Comments about ‘LDS leaders helped spur big changes in Europe’

Great story. I lived in Germany and Switzerland and met some of the members from these countries and this rings true with what I heard. Twenty years ago no one ever expected to see these countries become democratic without another World War. This is one of the biggest testaments to the Lord's power and miracles.

No story of the church in Eastern Europe is complete without Kresimir Cosic of the former Yugoslavia (now Croatia). Winner of 4 gold medals, he converted to the LDS faith at BYU and turned down several NBA offers to continue playing in Yugoslavia (and Italy). He got the missionaries into his homeland in the late 70's and won numerous concessions for the church. He is the father of the church in his region.

When we travelled to Yugoslavia in 1985, I mentioned to the border guards (reluctant to give us a visa) that I had gone to the same University as Cosic. "You went to BYU?" "You are from Provo, Utah?", they asked. They immediately changed from stern guards to best buddies talking about their favorite sports hero. On the way back through the checkpoint hours later, they waved with big smiles.

my son served a mission in Czech, Prague and continues his interest in their progress afterwards, we applaud all being given the opportunity to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the great men who have labored to open up these other countries to it.

While it is true that President Hinckley was the first Church President to visit the former Soviet Union while President of the church, President Benson, while an Apostle, also visited and spoke in Moscow. I can remember how thrilled I was to hear about his visit to Moscow at the time.

Growth in Europe is at a snail's pace. Europeans are too educated. The real growth comes from the poorer nations in Central & South America along with Africa.

Growth in Europe is slow because the people have everything they need - they aren't searching for anything. It is the same with the US and Canada. It has nothing to do with education except that education in general looks down on religion and spreads the oft-repeated lie that more people have died from religious conflict than any other (not true if you consider Hitler, Stalin et al were atheists). Many Christian leaders have also been poor examples of true Christianity.

European culture for youth promotes a morality that is opposite from that of the Church and very appealing. That said, the Europeans have strong Christian values by way of tradition and are as a whole a very good people with interests (eg. thrift, industry, family) that once they know and understand what the Church teaches, makes them ideally suited in many ways to become strong members.

I doubt Mr. "Bass" has a very deep understanding of these and other reasons why Mormonism does not grow at an accelerated rate in Europe.

Pres. Uchtdorf is a great and powerful counselor and I enjoy watching and listening him as he speaks to us.

I always think of him not only as a leader in the Church but also as a great commercial pilot.

I too was a commercial pilot though not as world wide as Pres. Uchtdorf was.

I love listening to him speak and feel his great spirit and desire to help all others.

President Monson is also a great President and Prophet. I have gone to numerous meetings here in New England before he was called to being our Prophet and being at our Temple.

These are great blessings here in New England and they have worked and directed many of us as we worked and served all of our people herein.

Love and great blessings to us and all of you.