Explosive growth of the Church and spread of the gospel highlighted Church-related events during 1990.
In 1974, President Spencer W. Kimball, speaking to regional representatives, stated that the doors of nations would open to the spread of the gospel "when we are ready for them." That prophecy was fulfilled in various areas during 1990.Coinciding with the democracy movement in Eastern Europe, missions were created in Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland. A mission in Greece was also among the 29 missions created during the year.
In addition, several lands were dedicated for the work of the Lord.
Here is a month-by-month chronology of significant events during the year.
January
In accordance with a new stake mission handbook distributed in late 1989 and early 1990, a new sense of purpose was given to the stake missionary program. Efforts of full-time and stake missionaries were to be closely correlated in finding and teaching investigators and ensuring that converts remained active in the Church.
Seven new missions, to be created in the summer, were announced the week of Jan. 27: Arizona Tucson, California Riverside, Georgia Macon, Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oregon Eugene, Texas Houston East and Washington Tacoma.
While in Beijing, People's Republic of China Jan. 19-23, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Council of the Twelve delivered an hour-and-a-half lecture to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He told the Joseph Smith story and described the worldwide Church today.
February
Four additional missions were announced the week of Feb. 3: Mexico Tijuana, Mexico Oaxaca, El Salvador San Salvador East and Honduras San Pedro Sula.
Five additional missions were announced the week of Feb. 10: Argentina Mendoza, Argentina Resistencia, Argentina Trelew, Brazil Manaus and Brazil Salvador.
A new temple to be built in the Orlando, Fla., area was announced by the First Presidency the week of Feb. 17.
Several thousand Church members in Western Samoa and American Samoa and three islands of Tonga were left homeless when Hurricane Ofa hit the Pacific isles Feb. 1-4. An estimated $3.5 million damage was done to Church property in the two Samoas. Church relief efforts were rapid.
Three new missions were announced the week of Feb. 17: Japan Okinawa, Philippines San Pablo and Philippines Tacloban.
Church leaders said at a satellite fireside Feb. 18 that the new budget program of the Church, announced in late 1989, was a return to basic spiritual roots.
Czechoslovakia granted legal recognition Feb. 21, to the Church following a meeting in Prague Feb. 6, attended by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve and other Church leaders and Deputy Prime Minister Josef Hromadka. On Feb. 8-9 Elder Nelson went to Bucharest, Romania, where he dedicated the land for the blessings of the Lord. On Feb. 13, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Elder Nelson dedicated that country for the blessings of the Lord.
Following the visit of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve to Romania in February, Church members throughout Europe responded with humanitarian service efforts to aid the needy people of Romania.
Eight new missions in Europe were announced the week ending March 3. It was the most ever created at one time on that continent. The missions were Belgium Antwerp, Czechoslovakia Prague, Germany Dusseldorf, Greece Athens, Hungary Budapest, Italy Padova, Poland Warsaw, and Portugal Lisbon South.
The First Presidency, in a letter to regional and stake leaders Feb. 2, confirmed plans to build a temple in Bountiful, Utah. It had been announced May 28, 1988, that a site had been acquired for "possible construction of a temple."
Six lands were dedicated for the work of the Lord and preaching of the gospel. Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Council of the Twelve dedicated Swaziland and Lesotho, two African kingdoms, on Feb. 21 and 22. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Council of the Twelve dedicated Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana in South America; and the West Indies republic of Trinidad and Tobago Feb. 22-27.
March
President Ezra Taft Benson attended an eight-stake gathering of the Preston Idaho and Tremonton Utah regions March 11. In 1990, the prophet's public appearances became less frequent due to advanced age and frail health.
The completion of a new Melchizedek Priesthood Handbook with the first major revisions in 15 years was announced at the Regional Representatives Seminar March 30.
Ten new members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy were sustained at general conference March 31: Eduardo Ayala, LeGrand R. Curtis, Clinton L. Cutler, Robert K. Dellenbach, Harold G. Hillam, Kenneth Johnson, Helvecio Martins, Lynn A. Mickelsen, J. Ballard Washburn and Durrel A. Woolsey. In addition, a new Relief Society general presidency was sustained, composed of
Elaine L. Jack, president, and Chieko N. Okazaki and Aileen H. Clyde, counselors. Janette C. Hales was sustained as a new counselor in the Young Women general presidency.
April
New handbooks for the Sunday School and stake and ward activities committees were announced in April.
New computer software designed to facilitate family history research and temple work was announced in an April 2 letter to general and local Church leaders. "FamilySearch" includes the Ancestral File, a lineage-linked database of genealogical records contributed by Church members and others since 1979.
Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve dedicated two Central American lands to the work of the Lord and preaching of the gospel, El Salvador on April 7 and Nicaragua on April 9.
The Soviet Union's ambassador to the United States, Yuri V. Dubinin, visited Salt Lake City April 27-29. He observed a "cross section" of Latter-day Saints as he attended a Tabernacle Choir broadcast, toured Church facilities and spoke at a stake conference.
May
A new, permanent exhibit on the history of the Church was unveiled May 19 at the Museum of Church History and Art in Salt Lake City. Hundreds of artifacts, documents, works of art, reconstructions and replicas were assembled for the exhibit, the most significant addition to the museum since its opening April 4, 1984.
June
The Tabernacle Choir will tour Moscow, Leningrad and nine cities in Europe in June 1991, the First Presidency announced June 3. It will be the choir's first visit to the Soviet Union.
In observance of Idaho's centennial, the Tabernacle Choir presented a concert June 16 at Idaho State University. Gov. Cecil D. Andrus said the concert was a "premiere event" on the centennial calendar.
July
The Tabernacle Choir and Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus performed together July 1 at the annual fireside of America's Freedom Festival at Provo, Utah. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve was the featured speaker.
An earthquake in the Philippines July 16 killed five Church members, but resulted in many incidents of faith and testimony for Church members there.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, made a surprise visit to Temple Square July 19 during an airport layover.
August
The London and Swiss temples were closed for a year and a half for major renovation projects, it was announced in Aug. 11. In addition, the closure of the Washington Temple at the end of 1990 for a three-month refurbishing project was announced.
The Toronto Ontario Temple, the 44th temple of the Church, was dedicated Aug. 25-27 during 11 dedicatory sessions.
September
Registration of the Leningrad Branch of the Church in the USSR was approved by the government effective Sept. 13. Earlier in the year, on April 26, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve had offered a prayer of rededication for the land of Russia.
The third new mission created during 1990 in the Philippines was organized Sept. 1. The Philippines Ilagan Mission was created from a division of the Philippines Quezon City Mission. The Quezon City mission, created July 1, 1989, was divided three times in a little over a year.
At the annual General Women's Meeting of the Church Sept. 29, a new booklet, For the Strength of Youth, was introduced. The booklet, giving guidelines and standards for behavior, was also discussed at the priesthood session of general conference the following weekend.
October
Elders Waldo P. Call and Helio R. Camargo were released at general conference Oct. 6 as members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. A new Young Men general presidency, consisting of Elder Jack H. Goaslind, president, and Elders LeGrand R. Curtis and Robert K. Dellenbach, counselors, was sustained. Elder H. Verlan Andersen was sustained as a counselor in the Sunday School general presidency.
High attendance and positive responses were reported by several stake and missionary leaders following an Oct. 27 satellite fireside at which premiered the new Church motion picture, "The Prodigal Son." Missionary open houses were held at thousands of locations in conjunction with the showing of the motion picture.
A series of 26 half-hour LDS worship services premiered Oct. 7 on the Vision Interfaith Satellite Network (VISN), giving viewers throughout the United States the flavor of LDS worship.
November
various areas of the world," the First Presidency announced in November a new policy to equalize contributions required to maintain a full-time missionary.
The government of Ghana gave permission for the Church to resume activities in that West African country, it was announced Nov. 30 in an official government broadcast in Accra. Missionary work and public meetings of the Church had been banned since June 14, 1989, but Church leaders, in consultation with government officials, resolved questions concerning the Church and its work in Ghana.
December
Ty Detmer on Dec. 1 became the first BYU football player to win the coveted Heisman Trophy.
The First Presidency announced Dec. 5 the appointment of three new General Authorities. Earl C. Tingey was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy. Called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy were Rulon G. Craven and W. Mack Lawrence. The three will begin their service Jan. 1, 1991.
The First Presidency announced Dec. 18 plans to build a temple in the St. Louis, Mo., area.
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