During the tour of the five countries of the former Yugoslavia, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve dedicated a meetinghouse in Zagreb, Croatia, the first in the country and the second meetinghouse in these South Eastern Europe countries.
The meetinghouse was dedicated on May 24, during a two-day district conference in Zagreb. During the conference, Elder Christofferson read a letter from President Thomas S. Monson, who dedicated the land for the preaching of the gospel in 1985. In the letter, President Monson recounted his experience of 24 years ago and expressed his love and appreciation for all that has been done for the Church in Croatia. He congratulated the members for their new building.
This new meetinghouse is built in a modern area of the city. The tall stately structure is an impressive sign of the Church's presence in the country of 4.5 million people with 475 Church members.
Accompanied by President David Hill of the Slovenia/Croatia Mission, and his wife, Dana, other locations visited by Elder Christofferson included Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he addressed 150 members, missionaries and investigators. He commended members for being the modern-day pioneers in their country. He was also interviewed by a radio station and a newspaper.
On May 26, Elder Christofferson visited Belgrade, Serbia, where he addressed more than 70 members who traveled from several distant cities by bus and train. For most, this was their first visit from a member of the Quorum of Twelve. The next morning, Elder Christofferson, with Beograd District President Sladjan Mihajlovic, met with Serbian Minister of Religion, Bogoljub Sijakovic.
Elder Christofferson then traveled to Sarajevo, Bosnia, where he met with the U.S. ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Charles L. English. A fireside was held in the home of Rebecca and Jason Colvin. Brother Colvin works at the U.S. Embassy and holds weekly Church meetings in his home for the expatriates in Sarajevo. More than 30 friends and neighbors attended, including one investigator from Zadar, Croatia. This was the first known time that all the members of the Church scattered throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina had gathered together in one location. They were reminded that they are laying the foundation for missionaries to take the gospel to that nation.
