Nov
9
Your memories of the Berlin Wall’s fall
November 9, 2009 by Giuseppe Martinengo Leave a Comment | Filed in Mormon Church
I recently noticed a page on CNN.com about the Berlin Wall’s fall. Several people were posting pictures or videos about it. I remember very well that happening. I was at lunch break and I was watching the news with a friend and colleague when I first saw those images.
When they showed the beginning of the Berlin Wall’s fall I was amazed and thrilled. For those of use who lived in Europe, the Cold War had a strong influence in our lives, even if just as a background feeling of uncertainty. The USSR and the other nations of the Eastern block were just so close to our home that there was always a feeling of concern about what could happen.
At that time I was also a recent convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), and it is part of our doctrine to believe that before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel need to be preached to all nations. The Iron Curtain seemed to be a major block to the spreading of the gospel in those countries, and many were thinking that it would take many more years to see a change in that area of the world.
But suddenly, the Berlin Wall’s went down and we experienced first hand how the Lord can open doors when He wants, and it was a sign that He will still open many doors and the Gospel will actually be preached to all nations.
At that time I was also extremely impressed by with Mikhail Gorbachev. I always thought that he was one of the main instruments used by the Lord to make that miracle happen. I am sure that he did not know exactly were his actions will lead, and I think he did not envision the complete change that would happen to his country in a few years, but I believe he was an honest man who did what he felt was right, and the rest… became history.