Apostle Inspires Thousands in Wiesbaden with Message of Belonging and Hope

On Pentecost Sunday, June 8, more than 3,000 members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered at the RheinMain Congress Center in Wiesbaden for a special regional conference with Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Gong was accompanied by his wife, Susan, along with Elder James W. McConkie of the Europe Central Area Presidency and his wife, Laurel. Attendees from across Frankfurt, Friedrichsdorf, Kaiserslautern, and Heidelberg participated in a spiritually rich Sabbath focused on Jesus Christ.

Other leaders present were Elder Bernhard Cziesla, an Area Seventy, as well as the Stake Presidents for the invited regions, including President Björn Tiebing, Friedrichsdorf, President Manuel Metzner, Frankfurt, President Martin Siebert, Heidelberg and President Cade A. Salmon, Kaiserslautern.

Elder Gong, drawing on the German language and culture, used a selection of uniquely German expressions to teach gospel truths. Some words included were Heimat (an emotional and spiritual sense of home), Heimweh (a longing for home; homesickness for our heavenly home), Geborgenheit (the peace of belonging through covenants), and Zuflucht (a refuge from adversity, found in worshipping in the house of the Lord). He emphasized that the restored Church of Jesus Christ is a place of belonging: “There is “room for everyone in the inn”. No one should sit alone - not in our chapels, and not in life, neither emotionally nor spiritually."

Sister Gong praised today's parents: "You are my heroes," she said. "The Lord bless you in your families. God bless you as you raise your children!" She bore testimony that life is precious, even amid trials. Relating repentance to gardening, she taught, "A gardener must remove dirt from the soil to let something grow. The same is true with repentance. We have to take out the bad so that the good can come." Referring to the scripture in Matthew 4:17: "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” she explained: "This is not a doomsday warning, but a beautiful promise of the Lord."

Elder McConkie spoke of divine compassion and the Savior’s love, referencing John 11, and urging members to become instruments of that love in others’ lives: “When we act as God's instruments of love, we become witnesses of His love.”

Sister McConkie shared the inspiring story of her great-grandfather, who joined the Church in Germany at age 14. She recounted a difficult moment when her great-grandfather’s son passed away and the bishop forgot about the funeral service while the family waited for an hour in the rain. Yet, their faith endured. When the bishop apologized and asked why he still continued to come to church, her great-grandfather replied, "This is not your church. It is the Lord's church. And I will always come back."

President Siebert urged members to love others as Christ does. “This is true charity,” he said. “When our interactions are difficult, let’s pray for charity and continue faithfully on the covenant path.”

Several local members were also invited to share heartfelt testimonies. Young boy Idi Thomas from Mainz reminded listeners, “We are all children of God,” recounting a lesson from his father about acting accordingly. Young adult Emily Haskins of Ramstein testified of the Savior as the Good Shepherd who sees and knows each of us personally. Elder Cziesla spoke of the power of the Book of Mormon and the witness of the Holy Ghost available to all.spoke of the power of the Book of Mormon and the witness of the Holy Ghost available to all.

Elder Gong concluded with a message of hope and divine assurance: “The blessings and peace of the gospel are for you and for me. Repentance and forgiveness are for all of us. Let the joy in now!”

Germany is Elder Gong’s first stop on a ministry tour across the Europe Central Area, including visits to Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Switzerland, and Southern Germany.