Russian Mormons

Professors Eliason and Browning incorporate their findings from research conducted in Russia in May 2000, comparing various accounts and making the first conclusions regarding the origin of Russian Mormonism. Published in BYU Studies, Volume 40, No. 1, 2001, pages 6-34. This journal is available online from BYU (Adobe PDF).

This Newsnet (BYU student newspaper) article describes the popular interest in the Russian sect. The article is available online and also below. Russian religion claims to be branch of the Church of Jesus Christ Two Church of Jesus Christ  missionaries were sent to investigate this cottage in Mekhzavod village in June 1998. By Sara Noelle On…

This is the story of Lyubov Korol, daughter of a Russian Mormon who joined the LDS Church in 1996. Korol knew little of the Mormon faith of her parents and joined the LDS Church believing them to be one and the same. The author of the article also makes this assumption, but Korol’s parents were…

The following paper publications have proven useful in my research on Russian Mormonism. Most of these can be found through searching the network of university libraries (Inter-Library Loan). Aivazov, I. G. “Khristovschina.” Research Materials on Russian Mystical Sects [Materialy dlya issledovaniya russkikh misticheskikh sekt]. Petrograd, Russia. Browning, Gary. Russia and the Restored Gospel. Salt Lake:…

An interesting snippet, evidently from an old gazette, lists a simple religious census of Samara Province on October 1, 1925. Click here to open, or read the translation: “1 October 1925. The following sects are active in Samara Province: Baptists – 35 congregations, 2,500 people Molokans – 23 congregations, 4,800 people Seventh Day Adventists –…

Bulgakov’s exhaustive work catalogues a laundry list of foreign and native Russian sects, including “Samara Mormons”. The entire book is available online here. Below is my English translation of the entry on Samara Mormons. SAMARA MORMONS. Such is the name of a sect that appeared in the 1840’s in Buzuluk District of Samara Province. This…

This “rehabilitation” of Russian purge victims lists Rodion Ivanovich Gorokhov as a “Mormon” elder. Below is my English translation: “Gorokhov Rodion Ivanovich. Born in 1887. Native and inhabitant of Yablonevyy Ovrag village in Samara Province. Russian, non-party member, presbyter [elder] of the Mormon sect. Arrested February 1, 1931; sentenced July 27 by the Middle Volga…

(In Russian) This article on organized crime mentions “the organized criminal group known in Orenburg as the Mormons”. Continuing, the author explains that “the leader of the group and chieftan of the Cossack village of Sofievka, Ivan Ivanovich Zhabin by name… could perhaps win elections and legally organize the Mormon bandits as a legitimate Cossack…

This newspaper article by Orenburg police investigator Igor Moiseev describes how the native Russian Mormon sect has become a powerful business syndicate, that Orenburg Mormons descend from the “old original Mormons” and still hold to some religious principles. I have also provided an English translation of the relevant paragraphs below: “The Mormons are one of…