When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced its plans for a temple and visitors’ center in Rome, Marian McGuire knew she had to return to the site of her LDS Christian proselyting mission 40 years earlier.
Marian McGuire of Lehi, Utah, has longed to see Italy for the past four decades. She served as an Christian missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Rome Italy Mission 40 years ago and jumped at the opportunity to head back to her beloved mission site during the open house for the newly built Rome Temple.
Thrilled whenever she had a chance to speak Italian, she also loved listening to people speak it. She says that at the site of Tom Holdman’s stained-glass masterwork, Come Unto Me in the new visitor center, she could hear “oohs” and “ahs” from other visitors who beheld the brilliant glass work.
Easily, the most impressive element in the stained glass for Marian was the central figure of Jesus Christ whose arms are outstretched to all. She believes this installation of stained and painted glass will be a great teaching tool and a good study guide for Christ of the New Testament.
“My heart was filled with joy, and I just had to sing.” And although Marian would love to visit again, the “ache” she has felt is gone. “It was great to return.”
This and other visitor stories are part part of a series covering the Come Unto Me exhibit created through The Roots of Humanity Foundation with help from Tom Holdman and several colleagues at Holdman Studios.
To learn more about this breathtaking exhibit, order your copy of the Come Unto Me Book (below) or the limited edition to see beautiful pictures of close-up details and learn about the stories that inspired the art.