Missionary Moments: Missionary moments: True to the faith
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I served my mission in Uruguay more than 40 years ago. I had always wanted to return to see those whom I taught and baptized so many years ago and to know if they had remained true to the faith. My daughter, Julie, is a travel agent and surprised me with a ticket to fly to Uruguay with her to see the scheduled dedication of the much anticipated Montevideo Uruguay Temple. (The temple was dedicated March 18, 2001.)
We were so excited to see the grounds. However, when we arrived the area was surrounded by barricades. I decided to look for the supervisor of the job site. He was not a member of the Church. I explained that I would probably never be able to return again from the U.S. and expressed my desire to see the temple.
He escorted us around the barricades to see the magnificent temple. My daughter and I felt as though the Lord guided our steps that day. I learned that the temple was not quite completed and the estimated dedication time had been delayed.
We attended Church in the city of Tacuarembo. I have a picture in my missionary album of the baptism of the Diaz family from this Tacuarembo Branch, which was now a ward. The picture was taken in the Rio Negro where my companion, Elder Johnson, and I baptized and confirmed these special saints. I inquired about the family and was told that they moved to Rivera.
We traveled to this town and found their home. Sister Diaz answered the door. She looked into my eyes; she recognized me! We embraced and tears were shed. She shared how her husband had remained true to the faith and served as the bishop and later the stake patriarch for many years. He had passed away a few years before. She told me that all four of their children served honorable missions and their families were all still very active. She left the room and came back with her well-worn family scrapbook. She showed me the page that contained her husband's baptism certificate that I had filled out and signed in 1961.
I left Uruguay feeling so blessed with this knowledge of the faithfulness of these good humble saints that I had the honor of knowing those 40 years ago. — Stan Neilson, La Canada 1st Ward, La Crescenta California Stake
