Arthur Gaeth
Encyclopedia
Arthur Gaeth was the first president
of a mission
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Czechoslovakia
starting in 1929. He was serving as a Mormon missionary
in Germany
when he was called to open the mission
in Czechoslovakia
. This was the church's first established mission in a Slavic
country.
Although Gaeth had been raised in the United States, his mother had been born in Undangs which was in Czechoslovakia following World War I (although it had been in Austria-Hungary when she was born there).
The mission was able to open because of the liberal democracy that prevailed in Czechoslovakia in the interwar years. After having served as mission president for two years he received permission from John A. Widtsoe
, the overall president of LDS missions in Europe at the time, to Marry. He found a suitable Czech bride, Martha Kralickova, who was studying in Chicago, who he baptized
. They went to Salt Lake City where they were sealed on 23 March 1931, with John A. Widtsoe performing the ceremony. Martha was exposed to the Relief Society
and other auxiliaries of the church
during a three month stay in Salt Lake City, during which she also became a good friend of Leah Widtsoe, wife of John. When they returned to Czechoslovakia a few months latter his wife had the responsibility of running these auxiliaries in that nation.
Gaeth served as president of the Czechoslovak Mission until 1936.
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of a mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
starting in 1929. He was serving as a Mormon missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
when he was called to open the mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. This was the church's first established mission in a Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
country.
Although Gaeth had been raised in the United States, his mother had been born in Undangs which was in Czechoslovakia following World War I (although it had been in Austria-Hungary when she was born there).
The mission was able to open because of the liberal democracy that prevailed in Czechoslovakia in the interwar years. After having served as mission president for two years he received permission from John A. Widtsoe
John A. Widtsoe
John Andreas Widtsoe was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1921 until his death. Widtsoe was also a noted author, scientist, and academician.-Early life:...
, the overall president of LDS missions in Europe at the time, to Marry. He found a suitable Czech bride, Martha Kralickova, who was studying in Chicago, who he baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
. They went to Salt Lake City where they were sealed on 23 March 1931, with John A. Widtsoe performing the ceremony. Martha was exposed to the Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
and other auxiliaries of the church
Auxiliary organization (LDS Church)
An auxiliary organization is a secondary body of church government within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is "established for moral, educational, and benevolent purposes." As their name suggests, LDS Church auxiliary organizations are ancillary to the governing power of the...
during a three month stay in Salt Lake City, during which she also became a good friend of Leah Widtsoe, wife of John. When they returned to Czechoslovakia a few months latter his wife had the responsibility of running these auxiliaries in that nation.
Gaeth served as president of the Czechoslovak Mission until 1936.