KYIV, UKRAINE
Ever since the first group of Latter-day Saints traveled from Ukraine to the Freiberg Germany Temple in November of 1992, it has been "their temple." (Please see Church News, Aug. 28, 2010.)
Church leaders from headquarters and Eastern Europe, as well as many members in the area, recognize the pivotal role the Freiberg temple has had in the progress of the Church in what is now the Kyiv Ukraine Temple District and upon individual lives and their testimonies.
As did the Latter-day Saints in Ukraine, Church members in other Eastern European nations also laid claim to the Freiberg temple as they began going there to receive the blessings of the temple.
Elder Thomas S. Monson, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, was instrumental in the construction of the Freiberg temple, having met with government leaders and paving the way for doors to open so that the full blessings of the restored gospel might be enjoyed by Latter-day Saints behind the Berlin Wall and, as it developed over time, other countries. He broke ground and dedicated the site for the building of the Freiberg temple on April 23, 1983. President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on June 29, 1985, with Elder Monson attending and addressing the dedicatory sessions. The temple's 25th anniversary was commemorated this year.
In 1994, Gottfried Richeter, who was then first counselor in the Freiberg temple presidency, told the Church News:
"The Freiberg Germany Temple, once planned and built for the members of the German Democratic Republic, experienced a substantial extension of its district after the collapse of the communist government in the eastern countries of Europe (1989-92).
"Now the visits of Czech, Polish and Hungarian members are not uncommon. They even bring their own temple workers along. ... As members from many parts of the eastern countries have a long trip connected with personal sacrifices, the trip for the members of Ukraine is by far longer and more strenuous, not to mention the material sacrifices. The first groups from Ukraine always arrived by bus, which was filled to capacity — a real `old timer.' They had to pass two border checkpoints, and, at one time, their wait lasted eight hours. ...
"Life had been very hard to them. But their great faith, their humility, their love and willingness to learn touched the temple workers deeply. They never complained about their situation, nor felt sorry for themselves.
"For their young people, baptisms for the dead were arranged. When we saw a group of young women (about 15 years old) coming toward the temple on the morning of their arrival, we opened the door for them. But we watched them standing on the first step, close together as a group, with their heads bowed in solemn prayer. This was their attitude before they entered the temple for the first time in their young lives.
"When the hour of departure was near, the members turned around again and again to hug and thank the temple workers. Some of them stood crying at the outside wall, with their heads leaning against it and their arms stretched out wide, as if to embrace the temple and hold it tight" (Church News, Sept. 24, 1994, p. 7).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, was living in Germany in 1982 when it was announced that a temple would be built in Freiberg, then part of communist-controlled East Germany.
"When we heard about it we thought it must be a rumor," President Uchtdorf told the Church News as he described the hope members had that a temple would be built in East Germany. "Then we realized, 'Yes, it is reality and it came about because of the preparation and work of President Monson and his inspired work with leaders in Germany.'"
President Uchtdorf added, "Freiberg was really an opening door, a gateway to Eastern Europe. Ukraine will now be the same for the rest of Eastern Europe."
