ZADAR, CROATIA
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first baptisms performed in the former Yugoslavia by the late Kresimir Cosic, more than 375 people gathered in Croatia for three days of events.
These events, over which Elder Erich Kopischke of the Seventy, president of the Europe Area, presided, also celebrated the first time as of this year that all countries of the former Yugoslavia — and Europe — have proselyting missionaries and Church units.
This was the first time that members of the Church from each of the four countries of the Adriatic North Mission (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia) had gathered together since the Balkan War in the 1990s.
The first events were held on June 1-2, at the Kresimir Cosic Dvor [estate] on Ugljan Island, near Zadar, Croatia. The inspiring two days on the island included a special evening devotional, early-morning baptisms of new converts in the Adriatic, training for priesthood leaders, women and youth, and a tour of historical Church sites in and around Zadar, where Kresimir Cosic grew up and started the first Church activities in Yugoslavia.
The remarkable history of the Church in this land began with the baptism of Kresimir Cosic in Salt Lake City in 1971. Kresimir, a young national sports hero in Yugoslavia, had gone to BYU to play basketball. He quickly returned to his beloved homeland to share the blessings of the gospel with his countrymen. The parallel history of "Kreso" and the beginning of the Church was joyfully rehearsed and celebrated.
Many of the first members of the Church in these countries, along with early missionaries and members who were instrumental in the Church's growth here, traveled to participate in the events. This included the family of Truman and Ann Madsen, who were represented by Ann, her daughter, Mindy M. Davis, and her grand-daughter, Molly Davis (recently returned from a mission in Manchester, England).
Ann told of Kreso's days at BYU and his conversion. Miso and Ankica Ostarcevic, the first couple Kreso baptized and the first to be sealed in the temple, told of the early struggles of the fledgling Church in Zadar and other parts of Croatia. Ivan Valek, friend and long-time district president after Kreso's death, added his memories and testimony. Doug Richards, teammate and early missionary with Kreso, and his wife, Kerry Richards, described their experiences with Kreso at BYU and in Yugoslavia. Mila Ranovic, the first missionary to leave from Serbia, told her story and the Church's start in Serbia; Albin and Boza Lotric, the first man to join the Church and couple to be sealed in Slovenia, filled in events related to their country. Johann Wondra, who had presided over the mission, and his wife, Ursula Wondra, told anecdotes from their time of service. During the devotional, all spoke movingly of the history they had witnessed.
Elder Kopischke concluded by summarizing the great legacy of faith that exists in these countries and the marvelous future of the Church that awaits them.
The next morning, Swen R. Swensen, who presided over the mission in the mid-1990s, and his wife, Gretel Swensen, spoke at the baptismal service, as did Taca Mirijevski, one of the first members of the Church in Serbia.
After the two days on Ugljan Island and in Zadar, those who had gathered traveled to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, where a Sunday commemorative conference was held with other members and investigators, and invited guests: senior national and local government officials, religious leaders and media.
President Kopischke spoke about the Church in Croatia at that meeting:
"I am deeply convinced that the Church and its members will bless the Croatian nation. … The strength of the Church comes by the people and what the people do and what the people represent."
Elder Kopischke said that a personal relationship with God "is not just a philosophy. It is not just a tradition. It is real. And this personal belief has an impact on the way we act. You cannot say, 'I believe in God' and hate and not tolerate your neighbor. This is not possible. You cannot say, 'I love God' and are not tolerant to someone who has different beliefs. We are all children of our Heavenly Father."
Elder Kopischke assured the invited guests, "We will join you in any coalition of good will to protect the values of families, marriage, freedom and hard work."
The Croatia District Conference, which followed, was the crowning experience of the weekend, a fitting conclusion of this memorable time together. President Miljenko Babic, Croatia's district president, and his counselor, Jasmin Ibrahimovic, spoke movingly of their vision for a future stake by 2020. They spoke of the unity, faith and love that would be required to accomplish this goal. Sister Fatima Hamzac, district Relief Society president, taught how to look for and find the good in each other. President Edward B. Rowe of the Adriatic North Mission spoke of 40 years building a strong foundation but powerfully declared that the foundation was finished and that the time had come to erect the "beautiful edifice that the Lord intends us to have here." President Kopischke finished the meeting by explaining that "Croatia is on the move. ... When the people are happy the Church will grow. The ultimate source of happiness is Jesus Christ."
Yugoslavia had been dedicated by President Thomas S. Monson, then Elder Monson, in 1985 for the preaching of the gospel. More recently, in September 2010, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve dedicated the new countries that comprised former Yugoslavia.
Regarding the 40th anniversary events, President Rowe said: "We gathered our active, less active and future members from the far corners of the mission. We invited them to a peaceful setting, where they could look beyond their daily surroundings and gain a true vision of who they are and what the Lord intends them to become. What transpired during these three days was an incredible, sacred outpouring of the Spirit upon those gathered from these nations."
