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When he was about months member of the Church, I saw this story on video, back in 1990. Right in the October 1989 Conference, President Ezra T. Benson gave an inspiring message about "Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon." I think that message and the story of this brother, helped many young people to get ready to go to Mission. What good is it to have been part of prophecy and the desire of the humble brother Vincenzo, to spread the knowledge of the prophets that God had on this continent! -----------------------------------------------
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Summary.
An Italian Protestant minister in early 1900, he left his ministry for a book with no name. Twenty years later, he discovers that it was the Book of Mormon.
The story tells the brother Francesca gets its conversion dramatically. This is an article dated May 1968 pages 4-7 Improvement Era, the Deseret News Church, 28 February 1951, page 12-13; and a letter that Brother to Brother Francesca wrote Fairbanks. The letter is currently in the archives of the Church, which is in English and tells of his struggle for forty years to join the Church.
(Translation by the Administrator of this blog, subject to correction) -------------------------------------
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By: Vincenzo di Francesca (1888 - 1966), extracted from Ensign, January 1988
remember the events of my life when on a cold morning in New York City in February 1910, reflecting on my feelings and how God had cared for my existence. The caretaker of the Italian Chapel handed me a note to me from the pastor. He was sick in bed and wanted to introduce me to his house to try to discuss matters of importance concerning the parish.
The fury of the wind ruffled the pages, and hastily read names such as Alma, Mosiah, Mormon, Moroni, Isaiah, Lamanites, except for Isaiah, all were names I had never heard before. I wrapped the book in a newspaper that was bought by and bore into the pastor's house.
After a few words with the pastor, took note of what you should do for him. In return I asked who would be the people with these strange names. And who would that Isaiah? Is it the one in the Bible or any other Isaiah?
At home, I sat facing the window, eager to know more about this book in print. Fumbled the torn pages and read the words of Isaiah, was convinced it was a religious book talking about things to come. But the mystery was the name of the church who taught that doctrine, because the cover and the front had been removed. The testimony of the witnesses gave me confidence that this was a real book.
So, I bought alcohol and cotton, twenty cents at the pharmacy in the neighborhood and began to clean the pages. I spent several hours reading the other pages, which reported me and left me spellbound knowledge about the origin of this fresh revelation, where they have come. I read and reread, twice and twice again, and found that the book was a fifth gospel of the Redeemer.
At the end of day, closed the door of my room, I knelt with the book in my hands, and read the tenth chapter of Moroni. I prayed to God, the Eternal Father in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, to know if the book was from God, if it was good and true, and if you should mix up their words with the words of the four gospels in my preaching.
I felt my body get cold as the sea wind. Then my heart started beating, and I had a feeling of happiness, I found something precious and extraordinary, bore the consolation for my soul and left me with a joy that human language can not find expressions to describe. Had received the assurance that God had answered my prayer and that the book was of maximum benefit for me and for those who read his words.
kept my services in the parish, but my message was tinged with the new words of the book. Members of my congregation were so interested that were dissatisfied with the sermons of my colleagues. Members began to leave the chapel during his sermons and they were when I occupied the pulpit, my colleagues were angry with me.
The beginning of contention began at Christmas 1910. In my sermon in the afternoon, told the story of the birth and mission of Jesus Christ In my new book. When finished, some of my colleagues publicly contradicted everything he had said. I complained and they gave me the Censorship Committee for disciplinary action.
In 1914 I was again to the council. In a warm tone, suggesting that his words could after hearing caused me, which I regret, and they all loved me. However, I was told that obedience was to guard and should burn the book.
could not deny the words of the book or burn, doing so might offend God. I said miraba hacia adelante con alegría, el tiempo cuando la iglesia al cual el libro pertenecía sería dada a conocer para mí y pertenecer a ella. " ¡Basta! ¡Basta!" gritó el principal del concejo. Él entonces leyó la decisión. Tres semanas más tarde: Era despojado de mi posición como pastor de la iglesia y de cada derecho y cada privilegio que previamente había disfrutado.
En noviembre de 1914, fuí llamado al ejército italiano y entrar en acción en Francia. Hice amistad con algunos hombres en mi compañía y les conté la historia de la gente de Ammon y de cómo se habían rehusado a derramar la sangre de sus hermanos, enterrando sus armas en vez de ser culpables of these great crimes. The chaplain he reported to Colonel, and the next day I was escorted to the office of Colonel. He asked me to tell the story. Then I asked how he acquired the book. As punishment I received a ration of ten days on bread and water, and ordered not to talk more about the book.
After the war, returned to New York where I met an old friend, a pastor from my former church. He spoke to me with the council, and was finally accepted as a common member. As an experiment, it was agreed that should accompany one of the pastors on a mission to New Zealand and Australia.
In Australia, we find some Italian immigrants who inquired about the errors in some translations of the Bible. No responses were filled with my partner. When I asked about that again told the story of Christ's appearance in America. When asked where she learned such lessons, I counted on the book he had found. The story was bitter sweet for them but for my colleague. He reported to the council, and again I was separated from the church.
returned to Italy shortly afterwards. Then, in May 1930, seeking in a French dictionary on any information, I suddenly saw the word "Mormon." I read the words carefully and found that a Mormon Church was established in 1830 and that the church ran a college in Provo. I wrote to the Chancellor, asking for information about the book and its pages missing. In about two weeks I received the answer and that my letter had been sent to the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On June 16, 1930, President Heber J Grant answered my letter and sent me a copy of the Book of Mormon in Italian. He said he would also request that the Elder John. Widtsoe, president of the European Mission, whose headquarters was in Liverpool to visit me. A few days later, Elder Widtsoe wrote me, sending me a booklet on the history of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the gold leaf, and the translation of the Book of Mormon. Finally, I had more of the history of the book he had found dead on top of a barrel of ashes.
On June 5, 1932, Elder Widtsoe came to Naples to be baptized, but a revolution between the fascists and the fascists had broken out in Sicily, Palermo police refused to let me go to the island. One year later, Elder Widtsoe preguntósi I could translate the pamphlet on Joseph Smith into Italian and published 1,000 copies. I took my translation to a printer, Joseph Gussie, who brought the material to a Catholic bishop. The bishop ordered the printer to destroy the material. Sue the printer, but all I got was a court order for I am brought back the original prospectus.
When Elder Widtsoe was released as mission president in 1934, to correspond with the Elder Joseph. F. Merrill, who replaced him. He took action to send the "Star Mileraria", which received up to 1940 and quedebido World War II, stopped the subscription.
In January 1937, Major R. Lyman, successor to President Merrill, wrote that he and Elder B. Hugh would be in Rome some day. The might find there and to be baptized. However, the letter delayed by war conditions and not received on time.
From 1940 to 1949, was isolated from all news of the Church, but remained as a faithful follower and preached the gospel of the fullness of time. I made copies of the work he did, and several chapters translated into Italian and sent to multiple addresses with a greeting, "Good morning. A pause this morning, the Lord speaks."
On February 13, 1949, I received a letter from Elder Widtsoe from Salt Lake City, answering the October 3, 1950, explaining that he had been in Norway. I sent a long letter in reply which asked him to help me to be baptized, because I felt that I had tested myself to be a faithful son and servant of God, observing the laws and commandments of his kingdom . Elder Widtsoe asked President Samuel E. Mission Bringhurst Austria and Switzerland if he could go to Sicily to be baptized.
On January 18, 1951, President Bringhurst arrived on the island and I was baptized in Imerese. Apparently, this was the first baptism performed in Sicily.
When I went in the water, said, " I prayed daily for many years for this moment. " When the President Bringhurst and his wife were going to return to his mission, shook his hand fondly and said, "My dear brother and dear sister Bringhurst, you can just imagine how sweet were his words to me. I say this with a sense of affection and appreciation than ever before experienced, knowing that you have led me through the door that will eventually bring me back to my Heavenly Father, if I am faithful ".
On April 28, 1956, I entered the Temple in Bern and received my endowments. Finally, I can be in the presence of my Heavenly Father! I felt that the promise of God was more than satisfied that the day had come true when the book would no longer be a mystery to me and could enjoy the effects of my faith.
Francesca's brother died on November 18, 1966 in Deed Gratten (Palermo), Italy. Before his death, he could do the work of the Temple for many of their ancestors.
Video: HERE
English Original Source: Mission page
Italy
Other interesting references:
1 .- Biography of Vincenzo Di Francesca (English) - Bella Zion Biographies
2 .- The Saga of the Di Francesca Story - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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