Freiberg, Germany temple rededication
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FREIBERG, Germany — Members here have long heard the political posturing by world leaders taking claim for the demise of the Iron Curtain. But, they say, the dedication of a modest, obscure temple in 1985 became the pebble in the shoe that eventually brought down the giant of communism. It was the final step in a series of events that started in 1978 with the dedication of East Germany by President Thomas S. Monson.
Surrounded by hundreds of tearful members of the Church who, only a dozen years ago had limited contact with Church leaders, President Gordon B. Hinckley rededicated the Freiberg Germany Temple Saturday, Sept. 7, in one session.
Reconstruction began a year ago to enlarge the size of the temple and raise the standard of quality to match current temple construction.
Much has changed in the 17 years since President Hinckley dedicated this "temple of miracles," as some here call it. For many, this temple rededication provided the centerpiece where people of different nationalities could gather, and for the first time since the demise of the Berlin Wall, celebrate their new gospel kinship.
Members came from the far reaches of the temple district, which is comprised of former Eastern Bloc countries. A bus load of nearly 60 members from Hungary arrived at midnight the night before the rededication. Members strolled the temple grounds before finding their rooms in the Church-owned hostel behind the temple. Other Hungarian members left home at midnight and drove nine hours to arrive just in time for the rededication ceremony.
Still other members traveled from the Czech Republic and Poland. Special translation facilities in the nearby Freiberg Ward meetinghouse allowed them to hear proceedings in their own language. Many members from Ukraine, who have been enthusiastic patrons of the temple, also attended.
Proceedings were also broadcast to stake meetinghouses in Dresden, Berlin and Leipzig, Germany.
Prior to President Hinckley arriving, Elder D. Lee Tobler of the Seventy, president of the Europe Central Area, led the cornerstone ceremony. Assisted by his counselors, Elder Ronald A. Rasband and Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy, they displayed each item placed in the metal container, then sealed it and placed it in the wall on the southeast corner.
Elder Tobler then led a procession of several who applied mortar to the cornerstone, including the area presidency; the temple presidency of Gerhard Grnewald, president, Robert T. Dewey, first counselor, and Siegfried H. Schmidt, second counselor, and Karin R. Grnewald, temple matron; Ida Louella G. Dewey and Ursula Marie N. Schmidt, assistants to the matron; and two children, Vanessa Rakow and Divo Frbel.
"Somewhere on a report it will read that the Freiberg temple was enlarged and renovated," said President Dewey first counselor in the temple presidency and former architect for the Church. "But it's so much more than that. It's hardly the same temple. The original temple was built as good as it could have been at the time. But this temple is remarkably superior."
While ordinance rooms remain the same size, a new baptismal font on the backs of 12 oxen was built to replace the stake meetinghouse-style baptistry of the past. Office space was also enlarged as well as an attractive foyer and recommend desk.
It was the House of the Lord before and the work performed was just as valid, said President Dewey. The difference is that the temple now meets the high standard of current temples.
Prior to World War II, Saxony in eastern Germany, including parts of what is now Poland, contained one of the greatest concentrations of Church members anywhere in the world, outside of Utah. After the war, an estimated one-third to one-half of the members emigrated to the West. Those who remained were allowed to practice their religion but without proselytizing, which hampered growth during the communist era.
Attending were those like Edith Krause, who became stranded away from home during World War II as Allied bombers attacked the city of Dresden on the evening she was assisting members with their family history. She survived the attack and, over the years, she and her husband, Walter, were instrumental in sustaining the Church when they were allowed limited contact with Church leaders.
"We came this long distance because the Church is our joy," she said, while sitting with her husband on a bench in front of the temple. "We are examples that when the Lord wants something, nothing can stop Him."
Gnther Schlze from the Dresden Ward also attended. Like others, he served the Church despite the inconveniences of the government. He told how one day, while visiting a member in current-day Poland who had been cut off from Church contact after being displaced during World War II, she pulled a stocking from behind the kitchen cabinet containing tithing saved over 25 years. She said she knew that those bearing the priesthood would one day return.
Since the dedication of the temple in 1985, membership of the Church in the former Eastern Bloc countries has grown. Members from Bulgaria to Ukraine now attend weekly temple trips. But the value of the rededication is not an enlarged building, said President Frank Jentzsch of the Dresden stake, but a second opportunity to introduce more neighbors to the gospel.
"Many people think the expansion is a sign of growth in Church membership," he said. "Membership has grown, but the ordinance rooms still have the same capacity. The important aspect of this rededication is the second chance the Lord has provided to teach the gospel and convert more members. . . .
"This open house, while it was 28,000 visitors instead of the 90,000 in 1985, all who came were very excited. Very little criticism. We often invite many people to ward activities, but few come. But more came to the open house than had been invited. The spirit of the temple is great.
"We are better members now. We are better prepared to receive new members. The Dresden stake has a good foundation. We are more stable and have the attitude to support and help new members. We hope we will do better with this second chance.
"The power of the heavenly world works particularly strong on members and non-members." And Iron Curtains.
E-mail: shaun@desnews.com
