If you’re on social media (have you liked the Millennial Star Facebook page yet?), you might have noticed a lot of activity surrounding the dedication of the Rome, Italy temple in the last few days. All the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 were in attendance at the dedication. There was also a new picture of all 15 men taken in the Visitor Center in front of the Christus and 12 apostles statues.
Today, the Church released this video of our apostles and prophet reading passages from “The Living Christ.” The Living Christ was released by the Church in 2000, declaration to the world of our belief in Jesus Christ. Here is the video, I hope you will share it with your friends of all faiths.
Maybe this is a stupid question, but I’ve seen all the stuff going around FB about the Rome Temple and I don’t understand why everyone is so excited. I mean how is this temple different than any other? What’s the big deal about Rome other than its the home to the Catholic church and a whole ton of pickpockets…?
Lehcarjt — I’m sure you’re not the only one who has asked that question. There are two articles from the Deseret News that might help answer your question.
Rome is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church — they believe, and most of traditional Christianity, believe that the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Christ. And as the Catholic church has over a billion members world wide, Rome is seen as the center of Christianity. So it’s important that the Lord’s Church is also there.
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900060133/why-president-nelson-took-all-latter-day-saint-apostles-to-rome-and-what-they-said-about-it.html?fbclid=IwAR3H0VEnqMkjxqEBnq3q5zHhQExiREkoW9_ltbeVNXFJ6cw8EMeV6VCGpgM
This article, however, is the one that really explains WHY this temple dedication is so important. Pres. Nelson received revelation that all 15 were supposed to go. So when the Lord commands, you obey.
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900059767/in-rome-on-monday-all-of-the-latter-day-saint-apostles-make-powerful-statement-photos.html?fbclid=IwAR307nLaPXXGzK4zMOjFF6m6_IOLSIUXa5_oxd6eSfesffCihnldHzspwpo
This reminds me of Elder Hales pronouncement from the October 2014 General Conference:
“In recent decades the Church has largely been spared the terrible misunderstandings and persecutions experienced by the early Saints. It will not always be so. The world is moving away from the Lord faster and farther than ever before. The adversary has been loosed upon the earth. We watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and protected. For example, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was given long before we experienced the challenges now facing the family. “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” was prepared in advance of when we will need it most.”
Thanks for the links. That ‘hinge-point’ comment by P. Nelson is interesting. Makes me wonder what he sees that we do not. Perhaps this will be another big-change conference.
Isn’t Rome the closest _major_ European capital city to the Middle East?
Others are closer, but aren’t as big or as important as Rome.
The “hinge point” comment by Pres Nelson is interesting. Where or what will Rome be the doorway to for the church/Restored Gospel? I’m guessing it will be to make “inroads” into the Middle East, or perhaps into Catholicism.
You could say that the Kyiv Ukraine Temple is also close to the middle east.
I shared Lehcarjt’s question with a few friends this morning. They had some good perceptive — that there are some temples that are more symbolic. Examples: the SLC Temple was build in impossible circumstances. The rebuilding of the Nauvoo Temple was a return to our roots. Palmyra, or Winter Quarters also have deep symbolic meaning for the Saints.
To
Lehcarjt — I think everything will be big changes as along as Pres. Nelson is at the helm. Clearly part of his prophetic mission is to move us forward. One of the ways that’s happening is by changing how we do things. Doctrines don’t change, but the way we do things does, as the needs of the church and membership change, as the times change. I’m just planning on every time he speaks that there will be something to do, some invitation issued, some new of doing things announced. I remember an interview his wife gave about this time last year. She said he asks the Lord “Why?” a lot. As in, why do we do things one way or another, why is this policy in place, etc. Many of the changes have come from those “why” questions. That’s where we get our revelations from — we always have. The Doctrine & Covenants is a giant book of the answers to Joseph Smith’s “why” questions.
Everyone is making a big fuss about it because I served in Italy. It’s all about me isn’t it?
Seriously though, President Nelson went to Rome soon after he was ordained an apostle and retraced the steps of the apostle Paul. When Elder Nelson came to Rome, he met with us missionaries and he spoke in tongues. Rome has a very dear place in the heart of Russell M Nelson.
Meg, like we say to military veterans: “Thank-you for your service!” (As a missionary in Italy.)
And it’s not just baptisms that count, though you and I served at a time when there was a big emphasis on baptism numbers. Every lesson, presentation, pass-along card, or Book of Mormon presented, or even merely offered,… every smile, every contact, every greeting, every encouragment, … has meaning. Even if it’s just a memory that someone takes with them to the Spirit World, it will have some benefit and some meaning.
—
In the spring of 1982, a scruffy homeless person walked into the chapel where I attended. One sister Larsen (not the mission leader’s wife, but the sister Larsen whose husband was a former Marine) greeted him kindly, showed him respect, and treated him like a V.I.P., with no less respect than if he had been the mayor of Indianapolis.
That interaction led to a baptism in South America a few years later, as I attempted to emulate her example with a certain individual who might otherwise have been dismissed due to appearances.
—
Those two Italian sister missionaries on Temple Square, like sister Larsen, were showing respect and kindness to a visitor, not knowing the follow-on effects thousands of miles away and years later.
I reckon we all get to see those follow-on effects in our life-review movie, the one where we get to see ourselves as others see us.
I hope sister Larsen gets to see how her actions led to Elias Macias getting baptized.