Comments on: Gohar Yeghiayan Davidian: A Latter-day Saint in Syria

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:38:56 +0000

Robin, yours is my new favorite comment. What a pleasure to hear from someone who knew one of the women in this story, and to learn the names of a few more of the Saints from long ago and far away.

By: Robin Nelson

Robin Nelson — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:25:30 +0000

This photo shows my grandmother, Ozanna Orullian, (2nd row, 4th from left) and her son Joseph (1st row, middle child). I think my grandpa, John Orullian, is the man in the 4th row, 2nd from left, but can’t say for sure. As a child, my parents took me to visit Ninetza Davidian Sevougian (we called her “Nourisa”) in a nursing home in L.A. She was a sweet lady and always got a kick out of the few Turkish words I uttered as a 4 or 5 yr old! What wonderful people these Saints and their missionaries were! I personally owe so much to them!

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:33:39 +0000

Eric, the catalog in the Church History Library lists Rao Humpherys Lindsay, “A History of the Missionary Activities of The Church of Jesus christ of Latter-day Saints in the Near East, 1884-1929″ (M.A. — BYU, 1958), which is also online through the BYU catalog, but that’s all I can find. Does this sound like what you’re looking for?

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:47:58 +0000

The thesis is about the Armenians living in Syria.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:45:54 +0000

Am now living in the Middle East, and the District Office in Amman, Jordan has a Masters thesis that was written about the Armenian saints. Does anyone have access to a copy?

By: TrevorM

TrevorM — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:37:57 +0000

That is a great story. The church in Armenia is amazing now. It is sad that the Buildup to WWI ruined what we had there years ago.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:38:51 +0000

These stories are so inspiring, Ardis. As always, thank you!

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:44:13 +0000

As wonderful now as it was then, Ardis. Thank you.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 19:41:11 +0000

Ronan, you were right (then and now) — they did look for something to buy for a gathering place, but were not able to do it. They tried other things, too, extensive welfare support, and the importation to America of some of those gorgeous rugs the Sunday School is sitting on, since some of the church members were weavers.

Here’s a plea I’ve made before, too: If anyone can read Armenian and wants a one-of-a-kind service project, the church records for this mission were kept by local members in Armenian. If they were translated into English, we could restore to memory the stories of other saints who have been lost to us.

By: Ronan

Ronan — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 19:13:28 +0000

(Looks like I made exactly the same comment at T&S!)