3 questions about small foreign language branches

[nuclearfuels]

1. I've generally seen Elders (as missionaries) serve in foreign language branches. How would such a branch successfully request sister missionaries, meaning what is the stated procedure?

2. I've heard Christianity is spreading through the Middle East, albeit underground since it's illegal to teach and preach openly. What is the policy from Church HQ on managing converted baptized members who lives in such countries (i.e. How would such congregations be manageable - if the Church organizes a congregation and accepts tithing and fast offering funds transferred out of the country, that seems to perhaps not fully = obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law vs. providing no organization, no resources, no leadership, etc. to baptized members seems like spiritual neglect which I am quite sure the General Authorities are not in favor of. Is this more a spirt of the secular law vs. letter of the secular law issue? 

3. I only ask question 2 because I've heard about a few small congregations being functioning in a country where the Church isn't legally recognized. This is different than Christianity being illegal like some countries in the Middle East have declared it to be. I'm just curious about how such branches would be nurtured by leadership - without anyone in the govt finding out. In these cases, do 70's visit on occasion but tell members to not invite family or friends? Perhaps these situations are simply more in flux, each case being different and unique, and managed according to the Spirit's promptings through priesthood channels.

[Nofear]

9 hours ago, nuclearfuels said:

3. I only ask question 2 because I've heard about a few small congregations being functioning in a country where the Church isn't legally recognized. This is different than Christianity being illegal like some countries in the Middle East have declared it to be. I'm just curious about how such branches would be nurtured by leadership - without anyone in the govt finding out. In these cases, do 70's visit on occasion but tell members to not invite family or friends? Perhaps these situations are simply more in flux, each case being different and unique, and managed according to the Spirit's promptings through priesthood channels.

It is the habit of the Church to go in through the "front door" in nations that are legally hostile to Christianity. We have members more or less every where but they are told to abide by the laws of the land.

[CV75]

9 hours ago, nuclearfuels said:

1. I've generally seen Elders (as missionaries) serve in foreign language branches. How would such a branch successfully request sister missionaries, meaning what is the stated procedure?

2. I've heard Christianity is spreading through the Middle East, albeit underground since it's illegal to teach and preach openly. What is the policy from Church HQ on managing converted baptized members who lives in such countries (i.e. How would such congregations be manageable - if the Church organizes a congregation and accepts tithing and fast offering funds transferred out of the country, that seems to perhaps not fully = obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law vs. providing no organization, no resources, no leadership, etc. to baptized members seems like spiritual neglect which I am quite sure the General Authorities are not in favor of. Is this more a spirt of the secular law vs. letter of the secular law issue? 

3. I only ask question 2 because I've heard about a few small congregations being functioning in a country where the Church isn't legally recognized. This is different than Christianity being illegal like some countries in the Middle East have declared it to be. I'm just curious about how such branches would be nurtured by leadership - without anyone in the govt finding out. In these cases, do 70's visit on occasion but tell members to not invite family or friends? Perhaps these situations are simply more in flux, each case being different and unique, and managed according to the Spirit's promptings through priesthood channels.

This is specifically for China, but likely applies elsewhere. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/China?lang=eng

[CV75]

UAE: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates%23:~:text%3DSharjah%20Ward-,Missions,prohibited%20in%20Middle%20Eastern%20countries.&ved=2ahUKEwjsnqqazreEAxXjrYkEHbkxDxIQFnoECBEQBQ&usg=AOvVaw1-GKChncC28G70PELsB1u5

 

[rpn]

The church always goes in legally.   And until they can do that, church members in many places do their own missionary work, arrange their own worship groups, and otherwise find ways to live the Gospel and fellowship with other like minded (though not always baptized) people, the best they can.    We do not proselytize where we cannot do so legally.   In China, westerners worship in a different congregation than Chines natives, because the law requires that.   We do not baptize those whose country of origin kill for leaving their faith of origin (this mostly applies to Muslims at the moment, unless the prospective member is safe, isn't ever returning to that country.  

You may recall that a couple of African countries more than 10000 in the month after missionaries arrived in those countries, many in congregations that used the official manuals,  did everything any established ward would do except bless and pass the Sacrament and had been doing it for years before the 1978 revelation and three month later missionary arrival.   (See Dale E. LeBaron's "All are Alike Unto God")

Edited February 19, 2024 by rpn