Russia: Chronology

Joseph Smith called Orson Hyde and George J. Adams on a mission to take the restored gospel to Russia. The mission, however, never saw fulfillment.

Brigham Young Jr., president of the European Mission; his brother John W. Young; and Carl Widerborg, president of the Scandinavian Mission, visited St. Petersburg to explore the feasibility of preaching in Russia. They also briefly visited Moscow.

Missionaries preached in Russian-ruled Finland.

Susa Young Gates wrote to Leo Tolstoy, leading to a correspondence with his daughter Tatyana. Gates also sent the Russian author the Book of Mormon and a biography of Joseph Smith.

The first Latter-day Saint converts in Russia, Johan and Alma Lindlöf, were baptized in the Neva River by missionary August Höglund.

Between the turn of the century and World War II, many Latter-day Saints lived in Königsberg, which later became Kaliningrad, and several other cities that became part of Russia.

Elder Francis M. Lyman offered dedicatory prayers for the Russian Empire in St. Petersburg’s Summer Garden and Moscow’s Alexander Garden.

During the Russian Civil War, a Swedish-American serviceman, Andrew Husberg, was baptized in a lake near Vladivostok.

In the 1920s, Andre Anastasion, who joined the Church in 1918, began to translate the Book of Mormon into Russian. He worked on the translation until his death in 1980.

Surviving members of the Lindlöf family moved to Helsinki in 1928.

Russian-German émigré Charles C. Littke’s translation of Joseph Smith Tells His Own Story, a missionary tract, became the first Church publication in Russian.

Elder Ezra Taft Benson, visiting the Soviet Union as United States secretary of agriculture, delivered a sermon in Moscow’s Central Baptist Church.

The first translation of the Book of Mormon in Russian, based on Anastasion’s work, was published.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Hans B. Ringger of the Seventy visited Moscow to meet with Soviet government officials.

Russians traveling abroad joined the Church and returned to their homes in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and Moscow. Finnish Latter-day Saints began to support new converts in Russia.

Missionaries began visiting converts and other contacts in Leningrad.

The first branch in Russia was organized in Leningrad.

Elder Russell M. Nelson offered a prayer of thanksgiving and rededication for Russia in the Summer Garden.

The Finland Helsinki East Mission was organized with Gary L. Browning as president to support Latter-day Saints living in the Soviet Union.

The Church’s first branch in Moscow was organized.

The first youth conference in Russia was held. One hundred and nine youth attended.

The Religious Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia was registered with the Russian government.

Elders Russell M. Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks met with Patriarch Alexei II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The same day, Elder Nelson offered a special prayer of gratitude in Moscow in which he prayed to God for the Russian people.

The Church’s first missions in Russia were organized based in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The first seminary and institute programs began in Russia in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Church’s first branch in the Russian Far East was organized in Vladivostok.

The Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price were published in Russian.

Andrei Semenov, president of the Vyborg Russia District, dedicated the first Church-built meetinghouse in Russia, located in Vyborg.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin offered a special prayer “of faith and blessing” for the eastern regions of Russia while visiting Vladivostok.

Church President Gordon B. Hinckley met with 2,200 Latter-day Saints and guests gathered in Moscow.

Church members participated in St. Petersburg’s tricentennial celebrations and observed the centennial of Francis M. Lyman’s dedicatory prayer by cleaning the Summer Garden and volunteering as guides in the Hermitage Museum.

The Church published a new Russian hymnal with 207 hymns, including some songs by Russian composers.

Church President Gordon B. Hinckley visited with Latter-day Saints in the Russian Far East gathered in Vladivostok.

Russian Latter-day Saints participated in dedicatory services of the Helsinki Finland Temple, including the celebratory concert held on the eve of the dedication.

Anatolii Reshetnikov was called as the first Area Seventy from Russia.

Russian Latter-day Saints participated in the dedicatory services of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple, including the celebratory concert held on the eve of the dedication.

A new Russian translation of the Book of Mormon and revisions of the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price were published.

Elder Russell M. Nelson organized the St. Petersburg Russia Stake.

Church members celebrated the 120th anniversary of the first baptisms in Russia by holding open houses, conducting acts of public service through Mormon Helping Hands, and a gala concert featuring Russian Latter-day Saint performers.

The Saratov Russia Stake was organized.

Church President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to build a temple in Russia.