I remember standing
with four or five German Saints in the cold
and rain on a hilltop overlooking the city of Dresden,
and rededicating the land. As I offered the prayer
and spoke the words, "May this be the
dawning of a new day for the Church in this land,"
we heard a rooster crow in the valley below. A church bell began to chime. And suddenly, I felt warmth
on my hands and face. I opened my eyes to see
that the clouds had parted and a ray of sunshine
engulfed a tiny point where our small band stood. We knew it was a confirmation
from our Heavenly Father that the prayer was heard
and would be answered. One of the wonderful blessings
and pronouncements he made was that the members
in East Germany would receive all the
privileges of Church membership, including the blessings
of the holy temples. Through his personal efforts
by meeting with the highest political leaders,
the Freiburg Temple was built, and blesses
the people of Germany and all of Eastern Europe
in a marvelous way. The Freiburg Germany Temple
was dedicated on June 29, 1985. A miracle had taken place. And yet how would the Church
grow without missionaries? President Monson and
other Church leaders met with German
officials and discussed ways in which the presence
of the Church in Germany would bless the
nation and people. Herr Honecker then began
a 30-minute discussion on the progress of the
German Democratic Republic. I listened patiently. And then suddenly he turned
to our group and looked at me and said, we know you. We trust you. We've had experience with you. Your missionary
request is granted. My spirit literally
soared out of that room. The meeting was concluded. As we departed, Brother
Russell Nelson turned to me and said, "Look at the sunshine
streaming into this hall. It is though God in
Heaven is saying, "I am pleased.'" The long
darkness of night had concluded. The bright, beautiful
rays of day had dawned. The future lay before
us in that nation.