LDS Church creates first stake in Armenia

LDS Church creates first stake in Armenia


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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created the first stake in the Republic of Armenia, according to Mormon Newsroom. It's the latest stop on the long road to official recognition and acceptance of the church in that country.

On June 16, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the church's Quorum of the Twelve was joined by Elder Per G. Malm and Elder Araik Minasyan of the Seventy to form the stake.

“We have good [Church] leadership here, strong people in the gospel,” Elder Nelson said at the meeting, according to Mormon Newsroom.

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It's been a hard-fought battle to establish the church in Armenia, a battle that officially began in the mid-1980s when the country was part of the Soviet Union. The first efforts, however, began 100 years before. According to statistics provided by Mormon Newsroom, "The gospel has been preached among Armenians living outside of their homeland since the 1880s," but continued violence and persecution over the years drove early church members to flee their homes.

It was a natural disaster that finally paved the way for the LDS Church's acceptance in Armenia. On Dec. 7, 1988, the country was devastated by an earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people and made half a million people homeless. It was Elder Nelson who visited the Armenian ambassador on behalf of the church and presented a check for humanitarian aid.

But the church's efforts didn't stop there. "Utah industrialist and Church leader Jon M. Huntsman, working with American philanthropist Armand Hammer, established a concrete plant in Yerevan in late 1991," according to Mormon Newsroom. "It produced reinforced concrete plank used to build homes and apartment buildings. The plant was staffed with Latter-day Saint humanitarian service couples who had expertise in seismic engineering and plant operations." Other humanitarian efforts included managing shipments of food and supplies.

By the numbers
In 2003 there were 1,537 members in Armenia. Today, there are more than 3,000 members of the church there, as well as 11 congregations and three family history centers. This newly-formed stake brings the church-wide total to 3,025.

Meanwhile, in 1990, the Republic of Armenia declared independence from the Soviet Union, perhaps the final barrier keeping the LDS Church from the people. In 1992, Mikhail Oskar Belousaov and Nara Sarkissian became the first people to be baptized in Armenia.

Since then, the church has continued to grow in the region. "This is a Christian nation," Elder Nelson told Mormon Newsroom. "The spirit of Christianity has been in Armenia a long time. Our relationship with the government is outstanding."

In 2003 there were 1,537 members in Armenia. Today, there are more than 3,000 members of the church, as well as 11 congregations and three family history centers. This newly-formed stake brings the church-wide total to 3,025.

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Lindsay Maxfield

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