The Extra Mile

Throughout the years, I have known countless individuals who have been particularly faithful and obedient.
I have been blessed and inspired by them.
May I share with you an account of two such individuals.

Walter Krause was a steadfast member of the Church who, with his family, lived in what became known as East Germany following the Second World War.
Despite the hardships he faced because of the lack of freedom in that area of the world at the time, Brother Krause was a man who loved and served the Lord.
He faithfully and conscientiously fulfilled each assignment given to him.

The other man, Johann Denndorfer, a native of Hungary, was converted to the Church in Germany and was baptized there in 1911 at the age of 17.
Not too long afterward he returned to Hungary.
Following the Second World War, he found himself virtually a prisoner in his native land, in the city of Debrecen.
Freedom had also been taken from the people of Hungary.

Brother Walter Krause, who did not know Brother Denndorfer, received the assignment to be his home teacher and t visit him on a regular basis.
Brother Krause called his home teaching companion and said to him, "We have received an assignment to visit Brother Johann Denndorfer.
Would you be available to go with me this week to see him and give him a gospel message?"
And then he added, "Brother Denndorfer lives in Hungary."

His startled companion asked, "When will we leave?"

"Tomorrow," came the reply from Brother Krause.

"When will we return home?" asked the companion.

Brother Krause responded, "Oh, in about a week--if we get back."

Away the two home teaching companions went to visit Brother Denndorfer, traveling by train and bus from the northeastern area of Germany to Debrecen, Hungary--a substantial journey.
Brother Denndorfer had not had home teachers since before the war.
Now, when he saw these servants of the Lord, he was overwhelmed with gratitude that they had come.
At first he declined to shake hands with them.
Rather, he went to his bedroom and took from a small cabinet a box containing his tithing that he had saved for years.
He presented the tithing to his home teachers and said, "Now I am current with the Lord.
Now I feel worthy to shake the hands of the servants of the Lord!"
Brother Krause told me later that he had been touched beyond words to think that this faithful brother, who had no contact with the Church for many years, had obediently and consistently taken from his meager earnings 10 percent with which to pay his tithing.
He had saved it not knowing when or if he might have the privilege of paying it.

Brother Walter Krause passed away nine years ago at the age of 94.
He served faithfully and obediently throughout his life and was an inspiration to me and to all who knew him. When asked to fulfill assignments, he never questioned, he never murmured, and he never made excuses.

-Thomas S. Monson -Obedience Brings Blessings -April 2013 General Conference

Until you next see these words
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi