KYIV TEMPLE DEDICATION

The Kyiv Ukraine Temple open house and dedication will be in August and the Russian saints are excited because this is the temple they will attend.  The chapels in Krasnodar and Sochi will be an extension of the temple for the dedication.  Elder Patterson is working with the branch leadership in these areas and reviewing all procedures regarding this special day. 

In Sochi a few weeks ago Sister Patterson had a very humbling experience. She was talking with some of the ladies after Relief Society when Yuri came in and gave to each woman (7 of them) an 8x10 color picture of the Kyiv Temple. "Oh, the reaction of these women I will never forget. They hugged the picture to their hearts and then reverently kissed it, and then hugged it again. Tears came to my eyes as I watched this tender scene unfold before me. It truly was so touching to see the love and reverence for this long awaited temple. I was truly humbled on that Sunday afternoon as I watched my fellow Relief Society sisters reaction to just a picture."

The Russian saints travel to Helsinki, Finland by train and by bus to attend the temple. It takes them a week to do this, and I am sure quite an expense for them as well. They can attend just twice a year when the Finland Temple is set aside for the Russian saints. The middle of July is the next temple trip. Eight members from the Krasnodar Branch will make this journey.

The church purchased some property in Kyiv Ukraine for the temple site. It was a derelict piece of property that was covered in trash, old pieces of cement, etc. I guess it was really an ugly eyesore. The church went in a cleaned it up and made it look really nice. Sometime later (don’t know the time frame on this) they submitted their drawings for the temple and a request for a building permit. Apparently there was opposition to the building of the temple (as is usually the case, as you know.) No one in the government wanted to give permission for the building of the temple. Of course, this included not only government officials but Russian Orthodox opposition as well. However, a judge was very impressed with how the church had cleaned up the property and made that part of the city beautiful. He pulled his weight and said, “These people deserve to build their temple. Look what they have done for our city and look how beautiful this building is and how it will improve the look of our city. These are good people. They have done everything that they said they would do. They will have their building permit.” The church now has a temple in Kyiv.

The second story was told to Sister Patterson by a woman she met in Sochi while attending the branch there. She was on the temple grounds the day that the Angel Moroni was to be placed on the top of the temple spire. She said it was a wet, cold, and very windy day. The statue was suspended in the air by a large crane and was twirling around in the wind. Several attempts were made to place the statue but aborted. It looked like the elements were going to win. Then as the whole plan was going to be scraped the wind died down, the skies parted, and the sun came through the clouds. The statue was able to be placed on the temple spire. She told Sister Patterson this story through her tears. It was a tender moment. They talked about the mercies of God to his children who are doing His work.