“Oh the Rains of Holland”, Part 3
Photo Essay: Temple Dedication in The Hague
Text: Maurine Jensen Proctor
Photos: Scot Facer Proctor

Note: Click on any images to enlarge

A Missionary Returns

Jay Garlick served in the Netherlands on a mission soon after World War II, and his pilgrimage to the temple dedication was not only for himself. He came for his long-deceased former mission presidents, President John P. Lillywhite and President Cornelius Zappey. “These great men prayed for the gospel to be established in Holland,” and I wanted them to be here today through me as one of their missionaries.”

President Lillywhite had come back three times to the area as a mission president and his wife had finally died there, and President Zappey had the heavy job of becoming mission president in February of 1946, just nine months after the end of a shattering world war when the war-scarred Dutch Saints made him do much praying and weeping. They had been occupied for five bitter years by Nazi troops, had seen their dikes hold back the sea intentionally wrecked, farms destroyed, half the forests destroyed, and 40% of the livestock destroyed. More than 200,000 Dutch people had died, those who were left were hungry, and bitterness had run deep among them. Dutch Latter-day Saints had not been immune.

President Zappey had wanted to nourish not only the bodies of the Saints, but to help heal their scarred souls as well, that they might overcome their hate. Then a project developed where the Dutch Saints grew seed potatoes obtained from their government, and the results were a bumper crop. The Dutch Saints expected the potatoes produced by their hard work would support local members, but President Zappey had a longer vision. News from the German homefront told of tragic conditions, of far worse starvation than the Dutch were experiencing, so he called a mission conference, and said, “Some of the most bitter enemies you people have encountered as a result of this war are the German people. We know what intense feelings of dislike you have for them. But those people are much worse off than you, and we are asking you to send your entire potato harvest to the German saints. Will you do it? Do you want our own saints to die of hunger over there?” They voted for the project.

“I’m here for President Zappey today,” said Jay Garlick. With his wife, they came two months early to see what they could do to help. Nobody called them on this mission. It was something they just felt to do. In the time leading up to the temple dedication, they had placed 20 copies of the Book of Mormon in Dutch libraries and passed out scores of pass-along cards.

“Fifteen years ago I dreamed we would have a temple here,” said Jay. “I am still amazed it’s happened.”

Members Rejoice

It cannot be long, now, before the Prophet arrives, but the wait has not seemed long. Members in line have greeted each other with laughter and hugs. They have been teaching their children what a temple means.

Charles van den Herik, a project coordinator of the temple recounts that those who worked on the temple had been thrilled to have a special tour of the completed building with their wives. They had said, “We wanted our wives to know about the feeling we had when we worked here.

Paul Uyleman says that now with the temple here, “No one can ignore anymore that this is a worldwide church, a real church. I’m a convert of 22 years, and it changed my whole life. We were the only members in our village. We talked to the missionaries when they were riding by on their bikes.”

Janneke Baas said, “I brought my family through the open house, and now they understand why I am a member. Now, at least they know that I am a normal person with a religion. They said they felt a peace and a special atmosphere in the building.

“Since stories about the Church have appeared in all the newspapers, radio stations and television shows, people around me who used to think it was odd that I went to the temple, now understand that it is really important. Now people are interested, whom I never thought would be.

“To think I can go to work and to the temple on the same day! I am going to do two sessions every Thursday night.”

Click here for Part 4 of “Oh the Rains of Holland” and watch as the Prophet arrives.

 

Come every day to Meridian so that you too can follow the Prophet through Europe. And please…spread the word about Meridian to your friends and family around the world.