Update March 3

March 3, 2014

To parents of missionaries serving in the Ukraine Donetsk Mission:

As conditions here in Ukraine play out we are all concerned about the immediate and long-term safety of our missionaries. I have received concerned emails from several of you, which I am happy to receive. In a few instances where parents have raised unique concerns I have sent brief individual responses. I will also plan to send all of you as a group regular updates – roughly every other day – so you will be aware of conditions as they unfold.

Like you, I have been closely monitoring news reports on the Internet. Being here on the ground, I also have the benefit of daily telephone communication with each of our zone leaders, assistants, and other missionaries. I am also in regular telephone communication with the Area Presidency and with local priesthood leaders, who are perhaps our best source of information on

The missionaries were “locked up” in their apartments for about 36 hours a few days ago. After consulting with the Area Presidency, who are in regular communication with high level personnel at Church Headquarters, we sent word that missionaries could leave their apartments and engage in missionary work, subject to important conditions and precautions. Some of those precautions are mission-wide, such as limited activity after dark, speaking only Russian on the street, and keeping well away from gatherings of people. Additional safeguards have been imposed in specific areas, such as staying away from one of our meetinghouses, other than for Sunday worship services. In other cities we have instructed missionaries to avoid taking public

The disturbing images you are seeing on the Internet are restricted to localized areas near government buildings or public plazas. A few blocks away from the demonstrations you would have no idea that anything unusual is happening. For example, the Mission Home where my wife and I live is in an apartment building a ten minute walk away from the location of large demonstrations in Donetsk over the week-end. We saw disturbing images of the demonstration, but our neighborhood was as peaceful as could be. In short, we caution the missionaries to stay away from trouble and avoid situations that could potentially create a hazard.

We have started receiving reports of some increase of anti-American sentiment. At this point it is not severe, but we are monitoring it closely and reporting regularly to the Area Presidency.

There has also been some sporadic trouble accessing cash from local banks.

Our Area Presidency, who hold the keys for supervising missionary work in all of the Europe East Area, are in constant communication both here at the mission level and at the highest levels at Headquarters. The Missionary Department issued a statement yesterday with the most recent news. If and when conditions warrant a change, we will act immediately and keep you advised.

It is comforting to be able to rely on the accumulated experience and wisdom of the Missionary Department, Church Security, and the Senior Brethren. The Church has been caring for missionaries in world “hot spots” for a very long time, and I have great confidence in their guidance. You should be comforted in knowing that the missionaries as a group, while understandably concerned, are doing amazingly well. This is an opportunity for them to show their true character as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in a tumultuous world. It is a time they will remember for the rest of their lives. We are teaching them to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16. The Brethren have emergency back-up plans to cover any likely contingency, and I am confident that our missionaries are being carefully watched over, both by Our Father in Heaven and by his anointed servants who preside over the Church.

I again want to thank you for the truly outstanding missionaries with whom Sister Lochhead and President, Ukraine Donetsk Mission