We drove to the Stake Center in Dresden this morning. It’s in a nice neighborhood near the Dresden Zoo. The homes there were big and stately, like mansions. The chapel was full when we arrived–full all the way to the back of the gym. We learned they were having a Young Single Adult Conference here this weekend with 160-170 youth.
We found Elder & Sis Smith, our Area YSA couple, in the mix, doing their thing. They really do a great job. We also found the Austins, serving in Paris as YSA missionaries in the Area. He was at BYU with John, and was over the International Folk Dancers for many years. We had a fun visit after a very nice Sacrament meeting. Two of our Offenbach YSA were here. It was fun to see so many happy kids. After the meeting, the YSA enjoyed a prepared lunch in the cultural hall. Then we said our goodbyes and drove out of town, heading to Leipzig.
Behind the church building in the parking area, there is a memorial to Karl G. Maeser, who was born in Meissen, a neighboring town. He emigrated to America, and to Utah, where he became the first principal of Brigham Young Academy, which later became Brigham Young University.
As we drove out of Dresden, we found this old church, built in 1273, no longer in use. It’s been preserved as a memorial and as a place for contemplation. There is a cemetery in the churchyard. It was beautiful.
This is the Briesnitz Ev-Lutheran Kirche. It was very old, built of stone with beautiful spires that looked like crowns. It was situated in an old garden and cemetery. The church was locked up. The cemetery was quiet and beautiful, full of old trees and lots of ivy. Lilac bushes were almost ready to bloom. The old garden plots were still kept up, many with spring flowers–pansies, daffodils, and primroses. It was so peaceful. We walked around the Friedhof and church, thinking about Easter and the glorious resurrection that awaits.
This morning I read D&C 138 twice as I celebrated Easter in my Family History kind of way. I love that section and have been thinking about it a lot as I contemplate what Jesus did immediately after he was crucified. He didn’t take a long nap, or go to his favorite get-away. He went straight to the Spirit World to free more people who were waiting anxiously for Him to come set them free. He didn’t even rest first. When I think about how important that was to Him, it makes me want to spend every free minute I have finding my ancestors so they too can be saved by His grace and resurrection. It’s so important. (See 1 Peter 3 and 4.)
Our Frankfurt Germany Mission 