Mission President's Seminar in Historical Dresden

We spent four days in Dresden, Germany for the yearly Europe Area Mission President's Seminar. There were 32 mission presidents from all over Europe who came together to be taught by the Europe Area Presidency.

The city of Dresden was completely destroyed during World War II. They are in the process of restoring parts of the city.

Before the conference started, we were so excited to meet again some of the couples that we met a year ago. President and Sister Murdock are serving in the Geneva Switzerland Mission, and President and Sister Hinckley are serving in Barcelona Spain. Sister Hinckley offered to take the picture.

We received inspired council from Elder Kopischke, Elder Causse, Elder Teireira and Elder Pearson.

On the last day, we were privileged to visit the dedication sight. On 27 April 1975, on a hilltop overlooking the Elbe River between Dresden and Meissen, on a serene morning, Elder Monson blessed the land for the "advancement of the work" of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel and made seemingly impossible promises to the Saints held hostage by a totalitarian government, which have all come to fruition.

Brother Gunter Schutze spent time explaining to us what it was like living behind the Iron Curtain. He was the bishop of the Dresden Ward and later the Stake President of the Dresden Stake. Although the late 1960s and the early 1970s may have seemed the darkest days for the Church in the German Democratic Republic, the members themselves recall that period with great fondness—even joy. The more they were driven together from outside pressures, the closer they grew to one another, to the Church, and to the Lord. Attendance at meetings was high; home teaching and visiting teaching assignments were carried out with devotion and sincerity; members looked out for one another and helped one another; tithes and offerings were donated faithfully.

Some members remained faithful despite years of isolation. Gunter Schulze,, spent much of his time during that period finding and caring for isolated members—some in Poland, some in outlying areas of the German Democratic Republic. One of these was an elderly sister in Upper Silesia.

“We visited with her a long time,” recalls Brother Schulze. “Finally she went behind the stove and brought out a knotted stocking and began untying the knots, several knots. Then she held out her two hands like a scale and weighed money from the knotted stocking. She said, ‘This is my tithing. I have been saving it for over twenty-five years now. I knew the priesthood would come into my home again someday!’ ”

We were touched by these stories we heard. Our testimonies were strengthened. We all felt humbled and grateful for the members of the church in East Germany.

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For more information about the Saints in the German Democratic Republic go to this site.