An Historic Week in Rome!

New Stake in Rome

Elder Ballard,  Elder Maynes, & Elder DeFeo with Rome East and
West Stake Presidencies in front of Rome Temple Construction

An important day for the saints in Rome happened with the visit of Elder Russell M. Ballard of the 12 Apostles and Elder Richard Maynes of the Seventy.   They were here to create the new Rome West Stake.  We now have 2 Stakes in Rome, which include areas like Naples to the south and Sardinia to the west. 

Early Sunday morning we participated in a missionaries-only meeting with Elders Ballard and Maynes and they had a quick handshake with each of us.   

Elder Ballard Shaking Hands

Elder Ballard with 70+ missionaries

Then at 10:00 AM, we, along with over 1,000 Italian Saints, more than we have ever seen in one location and many investigators, witnessed an historic realignment of the Rome Stake.  Both Rome Stake Presidents are in their early 30’s. 

Sisters Caramia & Marquis

At the conference, we had fun meeting some of the missionaries that we had known before. One in particular was Sister Caramia who we worked with in Rome 2. She was transferred to Sardinia and is training a new missionary, Sister Marquis, who happens to be friends with my niece Eryn Wilkes in Lindon, Utah.  We also met Sister Caramia's parents from Rimini!