nelson poses with members following the dedication of the Voronezh Branch meetinghouse in Russia. Held Oct. 20, 2009.
Courtesy Europe East Area
Elder Russell M. Nelson poses with members following the dedication of the Voronezh Branch meetinghouse in Russia.
Courtesy Europe East Area
A city of about 1 million people, Voronezh is some 320 miles south of Moscow. "It is one of the centers of strength in the Moscow West mission," Elder Nelson said.
Elder Nelson said he was impressed with the choir that sang during the dedicatory program. "One of the selections they sang was 'Nearer My God to Thee.' It was in Russian, of course."
Elder Russell M. Nelson poses with members following the dedication of the Voronezh Branch meetinghouse in Russia.
Courtesy Europe East Area
Also participating on the program were Elder Wolfgang H. Paul of the Seventy and president of the Europe East Area, Russia Moscow West Mission President Kenneth M. Woolley, and his wife, Sister Athelia Woolley.
Elder Nelson said that he spoke and offered the dedicatory prayer in English and bore his testimony in the Russian language. He said that Gary L. Browning, who was president of the Russia Moscow Mission when Voronezh was opened to missionary work in 1993, translated the text of the prayer into Russian; it was read during the dedication by Voronezh Branch President Sergey Zolotov. Elder Nelson left a copy of the prayer with the branch for historical purposes.
