Kyiv, Ukraine: The LDS (Mormon) Temple

August 2010

One of the delights of my Eastern European journey (see Eastern Europe and/or UA Ukraine sidebars) was that I ended up in Kyiv during the Open House for the newly built LDS (Mormon) temple in Kyiv.  This is the first LDS temple built in the former USSR.  Prior to the dedication of a temple, it is open for the general public to go through it.  I was fortunate to be there the first day of the general opening (they had had a prior day of VIP visits).

I chose to include the Ukraine in my post-Danube cruise itinerary based largely on the wonderful reports of friends who were serving a mission for the LDS church there.  Having been a successful lawyer and judge in the USA before retirement,  Steve and his wife, Lorraine, volunteered for a church mission and were assigned to Kyiv for 18 months to help with legal affairs and preparation for the dedication of this temple.  When I planned my trip, I knew they hoped the temple would be finished in the summer, but it was a pleasant surprise that I would be there during the two weeks of the Open House.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the temple is not the place of our weekly Sunday services.    Chapels or rented buildings, if necessary, are used for those services, activities, and other functions, and all are welcome to attend (members as well as those not of the faith).  Temples are special places that qualified members attend in order to perform sacred ordinances, such as marriages for time and eternity, in a beautiful and serene setting apart from the noise and influence of the world.  They are sacred places where covenants are made and precious blessings are promised, contingent on our faith and obedience, and where the Spirit of God is strongly felt.  Above the doors of each temple are the words:  Holiness to the Lord.  There are more than 134 temples around the world.

My friends very much enjoyed their time in the Ukraine and experiences with the Ukrainian people.  There were some adjustments in lifestyle:  a small apartment with no air-conditioning and using only public transportation for 18 months in rain, snow, and heat.  But they loved the fresh food markets and the arts that were available at inexpensive prices (opera, ballet, concerts) and adjusted to ice cream in a tube!  Mostly, they were touched by the faith and sacrifices of the people they worked with.

The Open House was advertised through the media and in the subways.  As the temple is on the ring road around Kyiv, free buses were provided from the nearest subway station.  There were missionaries to help people find their way as well as individuals of another faith trying to dissuade people from going, but it was amicable.  Needing to have a tour in English, I was privileged to be in a small group with the wife of President Biddulph, the first LDS mission president to the Ukraine, their daughter and son-in-law, and another couple.  It turned out that the son-in-law had been in the same ward (congregation) as my family many years ago.  Small world.  Through unfortunate circumstances, Sister Biddulph is now in a wheelchair and nearly blind, but her glorious spirit shown through.  It enriched my experience as we described for her the beauty of what we were able to see.

President Biddulph joined us in the celestial and sealing rooms as we talked about the miraculous growth of the church since it came to the Ukraine less  than 20 years ago.  There are now nearly 11,000 members in the Ukraine and many more who will be able to come to this temple from Russia and other former Soviet nations.  The temple design incorporates many aspects of the Ukraine.  The wheat motif is used in the etched windows and the interior as well as gold painted floral motifs.  The windows are placed so that the building is filled with light and, with the chandeliers, it sparkles like a gem.  I was filled with such peace and joy.  It was the highlight of my journey.

When we completed our tour, we were able to meet members of  a group of Ukrainian scholars who had been participating in a special conference on religious freedom in the Ukraine.  As  a conclusion to the conference, they had toured the temple and learned of some of our beliefs.  Their comments were very favorable.  One professor told us after the visit that he found the church was "spiritually irresistible." For all who toured, there were light refreshments and an opportunity to ask questions.  I had become so involved in the discussions that I didn't think of getting pictures until it was almost time to catch the shuttle back to town.

As part of the celebration prior to a temple's dedication, there is often a cultural night where youth perform.  Lorraine had been learning to play the bandura (national instrument) and was part of the orchestra which included both youth and adults.  Groups from the Ukraine and surrounding countries gave exciting performances.  Below is a link  about the performance before the dedication of the temple.  My next post will be the night train to Lviv in the western Ukraine.

Click below for video clip:
Kyiv Temple Youth Celebration

More information:
http://mormon.org/   http://lds.org