The Church in Ukraine

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1 June 2009 In June 1991, President Howard L. Biddulph of the Austria Vienna East Mission of the Church visited Kiev with his wife, Colleen. During that month, Ukraine’s first official congregation of some 40 members was organized. At that time, 10 missionaries served in the country under the direction of the Finland Helsinki Mission. Continued

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In September 1991, Elders Boyd K. Packer and Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited members in Ukraine and dedicated it for the preaching of the gospel. Five months later, missionary headquarters for the country were created in Kiev with President Biddulph presiding. The 35 missionaries were called to serve a country of nearly 52 million people. In July 1993 an additional mission was organized in Ukraine, headquartered in Donetsk.

In addition to spiritual assistance, the Church has also provided temporal assistance in the country. Members in Germany and the United States shipped thousands of pounds of food and clothing to members and those of other faiths in 1991, 1992 and 1993. In 1995, the Church shipped six tons of medical supplies to aid the Kiev Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery.

A historical announcement was made in July 1998 regarding the building of a temple in Kiev, Ukraine, the first temple in Eastern Europe. The temple is under construction. Then in September 2001 the first two meetinghouses built by the Church in the Ukraine Kiev Mission were dedicated. Today there are over 10,000 members in Ukraine.