29 A Temple in Our Country
Elke Schulze is the daughter of Günter and Hannelore Schulze (see chapter 17). Elke was one of the first sister missionaries to be called from the GDR and served in the California San Bernardino Mission, 1990–92 (see chapter 31). Before her mission, she was a dental assistant. In May 1995, she married Richard L. Walker in the Freiberg Germany Temple. She has been invaluable to us in preparing the material for this book.
On Sunday, October 10, 1982, our entire family was together—my parents [Günter and Hannelore Schulze]; my brothers, Olaf and Bernd, with their wives, Heidrun and Maja [Ortlieb]; and myself—and our papa invited us to go with him on a drive, an outing, on the following Saturday. Of course, the questions began then: “Where?” “Will we need to pack a lunch?” “What should we wear?” “How far are we going?” But we got no answer out of him to any of these questions. He just sat there silently, smiling. We tried our questions out on Mom, but she said, “I’m sorry, don’t ask me. I’ve just heard about this for the first time myself.” That seemed somewhat strange to us since our parents nearly always did things together. Suddenly we were all talking about a “pilgrimage,” but no one knew where we were going, how far, or when we were coming back.
In the course of the week, my brothers called Papa to find out when we would be leaving. The week went by much too slowly to satisfy my curiosity. Finally, it was Saturday, October 16, 1982. Our pilgrimage began at 9:30 a.m. When we were all seated in the car trying to guess which direction we would be going, we soon found ourselves on the little highway leading over to Freiberg. At a special conference held on August 29 that year, the Freiberg Stake had been organized. The stake president [Frank Apel] lived in Freiberg, but why were we going to see him, or would we be going further? No. Papa stopped the car outside the city overlooking a small rising piece of ground surrounded by a hedge and bordered by a small sports field. We all got out. We crossed the deserted street and walked out onto a large field. At the far end of the field, we could see a small housing development.
Papa became very serious, and with tears in his eyes, he put his arm around Mama’s shoulder and said to us, “On this piece of ground a new chapel will be built for the Freiberg Ward—and—a temple of the Lord.” It was unbelievable. A temple in our country! He then explained to us when the construction would begin and where the buildings would stand. We were speechless, and then the words from my patriarchal blessing came to mind: “You will experience the covenants, the holy covenants in the house of the Lord, which are necessary.” Now this promise was going to be fulfilled so soon? I had often thought of these words. What possibility would I ever have of going to a temple—unless it would be after I was old enough to retire. This promise, which had always seemed something far, far off in the future, would now be fulfilled before any of the others. It was all so wonderful!
Then Papa said to me, “Elke, now you can understand why I could not satisfy your curiosity but had to be silent. I was not even allowed to tell Mama. Since 1978 negotiations have been going on between the Church and representatives of our government and we—the mission presidency of the Dresden Mission (Papa was second counselor at that time and Henry Burkhardt was president)—gave President Monson our word that we would not discuss this with anyone until the prophet made an official announcement about the building of the Freiberg Temple. And that is what he did at the fall general conference.”
I was so proud of Papa. Mama didn’t even know, and she had never asked him about it in spite of the many rumors that were going around. I had often thought to myself, Papa must know, he works for the Church. And after he told me, I was ashamed of myself because of my curiosity. And then Papa answered all of the many questions that were buzzing around in our heads. In the true sense of the word, this had been a wonderful and beautiful pilgrimage for us. We were very happy.
Schulze family. Left to right: Günter Schulze, Hannelore Schulze, Norma Davis with her granddaughter Annika Davis, and Elke Schulze. The Schulze family were visiting in Provo at the conclusion of Elke’s mission. October 1991. Courtesy Norma and Garold Davis.
The ground breaking took place in the spring of 1984, and the construction on these beautiful buildings began.
In the summer of 1984, the institute program of the Church was inaugurated under the general theme, “What can I do to prepare myself for eternal marriage?” Sister Eva-Maria Bartsch [sister of Hans-Jürgen and Reiner Schlüter; see chapters 22 and 23] was the institute teacher in Dresden for the single adults, and her lessons were wonderful and spiritual. When our first year of institute came to an end, our temple was about to be completed, and we spoke frequently about sealing for eternity in the temple. We had so many questions and so many problems. There were many young sisters over twenty-one who could not be sealed to their parents until they had received their endowment. But we were all obsessed with the idea that it would be much more beautiful to receive the endowment for the first time with a partner to whom we would then be sealed for time and all eternity. I struggled with this problem. I did not want to go to the temple “alone.” But I often heard the still, small voice telling me, “Do you know how long you may have to wait? The temple will soon be dedicated. The promises you have been given should be fulfilled, and you are not ready.”
I fasted and prayed a lot during this time. I knew that it would not be right if I didn’t go to the temple with my family, but I didn’t like to feel this compulsion. I wanted to go because of an inner desire and to experience this joy myself. While I was studying and trying to prepare myself, I found my answer in my institute manual under the topic, “We Can Receive Personal Revelation in the Temple.”
When you have a problem think about it on your own, come to a conclusion, and then turn to the Lord with your problem and He will then give you an answer. However, if you do not receive an answer then I will tell you where you must go. Go to the house of the Lord. Go there with the righteous desire to do your duty. Then when you are within the holy walls of that building, where you are entitled to the Spirit of the Lord, then in a moment of stillness the answer will come. (Melvin J. Ballard)
This was my answer. I now had the desire to go to the temple even if I had to go as a single person. After making this decision, I felt so happy and so grateful. I copied out this quotation and sent it to another young sister thinking that it might help her also.
The beautiful time of the open house was from June 1 through 16, 1985, and I had the privilege of doing “temple duty.” I helped people get their overshoes on and off in front of the temple, or I helped maintain silence in the temple, or I helped do missionary work in the chapel and on the temple grounds. It was a beautiful time of service and sacrifice. On a single day, there were seven thousand visitors, and in all ninety thousand people stood as long as five hours in the rain and storm in terrible weather in order to see our temple. The earlier prayer of Elder Thomas S. Monson as he dedicated this country—that the people would come and ask about the gospel—was now being fulfilled.
Open house for the Freiberg Germany Temple. June 1–16, 1985, long lines of people waited their turn to tour the temple, sometimes in rainy weather. Elke Schulze was one of the Saints who helped host the visitors. Courtesy Elke and Manfred Schwabe.
The laying of the cornerstone of the temple was held on June 28, and dedicatory sessions were held on June 29 and 30, 1985. It was so wonderful to see the General Authorities and to hear everything and to be permitted to participate!
Thursday, July 4, 1985, was a beautiful, sunny day. This was the day on which the members of the Dresden Ward were permitted to go to the temple for the first time. My mother had a responsibility in the nursery, so I went through the temple alone. I needed a lot of strength, and I received it as it beamed forth from the brothers and sisters in the temple. It was so beautiful to see all of the members of our ward united there together.
It is beautiful to receive the blessings of the temple. Since that day, I have been to the temple often to do work for the dead, and it is also beautiful to do something for others. But the thing that has brought me the greatest happiness has been that I have been able to feel a peace, a calmness, and a security about my own future. Now I know that if we are true to our Heavenly Father then all of the promises he has given us will be fulfilled.
