Influencing Beyond Our Knowledge

So, I have been wanting to get back into blogging a bit.  For one, I have tons of fantastic photos from my fun summer that I should share, but perhaps that I don't feel facebook to be the right platform for.  Second, it just helps to write. :0)  So forgive the rust, but I'll work my way back into it.

Except right now. ;) 

Right now I just want to share a quick story that I heard from a visiting, church General Authority who spoke at my Stake Conference awhile back in Columbus.  And since it's been awhile since I actually heard the story, I am just going to paste directly from another blogger who also heard the same story related.  Just a reminder that we never know what an influence we are being.  And Jen--it's about Italy and missionaries...so, perhaps a little timely now. ;)  (Though the missionaries were here, but from Italy.)  So, here it is so I can have it at my fingertips in the future.

      "While serving as a U.S. Senator, Senator [Gordon H.] Smith received a telephone call one day from Elder Dieter Uchtdorf, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  The church was interested in building a new temple in Italy, and needed to acquire formal governmental recognition for the church from the Italian government [At this time, the church was not officially a recognized religion in Italy].  Elder Uchtdorf wondered if Senator Smith could please help arrange a meeting with the appropriate government officials in Rome.  Senator Smith agreed to not only help set up the meeting but to also fly to Rome to help with the important presentation to the Italian official.
      When they arrived at the meeting in Rome they met with the Italian official supervising religious affairs in Italy. The Italian Minister was a gracious and knowledgeable woman.  She had the Assistant Minister join the meeting. Elder Uchtdorf spoke about the Church and how its larger presence in Italy would benefit and bless the Italian people. He also explained the problems the members an missionaries were facing since the Church was not fully recognized as a religion but only as a charitable organization.  
     The government official looked at her assistant and asked for his opinion regarding the church’s petition. The Assistant Minister replied that he had recently been on a visit to the United States with his family, and had toured Temple Square in Salt Lake City during his trip.  The assistant went on to explain that when they arrived at Temple Square their tour guides were two young Italian sister missionaries. According to the assistant, the two sister missionaries were very impressive and glowed with energy and enthusiasm.  He then said in effect: “If the Mormon Church can raise such outstanding young people as I saw serving there in Utah, then by all means you should give the LDS church all the recognition they need to build their temple here in Italy!  I hope they can raise up thousands of young people here in Italy like the ones I met in Utah!”  That comment seemed to have the appropriate effect and the meeting concluded successfully.
      Later, after the appropriate Italian approval was granted, the announcement of a temple to be built in Italy was made during General Conference on October 4, 2008, by President Thomas S. Monson. When the announcement was made by the Prophet from the Conference Center pulpit,  President Dieter Uchtdorf looked down in the congregation at Senator Smith and gave him the thumbs up to help thank him for his significant contribution in acquiring the necessary governmental approvals. (President Uchtdorf had become a member of the First Presidency earlier that year on February 3, 2008.)
      Italy President Giorgio Napolitano signed the Intesa con lo Stato, or legal agreement, on 30 July 2012.  In contrast to the 1993 legislation that recognized the Church as only a charitable institution, the Church is now officially recognized as a religious denomination, along with the Catholic Church and a few others.  The first meeting with President Uchtdorf was the beginning of this important process that culminated recently in the final signed agreement.

Construction of temple site in Rome, Italy

      During his  fireside, Senator Smith concluded by commenting that those two unnamed Italian sister missionaries serving on Temple Square may never know of their important contribution or what they accomplished by just having the spirit with them and being such marvelous examples during the brief tour of the museum and Temple grounds with the Assistant Minister. [Look what ripple effects their short time and actions had on the church and the people of Italy!] The Italian temple will likely serve church members in Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia, as well as the 23,430 church members who live in Italy."

Amazing.  You never know the reach of your influence on an individual, and beyond.