A Temple Behind the Iron Curtain, Page 2
How the Impossible Happened in Freiberg
A Photo Essay
Text: Maurine Jensen Proctor
Photography: Scot Facer Proctor

President Monson’s Love

President Thomas S. Monson, who was assigned to that area for more than 18 years, felt such intense love for them that he wrote in his journal, “I consider my service in the Dresden Mission to be a highlight in my ministry thus far as a member of the Council of the Twelve.”

In August, 1982, when he created the Freiberg Stake, the first in the DDR (German Democratic Republic) he said, “ I stood at the pulpit and told the people I had never seen greater faith and that surely the Lord would reward such faith by providing every blessing that other members of the Church would receive.”

That was bold promise, but much bolder when he made it on his first visit to the DDR in 1968 while speaking to a group gathered in Goerlitz. They hadn’t seen an apostle. Nobody had ventured beyond Checkpoint Charlie and the scowls and threats of the Russian officers. Their building was small and ancient; the secret police frequented their meetings to spy upon their doings. President Monson said, “There were informers in the audience, fear in the hearts of all the citizens, the presence of Russian troops in full military regalia, and East German police with their machine guns at their sides and their Doberman and German shepherd dogs straining at leashes.”

At that meeting in Goerlitz, the people sung with faith and fervor, "If the Way Be Full of Trial, Weary Not," and President Monson said, “I was speaking at the pulpit and was overcome by the faith and devotion of the people. In words that were not mine, which were prompted from a higher source, I promised the members if they were true and faithful to the teachings of the Church, the day would come when they would enjoy the same blessings as members of the Church in any other nation of the world."

President Monson said, “When I got back to the old hotel that night—it was really dreary—I knew I had promised what I could not deliver. I got upon my knees, and I prayed to our Heavenly Father: 'Here I am. Thou knowest what I said. Wilt thou honor the promise.' I remembered the revelation where the Lord said, 'Whether by my own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same.'”

The Lord knew his East German Saints. Deprived of so many of the gospel blessings, they clung together like family, heartened each other, believed. Service was a joy. President Monson would later note that a branch president, forty-two years of age, had served in his calling for twenty-one years—half his life. Never was there a complaint—just gratitude.

During the next years, President Monson made many trips to the Saints in the DDR, giving them love and encouragement and growing in heartfelt attachment to the people.
“I never go to the Dresden mission but that I am uplifted,” he wrote. He felt compassion for their plight. Werner Adler had been a district president for 19 years, and he and his wife had been invited to General Conference—a remarkable opportunity that could include their chance to go to the temple and be sealed. However, they had no children, and the government was worried that they would not return. Sister Adler was not granted permission.

During that meeting President Monson “noticed that Brother Adler's clothing, though well kept, was rather old. I struck upon the idea that perhaps my suit would fit him. I tried upon him the suit jacket. He was so pleased and said that it fit just fine. I then put on a pair of slacks and a jacket and left my suit with Brother Adler. I also left several ties and a shirt. He was overjoyed. I then turned to Brother Lehmann, the patriarch, and placed my shoe along one of his and said, ‘Would these shoes fit you?’ He looked and then said sadly, ‘No, they're a little large.’ Then his eyes brightened, and he said in English, ‘They will fit my son!’ I then gave him the shoes for his son.”

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