CONVERSION OF A CATHOLIC BISHOP

During World War II Helmut Maas studied for and became, Doctor of Theology, and was appointed as a Priest in a Roman Catholic

Church in Poland. He soon became a close friend with the Bishop who was his supervisor. By and by his supervisor was promoted to

Archbishop, and helped the Priest (whom he highly regarded) take his place as Bishop.

When the war ended The Soviet Union, which occupied Prussia, Poland, and East Germany, announce that Prussia and the eastern

part of Poland were Soviet properties, but in exchange for their taking eastern Poland they would give Poland part of the Soviet

occupied area of Germany. Many people in areas being annexed, fearful of living under Soviet Rule, walked away from their homes

and belongings, taking only what they could carry or could. put in a handcart or a wagon (if they were fortunate enough to have a

cart or wagon). They had to go to seek for new homes in countries already short of shelter do to the war. Many Polish people went

into the newly acquired area of Soviet occupied East Germany -- a ush land. In order to service their spiritual needs in the new

western. area of Poland and East Germany, the Catholic Church assigned Polish speaking Priests to go there.

The way the Lord accomplishes "His purposes" is marvlous in our eyes. His perfect knowledge of all things and His Omnipotent

power makes it simple for Him to do His work. One day Doctor Maas was walking down a street in Dresden (just west of Poland~s newly

designated western border) when he had an urgent need for a bath-room. He knew the character of the neighborhood and knew it would

be inappropriate for a servant of God to be seen entering or leaving any of the houses along that side of the street. But

across the street was the chapel of the Mormon Church; this was one of the chapels built before the war and had miraculously been

preserved. He decided it would look better for him to be coming out of that chapel than one of the other places. Entering the LDS

Chapel he was received kindly. When ready to leave he paused to thank the man who had helped him, and the brother replied, "It~s

a great pleasure to be of service. Please feel free to stop any time. Before you go, I have some books here I would like to give

you -- if you will read them?" The Bishop answered, "Of course I~l read them!" So he tucked them in his tunic and departed.

Arriving back at his apartment he withdrew the four books he had covenanted to read. They were titled, Das Buch Mormon (the

book of Mormon), Die Lehre und Bundnisse und Kostliche Perle (Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price), Jesus der Christ

(Jesus the Christ), and Em Wunderbar and Seldsames Werk (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder). He read the books as promised and

came to the shocking and distressing realization that he was not

part of the Lord~s Church. So he retired as Bishop.

When someone finishes his or her life~s work in East Germany

they are free to leave the country if desired. Why should the

East German government pay a pension to anyone who would wish to

leave? Of course, the pension does not go with them.

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Because their children and grand children can not visit them

until after they also retire -- and they can not return to visit

with them, very few choose to leave. Though the West German

government provides a small pension for any one wishing to leave

East Germany, there are few takers. But Dr. Maas had no children

and his pension was from the Catholic Church, therefore he chose

to leave and settled in Kaiserslautern.

Kaiserslautern may be the only city in Europe where there is

an LDS chapel on main street, in the center of the city. Dr. Maas

quickly recognized it and presented himself there the next Sunday

morning at the time posted. However, he could not talk to anyone,

they were all speaking some foreign language, English! Kaiser-

slaughtern is nestled in the forest near several US army bases,

where many LDS service men had been assigned. These service men

had built the chapel, and were the first to use it on Sunday

Mornings.

Doctor Maas left disappointed, and returned to his appartment.

Howbeit, one day two young lady missionaries came to his door.

When he opened the door one was holding up a copy of Das Buch

Mormon and asked in German, "Have you ever seen this book?" To

which he replied, "Please come in." The young ladies taught him

the missionary lessons, and he agreed to baptism. But one of them

noticed a picture of a man in ministerial cloth and asked who it

was, "That is I. You see I am a retired Bishop of the Catholic

Church." The missionaries were thunder struck. Would the LDS

Church allow a retired Catholic Bishop to be baptized? What

persecution would befall him if he did it? and will it really

happen? But their observation was that the German people were not

very religiously inclined, as few would listen to their message.

Some missionaries completed their whole mission without one soul

listening to their story of a restoration and accepting baptism.

When the problem was presented to the Mission President he

asked, "Does he believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?" "Yes." "Does

he believe Joseph Smith to be a Prophet of God?" "Yes." Does he

believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God?. "Yes". "Is he

committed to keep the Lord~s commandments, including the payment

of tiths, and to help build the Kingdom?. "Yes." "Are their

unforgivable transgressions in his life that would keep him out

of the Church?" The missionaries did not think so. "You can not

withhold baptism from a faithful and obedient follower of Christ,

just because he has been a Catholic Bishop." So, Doctor Maas was

baptized ; the year was 1976.

In West Germany a person~s religious affiliation is a matter

of state record, because the government collects certain church

revenues by payroll deduction which is called "Church Tax." The

LDS Church is one of four churches recognized by the West German

government. So tithing could be deducted if the church desired.

Thus, when Dr. Maas was baptized he went to city hall and changed

his registration from Catholic to LDS. When the Catholic Church

was notified that Dr. Maas had removed his name from the Catholic

rolls they cancelled his pension.

2

Doctor Maas then had to request "Old age pension", as a refuge

from East Germany. However, the old age pension was nothing like

the pension of a retired Catholic Bishop -- but, About two years

later Dr. Maas received a personal letter from the new Pope, John

Paul II, which read;

"Dear Dr. Maas:

I understand your pension has been terminated because you left

the church. I would like to invite you to Rome as a guest of the

church to discuss the possibility of restoring your pension."

Dr. Maas replied that he would be pleased to visit the pope.

The Vatican made all necessary arrangements; including a one-half

hour apointment at 1 PM, on a certain day, for the old friends to

meet. Remember, Pope John Paul II, is the first non Italian Pope

since 1523. He was Polish. In fact he had been the Bishop and

later Archbishop who had made Dr. Maas a Bishop in Poland.

The half-hour passed like lightening and at 1:30 the Pope said

to his secretary, "Reschedule my next appointment!" for he was

hearing about Joseph Smith, Jr., The Book of Mormon, and the

Restoration from his old friend, Dr. Maas. Again at 2 O'Clock,

2:30, 3 0 Clock, 3:30, 4 O'Clock and 4:30 he told his secretary

to reschedule his next appointment! He discussed the Restoration

with Dr. Maas until 5 O'Clock when he said, "I've got to go now;

I cannot cancel my next appointment. What 5 it going to be? Are

we going to restore your pension?" To which Dr. Maas replied,

"No, I now hold the Priesthood of God and you don't. If I were to

leave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, I'd loose

everything that is really important. But before I go I've some

books I would like to give you. If I give them to you will you

read them?" The Pope said that he would, So Dr. Maas gave him

The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great

Price, Jesus The Christ, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, and left.

In ensuing years The LDS Church has sent Dr. Maas to Rome on a

number of occasions, to take care of matters with the Pope. On

his last visit, in 1986, John Paul II promised Dr. Maas that he'd

send out a directive to all dioceses to cooperate with the LDS in

microfilming birth, marriage, and death records of the Catholic

Parishes. Dr. Maas said that the Pope invited him to dinner with

him that evening, and it was a gala affair with many people. The

Pope seated his old friend next to himself and when seated lifted

a glass of vodka, set in front of him and said, "Dr. Maas, we are

all having a glass of vodka tonight, but you are a Mormon now, so

you can't have any."

Dr. Maas turned to David Horn at the close of the above

iterview and said, "Of course, I didn't want any vodka anyway."

(Story from Doctor, Professor Helmut Maas;

born 25 August 1918, in Poland. Interview

conducted by David H. Home, Ph. D. BYU. In

West Germany --- July 1987.)

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