Tania Rands Lyon

Mormonism in a Post-Soviet Society: Notes from Ukraine

Legend has it that in the year 988 A.D., Prince Vladimir, ruler of ancient Kievan Rus’, brought Christianity to the Slavs. The apparent catalyst for his own conversion was a plea from Emperor Basil II of Constantinople. A renegade general had gathered an army to march on the Christian capital, and the emperor begged Prince Vladimir for an army to buttress the defense of his throne.

The Discovery of Native “Mormon” Communities in Russia

In early June 1998, Sheridan Gashler, president of the Russia Samara Mission, felt moved to place missionaries in a small village called Bogdanovka. This was an exciting change in policy. Early LDS missionary work in Russia had been concentrated in large urban areas where most missionaries could enjoy such civilized luxuries as paved roads, frequent public transportation, telephone lines, and running water. In recent years missions branched into smaller cities, but the Russian village was an altogether new frontier. Bogdanovka, although it is only 100 miles or so from the large regional capital city of Samara, is a world apart. 

New York Believers | Tony Carnes and Anna Karpathakis, eds., New York Glory: Religions in the City

Church going is not usually one of the primary images associated with New York City, but it seems that “the city-that-never-sleeps” may not be such a godless metropolis after all. New York Glory is an…

Hugh Nibley | Boyd Jay Petersen, Hugh Nibley: “A Consecrated Life”

This authorized biography of one of Mormonism’s greatest minds and most prolific scholars is a wonderfully accessible entry point to the life and work of Hugh Nibley. Boyd Jay Petersen, married to Nibley’s youngest daughter,…

How My Mission Saved My Membership

“Not Invite but Welcome”: The History and Impact of Church Policy on Sister Missionaries