International Officials Visit Church Headquarters

Members of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with His Excellency Miloslav Stašek, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

President Henry B. Eyring and President D. Todd Christofferson of the First Presidency were present during the visit, as well as President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The ambassador toured Temple Square and the FamilySearch Library following the meeting in the Church Administration Building.

Ten years ago, in May 2016, President Uchtdorf was present for the creation of the first stake, or collection of several congregations, of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Czech Republic.

Also on Tuesday, a delegation of 15 government, business, academic and industry leaders from Kazakhstan, including Ms. Nazira Nurbayeva, the Consul General of Kazakhstan in San Francisco, met with Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The group toured Welfare Square, the Humanitarian Center and the Bishops’ Central Storehouse, among other Church sites, before gathering for a luncheon with Elder Kearon.

In September 2025, Elder Kearon spoke to global faith leaders at the Eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, Kazakhstan.

“Just as holy edifices rise one stone at a time, so too are peace and understanding built, moment by moment, encounter by encounter,” Elder Kearon said in his address.

Other interactions of Latter-day Saint leaders in Kazakhstan include Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson’s visit to Almaty during her ministry in March 2026, Elder Quentin L. Cook’s stop in the capital of Kazakhstan in May 2022, and Elder Ulisses Soares’ address at the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in September 2022.

The Church was officially recognized by the government of Kazakhstan in 2000.