We checked out of our Airbnb and went to the nearest German Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We enjoyed church and were happy that there was a translator at church so we could listen to the meeting in English over the headsets. It was fast and testimony meeting, which is when the pulpit is opened up to the congregation to bear what they know is true to all those listening. One member that came up to the pulpit brought a translator with them. The member speaking was talking in Spanish which was then translated over the pulpit into German, which was then translated for us in our headsets into English. It is such an amazing world we live in and I am so grateful for technology. The Dahlin's also came to church with us and Aaron speaks Spanish, so he was all smiles when we heard the member speaking.
We left church and started our long drive back home. When we were looking on a map, we noticed that we would be driving right by Wittenberg, which is where the All Saints' Church is located that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses. The Dahlin's and Kevin were very excited to see the church, so we put it into our GPS and headed off for Wittenberg.
It was raining pretty heavily by the time we got to Wittenberg. The kids were complaining a bit about having to come out of the car and into the rain. Kevin took the time to talk to them about the significance of this particular church and gave them a little history lesson on Martin Luther. We talked to the kids about the Reformation and how Martin Luther's act started the ball rolling to make it possible to have the Bible available to more then just leaders of churches and to the common people. We found the doors that Martin Luther nailed his These on. It's not the original doors anymore, they now have huge iron doors that have the Theses engraved on the entire door. The story goes that on October 31, 1517, on the eve of All Saints' Day, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the All Saints' Church. He also sent a letter to the Archbishop Albert of Mainz on that same day.
After admiring the doors, we decided to go into the church and the museum within the church. I think the kids just wanted to get out of the rain, but at least they didn't complain about going in the church. When you walk in, you walk straight into a gift shop. After the gift shop, to the left is a museum and the town's historical archives. We were able to see copies of Martin Luther's Theses and see more details about everything that he wrote. There were also paintings and other artifacts to see.
If you turn right after the gift shop and go down a set of stairs, you find yourself in the Chappel of the church. There were some beautiful stain glass windows as well as a huge alter in the front. There were tombs all around the church and even the tomb of Martin Luther himself. It was pretty cool seeing the place where the reformation began. It's great men, like Martin Luther, who helped to change the world. His one small act, of nailing a paper on a church, changed the religious world as he knew it forever. It's a testimony that even the smallest acts can make a huge difference. So dare to stand for what you know is right and dare to make a small ripple in an ocean of water and watch the ripple grow.
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