Elder Ezra Taft Benson's seven-day visit to Finland following World War II in 1946 was described as "one of the most pleasant and inspirational visits undertaken thus far in Europe."

Docking at Obo, Finland, the morning of July 13, Elder Benson and his traveling party, which included the president of the Swedish Mission, Eben R.T. Blomquist, was greeted in a "friendly and cooperative" way, not only by members of the Church, but also by the press and leading civic and governmental leaders.

According to an Aug. 10, 1946, issue of the Church News, the leaders shared their "high regard for the American people and expressed their desire to have the Church establish a mission in the land."

At one point during his visit, Elder Benson, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, drove to Larsmo to meet with members assembled in the Grev Public School.

Every member of the branch was present. A small women's chorus was attired in native costume. They bore their testimonies and expressed appreciation for the assistance rendered by the Church. According to the Church News report, "a good many members of the branch were outfitted in welfare clothes and (were) better dressed than the average people in the community."

The next morning, Elder Benson visited the island of Lovskar where members grazed their cattle during the summer. It was the practice of the members to leave the mainland each evening for the island where they would milk the cows. They would overnight in a cottage, then milk their cows in the morning before returning to the mainland for their work.

At nights, in the cottages, members would share the gospel with others. During such a cottage meeting, Elder Benson learned that no General Authority of the Church had visited the land. "It was decided to locate a suitable spot from which this land might be dedicated to the preaching of the gospel. A spot was found on an elevated rise about a half-mile south of the Grev school."

Early the next morning, on July 16, Elder Benson and a small group of 16 members assembled on the spot. "The morning was beautiful, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the prayer offered was inspirational," recounted the article, describing Elder Benson's dedicatory prayer. — Shaun Stahle