Into All the World

Mission President Bennett shares the joys of serving with the missionaries and members in Russia. He explains his responsibility as the mission president and the experience and blessings he has had while working to share the gospel in an area where freedom of religion has only recently been gained.

Sister Shelley D. Bennett and President Randall K. Bennett . President Randall K. Bennett is originally from Alberta, Canada. He has served as branch president at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, counselor in the bishopric, high councilor and counselor in the stake Young Men presidency. He is married to Shelley Dianne Watchman and they have four children. He and his wife were called to the Russia Samara Mission in July 2007.

Facts about the LDS Church in Russia

• There are 8 Missions in Russia and almost 20,000 LDS members.

• The Russia, Samara Mission is one of the largest LDSmissions in the world, covering three time zones.
• In 1843,Joseph Smithinstructed George J. Adams and Orson Hyde to prepare for a mission to Russia. However, this mission was never fulfilled, because of the martyrdom of Joseph Smithand the departure of the Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois.

• The first baptisms in Russia occurred in June 1895. August J. Hoglund, a native of Sweden, went to St. Petersburg, where he baptized Johan and Alma Lindelof, who had written to the Scandinavian Mission asking for missionaries. They had learned about the Church from Johan's mother who has been baptized years earlier in Finland.

• Russian Book of Mormon was completed and published on June 3, 1981.

• In the Terebenins' apartments, who were baptized a year early in Hungary, the first branch in Russia was organized by Finland Helsinki Mission President Steven R. Mecham on February 11, 1990.

Visit this Church News article for more information about the LDSChurch in Russia.

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