Mormons in Russia? - there are some, no more than few thousands.
And if so, are they accepted? - majority of newly appeared after USSR disintegration in Russia religious movements are considered religious sects and are not really not welcomed. Why - mostly because of tactics they used after USSR disintegration in order to promote their views (and still use). The basis of this tactics is lie. Besides knocking the door or talking to people on the street (which is annoying, but more honest approach), the most popular way is arranging courses of foreign languages, business/social studies clubs/lectures for youth etc... and after people come, they get not what they were advertised, but religious lectures. Also there were many scandals, when thousands of newly accepted members of churches were illegally forced to donate their property to the church and after that were thrown from their houses to the street. Also scandals with raping minors, while their parents were deeply submerged into brainwashing process. And many other illegal actions (prohibiting children to get medical help which results in their death, burning people etc...). I do not say, that all religions which came to Russia after USSR disintegration, are involved in illegal activity. But many are. As result, the peaceful ones do not get any trust either.
Just in case if I ever move there, can I keep my religion? - yes, you can, unless you are planning to use it as excuse for illegal actions.
In general in Russia some of religions are considered "traditional" for the country (Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism). All the rest ones are seen as modern invaders, who were not asked to come, but who still came and aggressively force their views on peoples of "traditional" beliefs. You might not agree with this point of view, but that is how it is seen in Russia. Missioners for us are characters from books about pirates, conquering of Africa/America/etc..., from times when they used to sell and buy people etc... That is why missioners in modern times are viewed as positively as slave owners or treasure hunters with pirates.
That is how we see it. Nothing personal.
Mormons are not very welcomed in Australia for some strange reason. But then, not many religions are. Aussies tend to be more of an independent, thrill seeking lot, from what I've encountered of them.
There are not many mormons in Russia. The ones that are there were converted during the early days of the USSR's downfall, when cults flooded the country. Then the government wised up to what they were doing and put a stop to all their proselytizing. All except recognized evangelical proselytizing, that is, although even some evangelical groups are not welcomed there now either. The JW's are not allowed in for proselytizing purposes either, nor are the moonies or mormons, etc. More often than not, however, they sneak in the back door as businessmen and women.
Never heard about and have no idea about their tenets. But there is such thesises in 14 article of the Constution of the Russian Federation:
1. Russian Federation - a secular state. No religion may be established as a state or obligatory.
2. Religious associations are separated from the state and equal before the law.
But it doesn't matter. Here is accepted, that religion is personal, and until you don't show your religion, problems should not be. For example, a muslim is not obliged to explain why he does not eat pork, it is enough (and better) to say that faith forbids. I don't know, are there marmon's churchs or not, but you can to make a small church to himself(!) in your home.
Define 'welcomed'. Missionaries aren't welcomed anywhere for sure, since even if they don't try to force their crap on you they can be rather annoying. As of protestant denominations in Russia - there are many of them here. People tend to be cautious about them, but rarely aggressive. Usually people don't speak about their religion here, it's not illegal, neither it is a social taboo - they simply don't find this topic interesting.
Legally any faith is valid and can't be persecuted here unless it is acknowledged extremist by court. For example, some specific Wahhabi sects, Aum Shinrikyo, Scientology. Although I had first hand experience when people in the street approached me and offered to pass some of their 'tests', after the sect was actually forbidden.
Yes, there are Mormons in RF.
Some Russians believe you guys are in fact American spies. Some are indifferent. Some like you.
I met some in North Western Russia, but a bit more in ex-Ukraine, in Kiev and Kiev region (where I live right now). Those whom I personally met were very polite people and interesting to communicate with. Me and my dad have a home library with numerous religious books in different languages (Quran, Tanakh/Torah, epics/myths/legends and all that stuff) and "The Book of Mormon" is in it as well... one of your compatriots gave it to us once (the one who "is knocking on doors" he-he) after we invited him, drank some tea and had quite nice conversation... despite many discrepancies of our world perceptions.
Oh, I almost forgot: some Russians are interested in that Mormons' "World's (largest?) database on human race" and its connection with some intelligence services/agencies...
Finally, as for your "safety" so to speak, I strongly believe that whoever/whatever you are and regardless of what you believe in/worship etc as long as you don't impose your way in an aggressive/offensive manner people won't really notice/mind you. I also believe it's universal thing, not something that works exclusively in Russia. You see, every religion, every ethnic group have all kinds of people (psychological types), you should avoid psychologically aggressive fanatics, not Orthodox Christians or Muslims or Buddhists (all three are represented in Russia) per se. People's PERSONALITIES are different, no religion has a full control over it.
You are wrong about Australians. It is true that the colonists are a hard hearted bunch, but the aborigines have joined by the thousands. There are five temples in Australia.
Yes, there are Mormons in Russia. Last I heard, Mormon missionaries are still welcome there. There is a sister in our ward who joined the church there and immigrated here. She was a Russian Jew. I couldn't tell you how many Mormons are in Russia.
according to this link (n Russian but you can Google translate) there are Momons in Russia (in 2010)
http://religious-life.ru/2011/03/mormony...
Everywhere Mormons are seen as nutters.
If there where any normans, Stalin would have killed them. Also Russia tends to be a very racist county, to Americans and non-orthadox, so keep that in mind.
If you can find a way to reconcile your weird theology to the worlds largest vodka consumers go for it.
