11 My Mission, 1953–1974
The following is Norma Davis’s edited version of a short autobiography that Sister Käthe Würscher wrote for her children, a copy of which was given to John W. Welch.
Sister Käthe Würscher grew up in Berlin and experienced the war in that city. By the summer of 1944, there were only five priesthood holders in her branch, including her two sons. By the end of the war, both sons had died on the battlefield, her youngest child had died of an illness, and the family business was destroyed. She and her husband were left without any means of earning money to support their remaining family. At the same time, they had the additional responsibility of caring for her ailing father and mother. Their only means of income was the pension given to her parents. Five years later, in 1950, her mother died. Referring to all of these problems, she wrote:
Especially during these difficult times, we felt the help of our Father in Heaven. Whenever the need was most urgent, his help was there. In my heart, there burned the quiet desire that I would be allowed to dedicate my entire time to the Lord when my earthly responsibilities to my family were over.
The opportunity to give intense service to the Lord came, however, during the years of her heaviest family responsibilities. In February 1953, she was called as a counselor in the presidency of the East German Mission Relief Society. When the president, Sister Berger, emigrated to the West, Sister Würscher became president and served in this capacity for twenty-one years. She considered this to be her mission, just as much as any other mission calling given the saints during these difficult days. Two months after her call to the Relief Society, her father died:
Both my husband and I had a secret desire in our hearts that our Father in Heaven would preserve the life of my father for a long time yet. He was no longer able to be active in the Church, and I was thankful for my calling. But God’s ways are not our ways, and the Lord had decided differently. On April 29, 1953, our father was released from his terrible suffering, and we were left penniless through the loss of his pension. But we felt strongly that we were under the protection of God, and today, after my long mission, I can say the Lord was with us in spite of all our trials and afflictions.
We found ourselves in a very difficult situation but unexpected help arrived. There was a great deal of heavy machinery left over from our business, and in spite of all our efforts, we had been unable to sell it or even to get rid of it without cost. Within a very short time, quite by accident, or more truly, through the help of the Lord, we were able to sell it. This made it possible for me to buy a typewriter, which helped me very much in doing my Church work. This was a great testimony to me.
In this condition of extreme financial need, Sister Würscher was asked to visit the Relief Societies throughout the southern part of East Germany: Erfurt, Karl-Marx Stadt, Leipzig, Zwickau, and even the town of Annaberg up in the Erz Mountains along Germany’s border with Czechoslovakia. Somehow, she managed the cost of transportation. She had to depend on the hospitality of the Saints for housing and food. However, her financial need became the least of her worries. The visits were timed to coincide with district conferences held in each city, and she was expected to speak. Her first assignment was in Erfurt, where her extreme anxiety was apparent to the sisters of the branch. After the meeting, she wrote:
Sister Lange came up to me and said, “Sister Würscher, don’t you have any confidence in us?” From that time, I knew that I was not alone, that I had the sympathy of the sisters. This knowledge brought me real joy and strengthened my self-confidence. I also had a good relationship with the priesthood. They included me in their prayers, and in their presence I felt safe and secure.
My first trip lasted four weeks. I had not planned to be away that long, but in that time, I became acquainted with four important large districts of the mission. In order to take advantage of the time during the week between the individual conferences, I went with the local Relief Society leader to visit the members of the branches and the sick in each branch. I will never forget the sick for whom the greetings from the mission presidency were like a stream of sunlight. In Zwickau, I visited a ninety-year-old sister who was confined to her bed. Attended to by the Relief Society sisters of the branch, she bore her suffering with great dignity. With her cracking voice, she sang her testimony for us:
“When amid the conflicts, whether great or small
Do not be discouraged God is over all. . . .”This went directly to my heart, and I felt the strength of God so strongly that I was deeply impressed with the greatness of the soul of this dear, afflicted sister. How marvelous is the power of the gospel.
Still other challenges had to be faced. In order to visit the Saints in Annaberg, she had to get permission from the government to travel so near the country’s border. She applied at Karl-Marx Stadt, but when the time came to go, she still hadn’t received permission. Realizing she had to go no matter what the political situation might be, she managed it through what she termed “roundabout ways.”
The joy of the brothers and sisters in that area was overwhelming that they could finally have visitors once again from the mission, and I felt very happy among the dear sisters. The conference was held in the tavern Zum Erbgericht. Brother Burkhardt, who was still single at that time, bore his testimony, along with the young elders, with great enthusiasm.
Today Annaberg has a beautiful chapel, probably the most beautiful in the GDR. And through the diligence of the members, it was possible to build a baptismal font in the building. I have been able to experience many wonderful conferences there.
Through her visits in the districts, Sister Würscher learned the conditions of the members and could assess the ways in which Relief Society could help alleviate their needs. As the priesthood worked to bring order once again to a war-torn country, organize branches, and find places for the members to meet, the Relief Society saw to the needs of the elderly, the sick and wounded, and the widows young and old. Sister Würscher wrote this testimony concerning her initial trip around the mission:
During my first trip of four weeks, I spent only 185 marks. I was very happy about that because I lived very frugally and this money covered my travel costs. I fasted a great deal during this trip and prayed that I might be able to serve the Lord. I needed his help and support in order to be able to help others. The Lord guided and directed me in wonderful ways. I was under his protection, and my joy and thankfulness inspired me in my work. How thankful I am to our priesthood under whose protection I felt so comfortable.
The crowning experience on this trip came in Leipzig, the final stop planned for the tour:
The meeting place was located on Gerber Street, not far from the train station. The conference also took place there. There was a rich outpouring of the Spirit. Because of the Leipzig Fair, General Authorities received permission to enter the country, and so we were able to enjoy their inspired messages, which greatly strengthened our testimonies. We felt a strong union with the other hemisphere and were so happy that we had not been forgotten. Especially in Leipzig, I felt the strength of testimony that made it possible for me to work with the Spirit of the Lord.
Käthe Würscher. Courtesy Manfred Schütze.
At first, the East German Relief Society was under the direction of the wife of the mission president, President Arthur Glaus. By the time President Glaus’s mission ended, Sister Würscher had gained considerable confidence in her calling, as is clearly evident in the following example:
I will never forget President Glaus. Before I left on my trip to the conferences, he gave me wonderful advice and help. It was customary to invite the Relief Society sisters to the district conferences if it was in their interest. And so, when it came time for his release and the district leaders were expected to be at a farewell for the president but not the sisters of the Relief Society presidencies, I became a little forward. Since an Apostle of the Lord was also expected to be there, I went to the mission home and lodged a complaint with the mission presidency. My request was denied with the excuse that the district leaders represented all of the organizations. That was true, but I didn’t give up. As President Glaus and his counselor, Brother Pettschlag, were standing up with their coats and hats on ready to leave the mission home, I just sat in my chair and waited. Suddenly President Glaus said, “Sister, now what’s on your mind?” I just answered, imploringly, “I am still thinking of the dear sisters who would so love to come.” At that he gave his permission, and we had such a wonderful reunion with the sisters. President Glaus is no longer living, but to us sisters his goodness will never be forgotten. We also had a very good working relationship with Sister Glaus.
When Herold L. Gregory was called to preside over the mission, his wife was within weeks of delivering her second child and could not direct the work as Sister Glaus had done. From that time, Sister Würscher carried the responsibility alone. Her confidence to lead the sisters of the Church was continually strengthened through necessity, as the following exemplifies:
At that particular time, we were expecting a visitor from Utah. The general president of the Relief Society [Belle Spafford], who was also vice president of the World Women’s Organization [Weldfrauenbund], was traveling to get acquainted with other countries. She spoke first to the women in Helsinki. Her arrival in Berlin was planned for Saturday. In order to give many sisters the opportunity to meet her, we planned a district conference and invited about forty sisters to Berlin-Dahlem to meet her. President Gregory and three of us from the Relief Society presidency waited for her at Tempelhof Airport—unfortunately in vain. Our guest had been held up in Helsinki and could not arrive until Sunday. This was when I was very new in my calling, and we met at the same time as the priesthood leadership. I was totally unprepared. We had hoped to be instructed by our expected visitor, but unfortunately that had fallen through. It fell on my shoulders as Relief Society president to conduct the meeting. In spite of everything, it was a spiritual time as we sisters met together. There was a good, cooperative attitude between East and West.
On Sunday morning, we met Sister Spafford and came to know her as a woman of high intelligence and benevolence. I learned a great lesson from this experience. Never again did I go to a conference unprepared. Of course, I seldom prepared my talks, that is, I seldom wrote them out, but from then on, I studied diligently and especially read a lot. Fasting and prayer helped me overcome my weaknesses.
I like to think back to those times. It is truly elevating to be under the influence of God and to feel his help. So I visited almost all of the branches, became acquainted with the sisters, and had the great joy of giving help where it was needed.
Until the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, the Saints were able to travel to West Germany. However, crossing the border meant they had to use West German currency, and they were not allowed to exchange money. As Sister Würscher’s responsibilities demanded travel to the West, she was once again dependent upon the Lord, through the aid of the members of the Church. She went many times to the branches in northern West Germany: Flensburg, Kiel, Hannover, Bremerhaven, and Hamburg. She was accompanied by her counselors, who included Sister Demanowski, Sister Galand, and Sister Ranglak. During these visits, they learned about the duties of the presidency and the organization of the Relief Society. They also had many opportunities to speak at conferences there. Still, the experience was not gained without much sacrifice on their parts:
It is strange how the Lord leads us when we put our entire trust in Him. I once arrived in Bremerhaven totally unknown and without a bit of money in my pocket. To my relief, another traveler gave me 30 cents [pfennig] when I asked him for directions. I was trying to find my way to the branch when I saw two young men walking up ahead of me. I immediately recognized them as missionaries. I felt I just needed to follow them, and my intuition did not fail me. As I mentioned, I knew no one there, but in the society of the Saints I felt right at home. It was like that everywhere. The members were wonderful with their support and their willingness to help. I spent several nights with some Saints who had not been blessed with many worldly goods, but in their homes I felt the spirit of the gospel in rich measure. My heart is filled with gratitude for all of the love contained in the blessings of God. It was that way in Flensburg, in Hannover, in Kiel, and in Hamburg.
Those were unforgettable conferences and the cooperation between East and West was moved forward by them. It was quite amazing how everything came together. We had many difficulties to overcome as a result of that godless war. One time Sister Demanowski and I drove to Templehof Airport early on Saturday and from there flew to Hamburg. The meetings were held in the beautiful stake building. All of the important items were discussed, and many things were improved by the combined experience of all who were present. We were scheduled to fly back on Sunday evening, but a terrible storm would not allow it, so we had to spend the night in Hamburg and fly back on Monday. At that time, I was working as a salesperson in a store in Berlin, Unter den Linden, and had to be to work at 9:30 a.m. I arrived right on time, and no one suspected that I had come directly from Hamburg. We were in the Lord’s hands, and even today I think of the anxiety I felt about getting back on time.
Mission headquarters were in the Dahlem district of Berlin. Because the Relief Society was under the direction of the mission president, Sister Würscher and other Relief Society leaders had many occasions for crossing the border dividing the Soviet sector, where she was living, in order to go to Dahlem, in the American sector. This was a source of great strength to the women of the Church in the GDR.
I would like to mention one very special event. It was when the Tabernacle Choir came to Berlin. We had a district leaders’ meeting in Dahlem in the mission home. All the leaders from both East and West were present. At the conclusion of the meetings, which were truly inspiring, we all went together to the train station to await the arrival of the members of the choir. The atmosphere was overpowering. In the main entrance hall, a large banner had been hung up with the word “Welcome.” The area to the steps had been blocked off. To the right, the Berlin Choir had taken their place. At the cry, “They are coming,” our choir greeted them with one of our most beautiful songs. Then something wonderful happened. Several in the front row rushed toward the choir and embraced friends in a joyful reunion. As they passed through, we automatically divided into two rows of honor. We shouted welcome to them, and there were shining eyes and great joy. Our choir then sang the hymn “Let the Mountains Shout for Joy.” Then the members of the Tabernacle Choir stopped on the stairs and sang along in their language, and we all joined in. It was a marvelous outpouring of the Spirit, and I have never experienced anything greater.
The Choir later sang in the Schöneberg Palace in Berlin, and many of the Saints from East and West had the opportunity of hearing them. It was a powerful, wonderful, unforgettable experience for everyone.
There were other opportunities available to the Saints before the erection of the Wall and the closing of the borders between East Germany and the rest of Western Europe. Some Saints were able to go to the temple in Switzerland. Sister Würscher was among these:
In the year 1956, I was able to go through the temple. I took my young sixteen-year-old daughter with me to Switzerland. We drove as far as Frankfurt. Since we had almost no means of support, we were put up by members at the mission home in Bettina Street. We arrived very late in the evening. The apartments were already occupied, but then we saw what gratitude can do. After a few moments thought, Brother Ihls, who had just arrived from the Erz Mountains, said, and this is word for word, “Once Sister Würscher took us into her home when we arrived hungry and with no place to sleep. She and her daughter can stay with us.” So, everyone squeezed in a little, and we were given a place to stay.
All of the members there were traveling to Switzerland. My daughter and I traveled via Karlsruhe and then continued on to Switzerland. We were able to spend the night in Karlsruhe. The Church owned an old-folks home there, and we were given one bed. I had always wanted to see this home. At that time, it was a lovely, well-kept house. The director gave me a tour around the place, and I had a very good impression of it. The branch met in the same house, so the old people staying there had an ideal situation and were taken care of with great love.
From there we went on as far as Konstanz [the city of Constance on Lake Constance—known in Germany as Bodensee]. Here I remember a good and pure family who took us in. Brother Hermann was the branch president in Konstanz. He and his wife did everything in their power to help us, even though they were not blessed with the things of this world. The next day we arrived at Zollikofen.
What a wonderful feeling I had as we stood there before the temple. Its simple beauty brought joy to my heart. When I read the words over the door—“The House of the Lord”—I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. I was so aware of my insignificance. I didn’t know if I was worthy to enter. It was the greatest blessing of my life to be in the house of the Lord and to receive all of the ordinances. I was sealed to my dear ancestors who had passed on, and I had the blessing of doing the work for others. My daughter performed a blessed work doing baptisms for the dead. But the most beautiful thing is that she could be there for the sealing and could be sealed to me.
The days flew by. We returned to Konstanz and stayed with Brother and Sister Hermann again. And we had the opportunity to visit with my departed cousin’s son, who had received a head wound in the war and was doing very poorly. When I left, Sister Hermann promised me she would take care of him, and she fulfilled this promise in a wonderful way until the day of her death. This poor, neglected human being found a home with her. She was an example to us, and the gratitude of this sick man was the most beautiful monument in her honor. Twenty years later, I was able to visit her grave.
The blessing of attending the temple given to some of the East German Saints brought about yet another need that had to be met by the Relief Society. Clothing of any kind was extremely scarce, and it was impossible to obtain temple clothing. No one had West German marks to buy these items in Switzerland or in the branches in West Germany. Several sisters were called to be instructed in sewing their own.
A sewing room was set up in the mission home in Dahlem to sew temple clothing. Once a week, we five sisters met together to do this work. Sister Galand had first learned to sew temple clothing in Switzerland, and thanks to her dedication to the work of the Lord, we were able to prepare others to do this work. I remember especially Sisters Poppily and Heimerl from Karl-Marx Stadt. At that time, the borders had not yet been closed for those dear sisters. Later, they did this same work in Karl-Marx Stadt with great love and enthusiasm, which was a blessing to all who had gone through the temple. The calling of these sisters was an inspiration.
How joyful and fortunate we were to be able to help in this way. Today I think back and wonder how it was possible for me to feed these sisters with my sparse means. Fortunately, they received a good lunch in the mission office. By the time the borders were closed, this work was already in good hands in Karl-Marx Stadt.
Finding material for the garments gave us a great deal of concern, but here, also, we found a way. There were some looms in Cottbus, and we were able to weave some rather coarse material which we then had at our disposal. We were pleased and happy to have solved this problem.
Later we received help from President Walter Stover, whom I think of in this connection as a dear and kind brother. He was always there with a helping hand when needed. He sent crates of material and clothing for the brothers and sisters in the East. So many members who were in need were helped in this way. We also received huge supplies of garments from him. Many remember him with gratitude and love.
The needs of the Saints in the GDR were many. One of Sister Würscher’s most persistent duties was to see that the numerous elderly sisters scattered throughout the mission were cared for. This responsibility demanded continuous travel at her own expense.
In Blankenburg, I went to visit an older sister, Sister Blank. She was a faithful member. She had served the Lord from her earliest youth and had worked a lot as a teacher in the Sunday School. She had beautiful handwriting and also wrote beautiful poetry. She had lost her home in Köningsberg [East Prussia] during the war. As a refugee, she had been taken in by the Evangelical Center for the elderly, and here she was in her last years living in that lovely home. But she sorely missed her association with her brothers and sisters in the gospel. The joy was great when we saw one another again.
There is a poem that was written during these times by Sister Blank. It goes:
Du lieber Engel breite Deine Flügel aus
Und komm noch einmal in mein Haus,
Eh’ ich von dieser Erd’ muss gehen,
Möcht’ ich dein lieber Antlitz sehen!Dein Antlitz hell wie Sonnenschein
Der Spiegel Deines Herzens Schrein
Es leuchtet wie ein Diamant,
Der nur aus höhern Sphären stammt![You, Dear Angel, spread your wings
And enter my house once again.
Before I must leave this earth,
I would like to see your face once more.Your face as bright as sunshine,
The reflection of the shrine of your heart.
It shines like a diamond
That could come only from higher spheres!]Her joy was understandable because she was lonesome, and someone from The Church of Jesus Christ visited her. I will never forget this patient sister. She was hard of hearing and in addition suffered pains in her ears. All attempts to help her had failed. Because of this, we brought her to Berlin. I cared for her in my home. But neither the doctors in the West or in the East could help her. So a week later, I took her back. Years went by before she was released from her suffering.
From Blankenburg, I traveled on to Pöpenik. Sister Henning lay ill there for many years with crippled legs. The mission provided all of the emergency help possible. She had two children, about six and eight years old, whom she had to care for. This mother was a hero in our eyes. Since she couldn’t stand, she took care of her children as well as she could from her bed. Everything she needed was placed on a bench by her bed—a little electric cooking plate and some pots and pans. Each day a woman came to help her by doing the shopping. When the children came home from school, the mother had their dinner prepared. Whenever I visited her, she had some work at hand, such as washing vegetables. She even did her washing, sewing, and ironing in bed. With all of this, she was in great pain. Now I want to mention an event that illustrates what great faith this sister had in the help of the Lord.
In 1952 the Prophet David O. McKay visited Berlin. This mother, suffering with pain, sent her two children to the prophet with the request that he visit her and give her a blessing. Unfortunately, this was impossible because of the political circumstances. His visa was valid only for Berlin. But he gave the children his handkerchief to take with them, and his blessing reached the mother, and she was relieved of her sufferings. Later, when the children were grown, she became the leader of the Relief Society in that little branch. She was an intelligent woman and liked to share her knowledge with others. It is amazing to me what faith can do and what strength it can give to the weak.
With Sister Krause, the first wife of our patriarch, I had the opportunity of visiting the members in Mecklenburg for the first time, and it was always a shock to me to see the sick and afflicted in their misery. Their strong trust in God and their faith gave them the strength to bear their affliction and to hope. It was at that time that the determination grew in me to dedicate my entire strength to the work of the Lord, to stand by the suffering, and—with the help of my counselors to support and strengthen me, and with the generosity of the mission presidency—relieve their suffering. We were allowed the closest working relationship with the mission. We always found a listening ear and a sympathetic heart.
President David O. McKay in Berlin-Dahlem, June 29, 1952. The President’s son, Lawrence McKay, and Sister Emma Riggs McKay are on the left. Sister Lawrence McKay is next to the president. Courtesy Käthe Wöhe.
During the twenty-one years of her mission, Sister Würscher served as Relief Society president under these following mission presidents: Arthur Glaus (1951–53), Herold L. Gregory (1953–57), Burtis F. Robbins (1957–60), Percy K. Fetzer (1960–63), Joel Tate (1963–66), and Peter Loscher (1966–68).
Unfortunately, the borders were closed in 1961. We could no longer travel to the mission headquarters, and things looked dark. Today I can say that the Lord was always with us.
President Tate was the right man to replace President Fetzer. He and his wife, like their predecessors, were prepared to do their best. President Tate had great love for all the people of the mission. He was never a respecter of persons when it came to his kindness. How often he exerted all his energies to bring help. Those were difficult times for us. Many were sick. We had very little proper medicine. At that time, the help of the mission was accepted with gratitude, and help was always forthcoming. The mission even paid for operations when they were necessary in critical cases. The mission was able to help many people by providing medicine, and I was, on occasions, the fortunate one chosen to bring them over the border, which was not without its risks. The Lord was always with me when I was on an assignment to do good.
After the borders were closed, we were under the leadership of the East German Mission. President Burkhardt was always there to help us. The district leadership meetings were now held in Dresden. The mission leadership was reorganized. I think of my counselors. There was Sister Demanowski, Sister Richter, Sister Voigt, and later Sister Agathe Ortlieb. We tried to do our work very diligently, and there was a very cooperative spirit in Dresden. I remember with gratitude the sisters who were an example to me.
I also want to remember a brother who was always there when help was needed. That was our patriarch, Brother Krause. I remember with fondness how he helped me move my furniture into a small apartment. He helped many, and he was a true and an important companion to Brother Burkhardt.
Sister Käthe Würscher ends her short autobiography with what she felt was the highlight of her “mission”—accompanying President and Sister Tate on a visit to the Saints in the southern part of East Germany. They made Karl-Marx Stadt their headquarters, because President and Sister Tate were allowed in the country as western tourists and had to stay in a specific hotel, where they were expected to return each evening:
I have already mentioned that President Tate and his wife had a very sensitive heart for the poor and the sick. He visited us in the East as often as he could, and this was not without its difficulties for him.
At my request, just before he was released, we visited all of my sick in the mission that I could find, going before and after conferences. There was never such a great joy for them. President Tate and his wife picked me up in Berlin, and we drove to Karl-Marx Stadt to Brother Burkhardt’s. . . . This was such an honor for our older sisters. They had never had the experience of being visited by two mission presidents, that is, President Tate and President Burkhardt. Sister Tate, Brother Krause, and I, as the leader of the mission Relief Society, were with them. It was unusual that five persons came. President Tate had his camera along, we took a photo, and it was a blessed time for everyone.
They traveled from branch to branch visiting the Saints, sharing their testimonies, singing hymns together, taking photos, and blessing the lives of the members. Each night they returned to Karl-Marx Stadt and then continued their visits the following day. In the tiny village of Wilkau, they visited the branch. Sister Würscher remembers:
A marvelous spirit drew us together. I thought about the mother of the prophet Joseph Smith when her son was taken prisoner. This mother, who had been so severely tried, was terribly shaken at the news. She left everything and hurried to her son’s wagon. At her request, Joseph spoke to her briefly, “God bless you, Mother.” This event has always made a strong impression on me. What a wonderful mother she must have been. We sang the song, “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.” It was a heavy parting.
On Sunday we visited the branch and the regular Sunday School. On this day, however, there seemed to be a resplendence of joy over everything because of the presence of the president and his wife and the other authorities.
The visits to towns, branches, isolated members, and invalids in nursing homes came to an end on Monday.
It was an impressive time. The Lord was with his children. . . . On Monday we said good-bye to Brother and Sister Burkhardt and began our return journey. We visited Brother and Sister Cirpka in Neuenhagen. The visit was unexpected, and we had a pleasant reunion. From there we went on to Woltersdorf, where we visited Brother and Sister Demanowski. We were heartily welcomed and experienced a joyful hour together. But then it was back to Berlin. Our trip was over. We were gone for four days, and it was the crowning missionary trip for me. All of the sick who were so dear to us and who could not attend the meetings were made joyful by the visit of the mission parents and the authorities. Unfortunately, Brother and Sister Tate had to leave us shortly after that. They returned to Utah, their mission over. But I am sure they found their visit to the sick a fitting conclusion to their work.
With this, Sister Würscher concludes her brief history of twenty-one years of devoted service as president of the East German Mission Relief Society. One more excerpt from her writing can serve to summarize her feelings about those years of her “mission”:
How great is the goodness of our Heavenly Father. How often I have felt his hand when I was traveling and arrived late at night without any lodging, the hotels overbooked and my funds very low.
