Yesterday I wrote about the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but is not enough.
The city of Rome has a special meaning for me. Not only because I was born in Italy, but also because it is there, that at age 15, I had the first of a few important experiences that changed my life, and eventually led me to become a member of the Restored Church.
Rome is the city that most people identify with Christianity, and in Rome is where in the past four days, for the first time in Church history, all 15 members of the First Presidency and of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have gathered in one location, outside of the United States.
They are all together in this picture, below the statue of the Savior and in front of the statues of the Apostles of 2,000 years ago, to remind us that they have the keys of the Kingdom of God on earth in our time. It is a humble but strong statement, especially because they are in Rome.
And perhaps is not a coincidence, that not long before these historic meetings in Rome, President Nelson stressed the importance of using the proper name of the Church, when he said,
“the Lord impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He decreed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.2
These 15 men were in Rome as leaders of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The renewed emphasis on the correct name of the Church, right before these historic events in Rome, seems to herald a new beginning. I don’t believe this to be a coincidence.
President Nelson even said,
“This is a hinge point in the history of the Church. Things are going to move forward at an accelerated pace of which this is a part. We think the Church is an old Church. It’s 189 years old. But it’s only the beginning. Just project out what the next future will be and the Church is going to have an unprecedented future. Unparalleled. We’re just building up to what’s ahead now”
Since Russell M. Nelson was called as President of the Church, things have been already moving at an accelerate pace, but there is more to come, he says. I have been a member of the Church for more than 30 years and I have noticed the difference. Something special is really happening!
