From Temple Peace to Rome’s Pickpockets: A Journey of Tender Mercies!

This journey has very few pictures, but a lot of memories and many many tender mercies! We had wanted to take a quick trip to visit the new Rome temple for a while now. We decided that we would fly over on Valentines weekend. If you book ahead it is about €35 to fly over. If you book the night before, like we did ,it costs €100. (both round trip)

Our trip to Rome was a whirlwind of "tender mercies" and unexpected trials. It wasn't a tragedy, but it was certainly a learning experience!

Arrival

We were blessed to stay in the Rome Temple housing—a total miracle since it’s usually reserved for those within the temple district. The grounds were breathtaking, and the hospitality was unmatched. After touring the Visitors’ Center and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, we felt ready to take on the city.

The City Chaos

Rome has changed since I was 18! What used to be open walks into the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain are now "cow chutes" of crowds and selfie sticks. After a long, noisy trek through the City, including Trevi fountain, the Sistine Chapel, and the Spanish Steps, we were exhausted and ready to head back to the temple.

Dave suggested a taxi, but I thought it better to go on the train to save €40. I was wrong. As we squeezed onto a crowded subway car, a group of kids surrounded us. In the standing-room-only shuffle, my phone was swiped from a snapped pocket on my thigh, and Dave’s was lifted from his front pocket.

The Lord’s Tender Mercies

That’s when the Tender Mercies began:

Train employees helped us get where we needed to go.
A couple from Ireland walked us to the Apple Store to secure our accounts.
The Apple store freely helped us shut down a phone and lent phones to call long distance.
Temple mission couples lent us computers, fed us, and eventually drove us to the airport.
The mission office here and local young adults stepped in to help—today, one even gave us an old iPhone to use!

We were robbed of our phones, but we were overwhelmed by feeling Heavenly Father’s awareness and love through the kindness of strangers and the support of our missionary family.

D and C 68:6 “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.”

Peace in the Temple

We spent the next day immersed in the temple for hours, basking in the Spirit after our whirlwind experience in Rome. It was an immense tender mercy to perform endowments, initiatories, and sealings while reflecting on the blessings in our lives. We realized that our stolen phones couldn't touch the eternal blessings we hold dear.

This experience continues to be a hurdle, but I am so thankful that when we face trials, Heavenly Father consistently pours out His mercy upon us.

So many other details and so hard to write them all in a cohesive thought. That is becasue there were so many angels and blessings along the way. So many Tender Mercies!