Mega Riunione

We went last Friday evening to a historic 40 year anniversary reunion for all Italian missionaries and just about anybody who has any connection whatsoever with the progress of the Gospel in the great land of the Caesars. They thoughtfully excluded simple Italophiles and Gastronomists. Otherwise the building wouldn't have been big enough. The land of Italy was rededicated for the preaching of the Gospel in 1966.

It was especially interesting to hear from two Italians. First an impassioned plea from a brother Giovanni C. Maschero who is Italian Vice Consul in Salt Lake. He evidently was quite key in the Church becoming legalized in Italy. Apparently the Church still needs to be officially recognized as a religion in Italy. He implied that this is delaying the announcement of Temple construction in Italy. They did announce that they expect three more stakes in Italy in the near future. He passionately requested that we weary the Lord with our importuning and increase our heavenly petitions on behalf of his beloved homeland and his fellow Italian Saints.

We also heard from Elder Luigi S. Peloni, an Area Authority Seventy from Italy. This dear Fratello insisted on speaking in English, although he really has only a rudimentary acquaintance with the tongue. It was sweet though, and I couldn't help but remember that all of the missionaries surely faltered initially in Italian as this brother did in English.

After an initial session that was a very comfortable length, we were dismissed to individual meetings with our mission Presidents. We were admonished to look for and follow our President. I leaned over and whispered to Michelle Young that if she saw President Halliday she was to let me know. (He passed away in 1988.)

In all about 53 Mission Presidents have served in Italy. We didn't know initially if there was any arrangement at all or what that arrangement might be for the individual sessions with our Mission Presidents. We scoured the building and finally found our group in the Cultural Hall. They had arranged the sessions by age. We found that ours was the 7th oldest group.

The only Hymn we sang was O Speranza d'Israele (Hope of Israel.) Of course, we sang in Italian, and boy howdy did we sing. I joked with Lenore during the Saturday session of General Conference that we probably made more sound than the congregation in the whole Conference Center. The guy directing the music had a nice and powerful voice and wasn't afraid to sing out and it seemed everyone was in the same mode, singing with much gusto.

We went to dinner beforehand with the Ashbys, Burrups and Youngs at Al Forno. (Funny, Al wasn't anywhere to be found.) I have heard about the restaurant. But, this was our first venture there. It was very good and enjoyable. We will go again.

I chatted briefly with Susan Ashby and asked about her children. Their oldest daughter is marrying in the Temple soon. So, that brings a very nice conclusion to a somewhat troubling period. Michelle Young is taking their daughter Jillian to Europe as a graduation present. Lenore asked me how it was that we aren't able to do that?????!!!!