Dresden Gemeinde

The Dresden ward building is a truly unique building. It is also a stake center so it is quite large. Google maps lists it as a temple.

We like that. One of the great features on the grounds of this building is the bronze larger-than-life statue of Karl G. Maeser, who was the first principle of Brigham Young Academy, later known as BYU. He was born in 1828 in Meissen, a small town just up the road from Dresden, and hebecame the first Branch President of the Dresden Branch in about 1855 or 1860. He was instrumental in building up the church in Eastern Germany. Years later he would heed the prophet's call and move to Utah. This statue was unveiled in 2001 by President Thomas S. Monson. There is a plaque on the wall of Brother Maeser's home in Meissen, where he was born. We have that tour still to make. The statue is a replica of the one on the BYU campus. The building sits on Tiergarten Strasse which is the south end of a very large park called Grosse Garten. It is also very famous and an old palace sits in the center of it. Around the south end of the park are many very large homes which were the residences of the very wealthy. They are beautiful still as they have been kept up, but are used for apartments or businesses. The church picked the best part of the city to build the chapel. We don't as yet know the history behind that. But it was in the days of communist control. So it is really a miracle that it was even built in the first place. Many amazing stories about that, we hear. This is the tree that is just outside our door. The Landlord decorated it. These are plastic colorful eggs. It is a tradition in Germany and maybe Millie or John know more about it. We just think they are so pretty and fun. They represent spring and new life, from what our landlord told us. These can be seen everywhere during the Easter time.