Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who have family serving in Russia are trying to adjust to a new law that limits their sons and daughters from sharing their religious beliefs.
Abel Porter served for two years in the Russia, Semora mission. He enjoyed hot summers, cold winters and time spent working with some of the nearly 22,270 members of the LDS faith living in that country. He came home to Utah in July.
“While I was there, as the years went on, the work was improving,” he said. “Especially in the summer when everyone was outside enjoying time together.”
Porter just missed having to adjust his work as a missionary to one of volunteer. The Russian government has passed legislation making it illegal for religious organizations to gather in public or private to share religious materials, pray, or conduct door-to-door evangelizing. Porter said while he was serving, he and others representing the LDS church there become accustomed to tucking a copy of their official documents in their suit pockets just in case authorities questioned their legal status. The new guidelines will require documentation and more.
“I hope this isn’t just a momentum stopper,” said Porter.
LDS church leaders have been told the changes in Russia were imposed as part of new anti-terrorism laws.
Troy Oldham’s son, Drake, served alongside Porter as an assistant to top LDS church leaders who oversee volunteers in Russia. Elder Oldham is scheduled to return from Russia sometime in December. His latest email to family arrived just two days ago.
“The changes here are huge,” Oldham wrote. “Every single volunteer in Russia is safe. We are still doing the Lord’s work, it is just in a different way. We are still doing a ton of training.”
Oldham said as a volunteer in Russia his son is working with other Mormon volunteers to restructure a plan of action that will work for them and members of their faith.
At home in Logan, Utah Oldham uses Facebook to inform family and friends who want to correspond with Drake to follow guidelines outlined by church leaders in Russia. He, and other parents of young adults serving in Russia, were sent letters informing them of the changes and how to proceed.
Information in the letter stated that ‘your sons and daughters are no longer considered missionaries in Russia’. Oldham said they were told that when writing a letter or sending an email the person they are corresponding with should be referred to as volunteers, not missionaries. Oldham said it is his understanding that those serving can still be given the title of Elder or Sister in correspondence. And, he said, they have been told that when sending emails they shouldn’t use words like baptizing, converting, and investigating. Church leaders are instead, asking volunteers and their families to focus on conversations about service and volunteer work.
