Snederfler, Jiri 1932-2006

Jiri Snederfler converted to the Church in 1949. He served as presiding elder in Czechoslovakia and later as president of the Czechoslovakia District, which was organized on 3 February 1982. In 1990, Thomas S. Monson, then second counselor in the First Presidency, asked Snederfler to petition Czech government leaders for Church recognition. Snederfler also served as president of the Freiberg Germany Temple, 1991-1994.

From the guide to the PH 8309 Jiri Snederfler photograph collection 1949-1997 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)

Snederfler was baptized on 24 April 1949. At age 20, he was called as a counselor in the Plzen Branch presidency. In 1965, he was ordained an elder. In 1972, he was called to be the presiding elder of the Church in Czechoslovakia and was directed to renew Church activity as much as possible in the region. In 1975, a district was created, and he was set apart as its president. On 28 October 1985, Thomas S. Monson ordained Snederfler a high priest. During a visit with the Communist government’s secretariat of religious affairs in 1987, Elder Russell M. Nelson was informed that the official leader of the Church in Czechoslovakia had to be a Czech citizen. Elder Nelson and Elder Hans B. Ringger called Jirí Snederfler to be that Czech leader. Thereafter, Snederfler spent years attempting to register the Church in Czechoslovakia, which brought much opposition from the government into his life. However, after three years and a change in government, on 21 February 1990, government leaders passed a resolution granting the Church’s request for legal recognition. Finally, on 20 May 1991, President Thomas S. Monson, then Second Counselor in the First Presidency, called Snederfler as president of the Freiberg Germany Temple.

From the guide to the DE-01-00002 Jiri Snederfler papers 1880-1997 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)

Snederfler was baptized on 24 April 1949. At age 20, he was called as a counselor in the Plzen Branch presidency. In 1965, he was ordained an elder. In 1972, he was called to be the presiding elder of the Church in Czechoslovakia and was directed to renew Church activity as much as possible in the region. In 1975, a district was created, and he was set apart as its president. On 28 October 1985, Thomas S. Monson ordained Snederfler a high priest.

During a visit with the Communist government’s secretariat of religious affairs in 1987, Russell M. Nelson was informed that the official leader of the Church in Czechoslovakia had to be a Czech citizen. Nelson and Hans B. Ringger called Snederfler to be that Czech leader. Thereafter, Snederfler spent years attempting to register the Church in Czechoslovakia, which brought much opposition from the government into his life. However, after three years and a change in government, on 21 February 1990, government leaders passed a resolution granting the Church’s request for legal recognition.

On 20 May 1991, Thomas S. Monson, then Second Counselor in the First Presidency, called Snederfler as president of the Freiberg Germany Temple.

From the guide to the MS 23921 Jiri Snederfler papers 1932-1997 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)