Luca, Mormon missionary in Martha’s Vineyard
Filed under: Luca Martinengo's mission, Mormon Church, Mormon Missionaries
Luca, the Mormon missionary, actually the first official missionary from our family, has been transferred and he is now in Martha’s Vineyard.
From the pictures he sent it looks like an amazing place, and over there Luca can use his knowledge of the Portuguese language, since many Brazilian live there.
Luca Martinengo in Martha's Vineyard
This is an excerpt from Luca’s email to us:
you have no idea how fast this transfer (this past few weeks here in the island) have gone by, it is so amazingly fast, wow I basically feel like we don’t have the time to do everything that we want to do, but I guess we do the best that we can. President calls me the firecracker, i can’t be still for a minute, I just feel kind of bad when we are not doing anything, so whenever I come to those times when there is no one in the bus or whatever, I always have a few good talks that I haven’t read or i pull out the scriptures and I read them, now i have even more to read because I have to read the lessons and the scriptures in Portuguese also.
The people here in the island are amazing, especially the members and especially even more the Brazilian members, they are such humble people and have the strongest testimonies I have ever heard.
I love reading the scriptures and also conference talks, i have made like a book full of my favorite talks and i try to read at least one a day, i have learned a lot.
I am having a lot of fun translating at church, it seems like i do everything there, because sometimes i have to translate and also play the piano and also make sure that the investigators are happy and also talk to members because they don’t really understand my companion very well, hehehe
Great Picture!
Mormon missionaries' bikes
Mormon missionary's study room
Luca’s first months in the mission (Mormon mission)
Filed under: Luca Martinengo's mission, Mormon Missionaries
Luca has been in a mission (a Mormon mission) for several months now. He went from the Missionary Training Center in Provo, to Amherst, Massachusetts, then Greenfield, and finally in Pittsfield where he has been for the last five months.
He has been writing every week, and even more, and we have all noticed his amazing improvement as a person and how he is really loving his mission in spite of all the difficulties and challenges. People use to say that when missionaries go into a mission they leave as boys and come back as men.
We have already noticed a great change for better in Luca and what is more impressive – but we were expecting it – he says that he has never been happier in his life. These are really the fruits of service in the gospel.
Luca was blessed with the opportunities of seeing several people enter the water of baptism, that is always a great moment for missionaries, even if it is not the only or even the most important indicator of a missionary’s success.
Visiting Mormon temples with my children
Filed under: Martinengo's Family, Mormon Temples
Today we traveled from Orem to South Jordan and then to Salt Lake City with the purpose of visiting and performing service in two of the Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Why did we go to two temples? Was not one enough? My youngest daughter had never been in those temples and so we decided to use it as an excuse for a short trip, adding a little bit of variety to the work.
Also, it seemed a good opportunity to stay together as a family working in favor of those who have already passed to the other side of the veil (that for Mormons simply means those who have already died).
It was a wonderful experience and I am glad that I am sharing it with my children so that they may learn since a young age to experience the blessings and the wonderful feeling of working in the temples.
Moreover, I do not want to find myself in the situation of someone who once spoke in a General Conference
and recognized that he had never spent time with his kids in the temples, while he had spent plenty of it watching football games. To go to football games may be a bonding activity with our children, but if I need to choose, I prefer to go to the temple with them.
Giuseppe Martinengo about Mormon Temples
Filed under: Giuseppe Martinengo, Mormon Videos
This is an interesting story about what happened to my family approximately 20 years ago in the Swiss temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
At that time, in 1988, my wife and I lived in Asti, Italia. My wife, Giovanna, was expecting our first child and the closest temple was in Zollikofen, Switzerland. We had been to the temple previously only a few times and we enjoyed being there. A trip to the temple would require several hours, and as new parents we were extremely concerned with all the changes that would happen after the birth of our first son. We were thinking that probably we wouldn’t be able to go to the temple for several months, at least.
Therefore, in spite of Giovanna being seven months pregnant, we decided to accept the invitation of a member of our branch to go once more to the temple. Our relatives were not active members of the Church and this idea seemed to them a little crazy, but we felt that it was the right thing to do.
This video describe what happened and what I believe about Mormon temples. I think it is wortwhile to watch it.
Giuseppe Martinengo about the Prophet Joseph Smith
Filed under: Giuseppe Martinengo, Joseph Smith, Mormon Videos, Videos
Since I met the Mormon missionaries for the first time in my life, at the end of 1984, and I heard the story of the prophet Joseph Smith, I have always had a great admiration for what he did. I strongly believe that
Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fullness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).
This is a short video about what I think and believe about Joseph Smith
Giuseppe Martinengo: before becoming a Mormon
Filed under: Giuseppe Martinengo, Mormon Videos, Videos
Several months ago I created my first video with the story of when I met the Mormon missionaries and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many people have watched it and I have received some good feedback. I wish my English was better, but I know that my accent did not prevent good people from appreciating it (or detractor from criticizing it anyway…).
Last week I decided to record a similar video that contains the story of a few experiences I had before meeting the Mormon missionaries. Those experiences prepared me over the years to understand and accept the message of the Restoration.
At this point I can’t avoid making fun of myself and comparing it to Star Wars movies. The second trilogy tells the story of what happened before the first trilogy….
Similarly this second video tells what happened before the first video. But I am not Darth Vater…
I have the impression that in this second video my English is better, but natives will better judge if this is true.
Giuseppe Martinengo: before becoming a Mormon
A Mormon Missionary in the Missionary Training Center
Filed under: Luca Martinengo's mission, Martinengo's Family, Mormon Church, Mormon Doctrine, Mormon Missionaries
As I mentioned in a previous blog, my son Luca Martinengo received his mission call for February 6, 2008. However, since he received the mission call around November 10, I thought that it would be a waste to wait for three full months. He had already finished school (he got his associate degree from UVSC a few months before) and even his institute (religion) class would end in the beginning of December.
So, I could not see any benefit in having him stay at home for another 3 months. Moreover, to leave on February 6 means to come back also on February 6 or 5 (Mormon missions for males last 2 years), right in the middle of a school term. In short, that would be another waste of time.
Based on this reasoning, I decided to call the missionary department and ask if it was possible to anticipate his call to serve. I was told that they could anticipate his mission to December 26, but that the Stake president should call the missionary department and authorize the change. We all thought that December 26 was a great day to leave, right after Christmas.
However, when the Stake president called the missionary department he was told that they did not have any groups leaving on December 26 and that the only option would be December 19.
Well…we found another good reason to accept the new date. To leave on December 19 means that he will come home right before Christmas…a great timing!
In short, Luca left on December 19, almost 2 months before the date he was originally called. Many friends were surprised that the missionary department had accepted to make the change. Probably many members of the Church think that even the date of a mission call is 100% inspiration. In reality, most of the time, it is simply the first date available, after the date the missionary indicate he will be ready to go on a mission. So, once we told them that we could anticipate our date, they were happy to anticipate theirs.
Follow a few pictures of Luca when he went to the MTC.
Our legacy: a son on a Mormon Mission
Filed under: Luca Martinengo's mission, Mormon Missionaries
Tonight I found a very interesting page on the Internet. In fact, it was a page about me and this blog that was created by someone who is of Italian descent.
It is titled “Testimony of an Italian Mormon Convert”
He made this comment:
I really enjoy these immigrant stories where someone comes from somewhere else and makes something of himself/herself and what they will pass on to their offspring and the magic of the whole process. Reminds of my great-grandparents who left Italy with their kids on a ship and started a new life in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I am grateful for them because had they not done what they did, well, I simply wouldn’t be here or possibly even exist. The implication of that for me and my family would be astronomical.
I hope my kids realize it. In fact, this is a good opportunity to share a few pictures of my first son, Luca, who is serving a Mormon Mission in the Boston Massachusetts Mission. He has been in the Mission field for a little more than 6 months and from his letters we realize how much he has already improved his life.
We can feel from his letters that he is happy as never before. Since he went to the Missionary Training Center we noticed a change for better.
To join the Mormon Church in Italy, many years ago, was an important step not only in my life, but in the lives of my future kids (not yet born at that time). For this reason I always told my sons that it is their responsibility to go and find many other people like me, and baptize them, so that they will someway repay for the blessings they received in their lives, thanks to what two missionaries did many years ago in Italy.
This is him, when he received the mission call…
He is discovering where he will go…
Opening the booklet…
The Mission call….
The Mission call was saying that he would leave on February 6… but this is not what happened… infact, he left before that? Why, it is all his daddy’s fault!
PhD in Marriage, Family and Human Development
After almost 4 years I graduated in December 2007 with a PhD in Marriage, Family, and Human Development at Brigham Young University. However, since Commencement Exercises are held in April and August only, December graduates are invited to the April commencement following their graduation.
Therefore I went to the April commencement last week. During this ceremony, since I was the only one receiving a PhD, my name was read first and I had to walk across the stage to receive the diploma but only after being “hooded” by my graduate committee chair, Dr. Jeff Hill. It was an interesting experience.
A few pictures:
My wife and I
Last one, Dr. Jason Carroll, myself, Dr. Jeff Hill
My Testimony: why I do believe
Filed under: Giuseppe Martinengo, Martinengo's Family, Mormon Church, Mormon Missionaries
I have previously written about what I think prepared me to receive and understand the message of the Mormon missionaries. I will now focus on the time when I met them and received my testimony of the restored Gospel.
At the end of 1984, I was almost 20 years old. By that time I had dropped from school, since I had realized that the physics taught at the University would not help me find what I was looking for. Most of my friends and relatives couldn’t understand exactly what was going on with me and some of them tried in different ways to help me but without any concrete result. The problem was that I knew what I didn’t want, but I was not sure about what I wanted.
Nobody around me seemed to have the answers I was looking for. However, I had the feeling that I was in the right path. I had faith that by following the best principles I had learned and trying to improve my life by getting rid of what was not in harmony with my ideals I would finally find the answers.
On a certain day close to the end of the year 1984, I was in my home, reading a book, when I felt the sudden urge to go for a walk in downtown Asti, my home city.
While I was walking in Corso Dante (one the main streets of the city) I saw two young men, two missionaries, walking toward me. One of them later told me that he didn’t really want to talk with me, but I looked at them and they looked at me and we stopped and started to converse. I remember that they asked me what I believed about the Savior. I can’t remember what I answered them, but they left me with a pamphlet about the Mormons, and asked for my home address.
A few days later, the same missionaries rang at my doorbell. My mother answered, and since they asked for her husband, she said that he wasn’t there. The missionaries then left before I could talk with them. I wasn’t completely ready yet.
A few more days passed and I finally reached the right point. I can remember that I was laying down on my bed, tired of my apparently fruitless search. I offered a simple silent prayer, in which I basically said, “I have done all that I knew I should do, now I really need help since I don’t know what to do next”
As soon as I expressed my thoughts to God, I started feeling an incredible peace and I felt as if heaven was close to me. In that exact moment, the doorbell rang. This time I was alone at home. I went to answer at the door and the missionaries were there. When they entered the living room, and shook my hand, I knew that they had the answers I was looking for.
Later, I realized that what I was looking for was not just a set of doctrines or a nice church, but the feeling of the Spirit. When they entered my home, I felt that they brought with them that nice Spirit, even if I didn’t know what it was at that time.
I understand now that the Lord gave me several experiences in which I felt His Spirit. Those experiences were so sweet that I was always looking for that feeling, even if I couldn’t name it.
The missionaries’ teachings fit perfectly together with my understanding. They were answering my questions about where we come from, why we are here, and where we will go after this life.
As I have written elsewhere, when the missionaries showed me the filmstrip of the Prophet Joseph Smith‘s First Vision, it was difficult for me to contain my tears. I felt that the story of his search for truth was in some ways similar to my own. My search had lasted longer, while his had been probably more intense. Moreover, he had been chosen to have the glorious vision of the Father and the Son while I had to content myself with two missionaries. However, those two missionaries were like angels to me, bringing with them the answers to my deeply heartfelt questions.
However, in spite of all these feelings, I still didn’t have a solid testimony. It was the reading of the Book of Mormon that brought to me the confirmation of the truthfulness of all those teachings and experiences.
Early in our discussions, the missionaries mentioned the practice of fasting. They didn’t stress that point too much, but for some reason I began to read the Book of Mormon while fasting at the same time. My later experience in teaching families and individuals with other missionaries showed me that it is not easy to find someone who accepts the challenge to fast while reading the Book of Mormon. However, those experiences also convinced me that when people do it, and they are sincere in their search, it is almost impossible for them not to receive an answer. And, in fact, that happened with me.
In less than a week, I read the entire Book of Mormon. I would fast for 24 hours, then have a lunch, and then fast for another 24 hours. My mother really thought that I was behaving strangely. At some point in that process, I decided to kneel down and ask if those things I was learning were true. I did it, and, after my prayer, an incredible feeling of peace surrounded me, a feeling similar to the one I had just before the missionaries came to my home, but much stronger. Together with those feelings came the answers to my specific questions about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and of the Church. I received a confirmation by the Spirit of God that all that the missionaries were teaching was true. From that moment, to paraphrase the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, “I had a testimony; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither wanted I do it”.
I knew that the Church and the Book of Mormon were true and I was eager to learn all that was possible about the Church. However, my mother was not at all happy with my new “discovery” and, although the missionaries tried to teach her the day they challenged us to be baptized, it became clear that she was not interested like I was. Her opposition created some problems that led me eventually to leave my home.
However, I had finally found what I had been looking for after many years and this was what really counted. More than 20 years have passed since that day and I have had many experiences that reinforced that initial testimony.
So, why do I believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Simply because I know that it is true. The Spirit of the Lord testified it to me over and over again after that first experience. I don’t believe what I do because the Church is a wonderful organization, I don’t believe because I have friends, I don’t believe because the doctrine is clear, understandable, and sound, I don’t believe because someone told me so, but I believe because, in fact, I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.
After all we can say and do, each person will have to honestly search, ask, and receive an answer directly from God about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and of the Church. I searched, asked, and received my answer, and therefore I can honestly say that I know that these things are true.