LDS Church Response After 6 Missionaries Detained By Police in Russia

By: Romrik Joshua Flores, Moroni Channel News
Bonifacio Global City Taguig, Philippines

Local authorities detained 6 missionaries from the Russia Samara Mission few weeks ago. The church spokesman Eric Hawkins recently released the following statements::

“Approximately two weeks ago, six volunteers from the Russia Samara Mission were detained by local authorities for a brief period, seeking information about the status of their visas. They were released few hours later. Three of the volunteers have been reassigned to another Russian-speaking mission outside of the country because of technicalities related to their visas.”

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has condemned the law, calling it a “guise” that authorizes “sweeping powers to curtail civil liberties.” according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

As a result of the new legislation in Russia prohibiting missionary work in the country, the church also released an official statement about the said manner:

”The Church will honor, sustain and obey the law. Missionaries will remain in Russia and will work within the requirements of these changes. The Church will further study and analyze the law and its impact as it goes into effect.”

The church has 7 missions, 100 congregations and 22,720 members in Russia.