THE SPAIN BARCELONA MISSION: FIFTY YEARS IN SPAIN!

Our Jubilee Year!

"Fifty years ago, on May 20, 1969, President Marion G. Romney met with 34 members of the church early in the morning at Casa de Campo, a park outside Madrid, to dedicate this beautiful country to the preaching of the gospel and the gathering of Israel. Six days later, President Richard G. Scott of the North Argentine Mission, sent four missionaries: Elders Clark B. Hinckley, Craig L. Ward, Robert J. Hernandez (now Haws), and Jose Luis Barco from that mission to Madrid. They held their first baptismal service on June 28.

Barcelona, Hospitalet and Zaragoza Zones

Elders Rodriguez and Melo

On October first of that year, a Saturday, eight missionaries arrived at Estació Franca in Barcelona at 8:30 in the morning. They had one day to find places to stay, and the next day held their first church services on the beach!

Archie singing at zone conference

Then, they began contacting and knocking on doors. Each companionship typically contacted 1000 people per week! On December 7^th, they saw their first baptism: of a Señora Valls, mother of a disabled son, and her brother Juan Valls, who were baptized in the Mediterranean.

Baleares Zone

Can you picture it? Fifty years later, we now have over 58,000 members of the church in Spain, 15 stakes and two districts, 183 wards and branches.

How did this happen? Through the power and authority of the Priesthood by devoted missionaries who gave their all. And the miracle continues with us.

Sister Galli, Elder Soelberg and President Galli

Elder Soelberg cooking pulpo

During this transfer we celebrated this 50^th anniversary as a mission. In the Barcelona area zone conferences we heard from former El Faro Mission President Clark Hinckley (one of those first missionaries from Argentina), and Sister Kathleen Hinckley. They were joined by new Sunday School General President Mark and Sister Anne Marie Pace, who also served as president and companion of El Faro. President Pace served his younger mission in Spain, as well.

President Clark Hinckley

President Mark Pace

Hermanas Cruz and Arnold

In each zone conference we heard from local pioneers who have lead the church in Spain, and in whose shoes we, the current missionaries stand! And we will recommit ourselves to this great work.

In biblical times, the Children of Israel celebrated a jubilee year after seven sets of seven years, or a Sabbath of Sabbaths. Therefore, each 50^th year was a jubilee. The idea was to acknowledge the Lord’s hand in their lives, and to renew themselves in His service." -Hermana Galli

Hermanas Galli, Graham and Lugo

Elder and Hermana Hetzel

Elders Wilde and Johns

In the opinion of Sister Kathleen Hinckley, the Barcelona Mission heritage of righteousness and obedience exceeds the excellence and obedience of most other missions. She said, "We must invite others to come unto Christ and through faith, repentance and baptism, endure to the end. Enduring is the endowment. There are people on the other side of the veil who want their work done. We invite people on both sides of the veil to have enduring joy. God loves us, he knows our trials, he knows what we need".
- Kathleen Hinckley

Hermanas McBride and Grunbichler

Elche, Valencia and Cartegena Zones

Former Mission President Clark Hinckley, said "The field is WHITE, not brown. Fields are brown when you plant. We are here to harvest not plant. There are 7 billion people in the world, and only 60,000 missionaries. The Lord sends missionaries where people are prepared. There are people in our area who are prepared to hear our message". Elder Hinckley indicated that he was serving as a missionary in Argentina when he wrote home near the end of his mission to say that he wasn’t ready to come home. On May 20, 1969 President Marion G. Romney dedicated Spain for the preaching of the gospel. On May 26, 1969 President Scott of the Argentina Mission was asked to select 4 missionaries to serve in Spain. He selected Clark Hinckley as one of them. Three of the missionaries that went had to extend their missions. There are now 58,000 members in Spain, more than any other country in Europe! President Hinckley, ended his talk by saying that "we need to be answers to
people's prayers, here and on the other side of the veil". -Clark Hinckley

Paella!

The Viñas, Gallis and Paces

Elder Bishop, current and former Barcelona missionary

Hermanas DeLange, Dimon and Larsen

"Alma 32:27 is about planting seeds, the word. The word needs to be planted in our hearts. Jesus Christ is the word. We are planting Him in our hearts by working and loving people. We blot out His name through our transgressions, repentance repairs it. We help friends by planting seeds in their hearts. Our love shows them the Savior´s love. We need to be exactly obedient, which brings miracles and it helps to reinforce His name in our hearts". Sister Pace never met a person who went inactive who was reading the Book of Momon
everyday.

If we lose the path, then we have lost a generation of members. Joseph Smith went to many churches, Joseph felt they had pretended feelings, and his own family was divided. There was a war of words between religions. Joseph read the bible and pondered James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom...” He reflected on it again and again (a pattern for us to receive revelation). He lacked wisdom, so he picked out a private place to pray. He went to church, pondered, prayed in private, then opposition came. The adversary did not want him to pray. At that moment of alarm,´he saw a pillar of light and in that light he saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all
description´". -Anne Marie Pace