The first LDS missionaries in 50 years crossed the border into the German Democratic Republic on Thursday, March 30, said President Thomas S. Monson.
President Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, made the announcement Sunday morning during his general conference address. The contingent of missionaries from the United States and other countries were greeted by their mission president, Wolfgang Paul, and government authorities."In one ward, 180 members of the ward turned out to welcome the missionaries," President Monson said with enthusiasm. "Oh, the future is bright. And from the depths of my heart and my soul, I declare the words, `Thanks be to God.' "
The first 10 young men and women from the German Democratic Republic also have been called as missionaries and assigned to their fields of labor, President Monson added.
In his address, the Church leader recounted events leading up to the historic return of missionaries to an area that, before World War II, was "the cradle of missionary work in all of Europe."
After World War II, then Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve carried out a special mission to Europe and established the foundation for future growth.
President Monson first visited the German Democratic Republic in 1968. He met with members in Gorlitz, near the Czech and Polish borders. The building was small and ancient. However, when the members sang, they filled the hall with their faith and devotion.
"But my heart filled with sorrow," he recalled. "I looked about the hall and saw that here were faithful people who had no patriarch to give them a patriarchal blessing. They had had no visitor from headquarters in many years. They could not receive their temple blessings, their endowments, their sealings. They had no wards, no stakes, a few branches, yet how magnificently they trusted in the Lord with all their hearts."
As he stood at the pulpit, he promised those people that, if they were true and faithful, they could have every blessing enjoyed by Church members in any other land. That night he prayed that the Lord would fulfill his inspired promise.
His prayer began to be answered as Percy K. Fetzer was ordained a patriarch and assigned to be a regional representative to that land. Then Walter Krause, a faithful member in that country, was ordained a patriarch. Krause has since given 992 patriarchal blessings, with his wife typing every one of them.
"I made many visits to that nation in the intervening years," President Monson said. "I remember one of those occasions going to a priesthood leadership session. So eager were the brethren to obtain printed materials on how to organize an elders quorum and how a branch should function that the brethren literally ran to the front of the hall so that they might receive a little packet."
During those years, a small member mission organization was established, the first high priest ordained, district councils formed and two stakes created. The brethren willingly accepted assignments. He met one brother who served as branch president 21 years - half the man's life.
On April 27, 1975, President Monson offered a prayer of dedication on the country and its people. "From that moment on, I knew that the hand of the Lord was with this work."
The next great challenge was finding a way for members to attend the temple. After some negotiation, a government official asked why the Church didn't build a temple in the German Democratic Republic. The congregation laughed as President Monson said, "The offer was accepted."
The temple was built in Freiberg. Meetinghouses were constructed in Dresden, Zwickau, Leipzig and Freiberg. Another is under construction in Plauen. But another miracle was needed - the opening of that country to missionary work.
Last October, President Monson, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve, Elder Hans B. Ringger of the First Quorum of the Seventy and local Church leaders met with government officials and attended the dedication of a stake center in Dresden. When the members sang "God Be with You Till We Meet Again," they had tears in their eyes.
"I thought of our Lord and Savior walking that path of pain, that trail of tears, that road of righteousness," President Monson said. "I was comforted by His promise, `Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' (John 14:27.)"
Later the Church leaders met with the head of the German Democratic Republic, Erich Honecker, and his cabinet.
President Monson expressed the Church's need for missionaries to enter and leave the country. Chairman Honecker responded, "We know you. We trust you, We have experience with you. Your missionary request is granted."
