An estimated 180 million Soviet citizens are expected to hear about the Church in September from the point of view of a popular television commentator in that nation.
Vladimir Mukusev, commentator for Central TV in the USSR, was in Salt Lake City July 30-31 with a cameraman and technician, Vladimir Breshnev. They spent the two days focusing on LDS people and institutions.Their agenda included an interview with Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve, Sunday meetings at the Monument Park 20th Ward in Salt Lake City, an interview with Bishop Robert Bennett of that ward, and a baptismal service on Temple Square for a young man.
They also taped portions of the Tabernacle Choir broadcast, and did on-the-street interviews asking people about their impressions of Mormons.
The result will be a five-to-six-minute report about the Church on Mukusev's weekly television program "Vsgljad," meaning "Look" or "View." It is the Soviet counterpart to such U. S. television network programs as "60 Minutes" and "20-20."
Interpreter Alexandr Kapelzon said the program is among the most popular shows on Soviet television and Mukusev the most popular of the four journalists who host the program.
Mukusev's visit stemmed from his being contacted by Dmitri Zubov, vice president of the All-Union Center for Children and Youth in the Soviet Union. Zubov has been involved with "Up With People," an international cultural exchange organization.
Zubov and Mukusev were in Denver, Colo., where the journalist prepared a report on the 25th anniversary of Up With People. Zubov had been in Utah once before, and he suggested that Mukusev come with him to Salt Lake City and do a report about the Church and its people.
The visitors were hosted by Satco International Inc., a Utah-based, Soviet-American trade consulting firm. Stephen H. Smoot, a principal in the firm and a member of the Church, said the visit was spurred by Zubov's curiosity about Smoot's lifestyle as a Latter-day Saint during their past association.
Speaking through his interpreter, Mukusev said religion in the Soviet Union currently is experiencing a rebirth, thanks to greater openness in Soviet society. He said there are Mormons in the USSR, as well as members of many other religious groups, and it will be interesting for Soviet people to know about a religion that is well-known in the United States.
Mukusev said his first impression of Utahns is that they are a happy people and that they have real religious freedom. He added that freedom of religion is beginning only now in the Soviet Union.
The LDS faith appears to be a religion that appeals to young people, and for that reason, it has a future, Mukusev commented.
At an informal luncheon with personnel from Church hosting, Church Public Communications, Satco, Bonneville Communications and the Church News, Mukusev said his impression of the Church is positive, and that will be reflected in his report. He expressed concern that his straight-forward interviewing style - similar to that of some American news reporters - might be viewed as rude. On occasion, he said, he has interviewed Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and has commented to him afterward that although his questions may seem strident, in his heart he shares Gorbachev's point of view on many issues.
Smoot said Mukusev's popularity in his homeland influenced his being appointed to the parliament of the Russian Republic. That republic comprises about 70 percent of the Soviet population.
The journalist's visit, while increasing the Church's exposure, may be beneficial in another way. Iain B. McKay, director of international media for Bonneville Communications, said he discussed with Mukusev the possibilities of broadcasting the Tabernacle Choir's "Music and the Spoken Word" from Moscow and of broadcasting the choir concert over Soviet television when the choir visits the Soviet Union next June.
"He was very receptive and enthusiastic about the idea," McKay said.
Bonneville is the Church-owned company that produces and distributes the choir radio and television programs.
