Last Monday we drove an hour north to the town of Wejherowo to attend a lecture given by a college professor on our religion, given in a public library. One afternoon, unannounced, he had walked into our church in Gdańsk and told us he planned to give the lecture and invited us to attend. He said we would be given time at the end of the lecture to speak and to answer questions. In addition, he gave us an article on the church he had written and published in a local newspaper.
The elders called our mission president and asked what we should do. President Ronie asked them to research the man and make sure he was accurate and respectful. Using the internet, they found that he seemed to be a friend of the church and his articles were pretty accurate. The president gave them permission to go to the lecture and, in support, on the day appointed, we jumped in the car and headed to Wejherowo.
In the library we found a fine comfortable room well organized for the lecture. There were two seats for the elders in front of everyone and next to the podium. The room was filled with older ladies who seemed very educated and interested. There were even cookies set out in the back for socializing after the lecture. (I later tried a few – they were pretty good!)
After a formal introduction (Polish people seem to appreciate formal settings) the professor began his lecture. Against a slide of the map of the United States, he described the organization of the church and detailed the journeys of the saints to Utah. He then told about some interesting church doctrine. The ladies were audibly stirred when he told them that our people don’t drink alcohol or smoke. I think every lady there would have liked to have such good looking guys (our missionaries) to be their grandsons. Another high point for the ladies was when the professor described our FamilySearch.org website and its massive database of family records. He even introduced us senior missionaries and had us stand up to be recognized as local church leaders. Afterward I asked Sister Dearden if she was comfortable being a VIP, sitting on the front row, and being asked to stand up and be recognized. She thought it would be a little better if she understood one word of what was said.
The elders were given time to speak. They bore their testimonies of the Book of Mormon and began to describe the book’s story. The professor picked up the narrative and was accurate as he told about it. I was impressed by his knowledge. Clearly he likes our church.
After the lecture the elders had no problem giving away the twenty Books of Mormon we brought. With the professor’s very positive lecture we now have a lot of friends in Wejherowo.
