An invitation has been extended by the German State of Saarland to former missionaries who served there.
In recognition of the service and good offices of missionaries who served in this German state, former missionaries to Saarland and spouses are invited together with business, academic and government leaders, to a reception at Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. The reception is sponsored by Saarland's Economic Development Corp. and will feature a light buffet.
Among those expected to attend are Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve, a native of Germany and former chief pilot for Lufthansa German Airlines; and Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy, who served in Saarland as a missionary.
Located on the French-Luxembourg border, Saarland State is one of 16 states in Germany, though it has changed hands in the past and was even an independent nation for a short time after World War II ended.
In 2002, Utah Gov. Michael O. Leavitt and Minister Hans Peter Georgi, minister of economic affairs for Saarland, signed an agreement to work cooperatively on economic development.
As a result, there have been faculty exchanges between the University of Utah and the University of Saarbrucken, technology presentations, a number of trade delegations to both states and various types of participation in state industry associations, said Marlon R. Berrett, U.S. representative of the Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation, and a returned German-speaking missionary.
During Minister Georgi's visit to Utah, his delegation visited the First Presidency of the Church, and toured the Church's welfare and humanitarian service facilities and, in the following years, a warm relationship has developed.
RSVP by calling (801) 699-0765, or by email at: marlonb@worldnet.att.net.
