Pray For (and With) The Saints In Turkey

Istanbul from space — A satellite view of greater Istanbul, one of the most interesting places on Earth. At the bottom is the Sea of Marmara. It’s connected by the waterway called the Bosporus to the Black Sea, which appears at the top of the photograph. The long inlet over toward the left is the famous Golden Horn. And the small peninsula between it and the Sea of Marmara is the site of the Old City, which was first called Byzantium, and then, when Constantine made it the capital of the Roman Empire, “Nova Roma” and soon “Constantinople.” Finally, when the Ottoman Turks took the city in 1453, it became “Istanbul.” (NASA public domain photograph)

In June of 2015, the Central Eurasian Mission was established in Istanbul, responsible for Church affairs not only in Turkey but in several other countries adjacent to it. My friend and colleague Dr. James A. Toronto, formerly president of the Italy Catania Mission, was called to serve as its president. (His is one of the very few Church callings for which I actually feel just a tiny bit of envy.)

There were already small branches in Turkey, but having a mission headquartered in Istanbul represented a major new step.

As you probably know, though, things have been a bit unsettled in Turkey of late.

I read a note today from the president of the LDS branch in Istanbul, a native Turk, a graduate of BYU, and the translator of the Book of Mormon into Turkish. He’s a wonderful leader, very dedicated. He announced that, on the regular fast day in August, members of the Istanbul Branch will be fasting “for our country, for peace and stability in Turkey. During this fast, we would like to pray for the safety of our volunteers and members and that our religious freedom will be preserved in this country.” The political and religious climate in Turkey, he reports, is more problematic daily, and he is concerned for the rights of religious minorities there. “If any of you desire to join us in our fasting, we would really appreciate it.”

“Imagine,” he continued, “a few hundreds or a few thousands of souls join us in fasting for Turkey. Imagine the power this may generate. Please invite all Turkey LOVERS around the world to join us if they desire. At least they can offer a few prayers during their fast for Turkey so that our country or government may stay loyal to the secular principles and freedoms which Atatürk established, which we dearly cherish like US Constitution. Please pay also a generous fast offering for this purpose if possible. A fasting is more complete after we pay a generous fast offering.”

“Today, Istanbul was very peaceful. We enjoyed our meetings. We have several investigators who will be joining our Church very soon. They will be a great strength to us. May God bless you! May God heal those who are suffering from any illness or problems. May we stay loyal to our covenants until the end! We are grateful to your support and love for us and for this country in these latter-days!”

My wife and I love Istanbul and Turkey, and we will be joining in prayer and fasting for the people there in general, and for the Saints in particular. We invite others to join us. And you’re welcome to pray sooner, as well.

Pray for (and with) the Saints in Turkey