Palm Sunday in Italy

We had some time before General Conference started, and we thought we'd take a walk to see how the Italian Catholics celebrate Palm Sunday. The day originates from the Savior's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem before his cruicifixion. The converted Jews stood waving palm fronds and covered the street with the branches for Jesus to tread upon (a sign of honor for a dignitary or king).

The holy weekend here starts on Good Friday when Italians buy woven palm fronds with bows on them and then take them with them to Mass on Sunday to have them blessed by the priest in their local perish or better yet at the massive ceremony at the Vatican with the Pope. Then, they bring the blessed palm back to their house in order to remember Him and to bring blessings into their homes. On Sunday morning everyone carries and waves Olive brances instead of palm fronds, as the olive branches in this country represents peace and eternal life-- remembrances of the Savior. We stopped and watched this singing parade heading into San Francesco a Ripa church. The cute little altar boys carrying the crosses and olive branches were proud but the parents trailing behind them were even prouder.

After the parade we continued our walk to see the beauty of spring in Rome. The air was fresh with the scent of honeysuckle and the buildings gaily decorated with gorgeous cherry blossoms.

This is the Jewish mosque here in Rome. During WWII the German's rounded up Jews here and headed them off to camps. One particularly terrible time they just picked up Jews in this mosque and took them to a cave north of Rome to shoot 10 Italian Jews (total of 300) for every German soldier that was killed by a bomb from the Italian Resistance. My children have Jewish friends here at school and this makes it even sadder to visualize. Being members of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ we see how He loves all his children and we must learn from the past and love everyone even if they look, feel or believe differently than we do.

Heading towards home we passed the theater of Marcello and Steve captured these bright red poppies, another symbol of the cruicifixion and ressurection.

I looked over this beautiful eternal city of Rome that the disciple Peter came to, and preached the gospel to, and felt glad that he persevered despite hardships. History in Rome dictates that Peter was discouraged teaching the Gospel to the Pagan Romans. So he left the city via the Appia Antica. The Savior appeared to him and asked him where he was going and encouraged him to go back. I felt joy thinking that Peter's sacrifice for our Savior and his martyrdom was not in vain.

I have had my discouraging moments here on Sundays trying to teach the children in a foreign tongue and feeling my efforts were useless and have wanted to pack my bags and head home. But my Savior found me discouraged and sent me help through my dear friend Allica and my sisters, got my head and heart turned around... I feel truly blessed to be here helping lay groundwork for our new Rome Temple and to help spread the tiny seeds of La Chiesa di Gesu` Cristo di Santi degli Ultimi Giorni, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in a Catholic country ready for change.

When we got home from our walk and heard Elder Uchtdorf's talk on getting off the sidelines and not being a "spectator disciple," I knew he was speaking to the Saints here in Europe.

This medieval "Christian Knight" below is a symbol of fighting for God and for the right. And what better time than springtime and Easter to get out of the bleachers and pick up sword and fight the adversary, cut ties with our complacency and open our mouths and share our testimonies with the world about the Restored Gospel. With so many people feeling despondent about the financial crisis and father's commiting suicide and murdering their families as they feel there is no where to turn... NOW while the earth is just reviving and turning green and bursting into purple splendor, NOW is the time to stand and spread HOPE.

I truly know that our Savior lived and died for each of us. And just as he claimed victory over the chains of death, we can too through his atonement. How beautful and calming to know that life does not end here, that it springs eternal through his love. And if we look, we find constant reminders around us everyday.