Dear Family and Friends,
L'Aquila is a beautiful city in the Abruzzo region. It is also a famous university center and has become very famous for the earthquake that recently destroyed many parts of the city.
It was 2009–April 6–when the magnitude-6.3 tremor struck at 3:32 AM local time, extensively damaging the 13th-century city of L’Aquila, located only about 60 miles (100 km) northeast of Rome. The earthquake resulted from normal faulting on the northwest-southeast-trending Paganica Fault. It and several neighbouring faults are related to extensional tectonic forces associated with the opening of the Tyrrhenian Basin to the west. For more than three months after the main earthquake, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, using a portable network of seismometers, continued to detect thousands of aftershocks. The aftershocks from the country’s worst earthquake in 30 years rippled through central Italy, fraying both public and political nerves. People were so afraid that those aftershocks were indicative of another big quake!! In all, more than 300 people died, and an estimated 60,000 were left homeless.
Twenty of the 309 victims were children. In addition, around 40,000 people were made homeless. The European Union estimated the total damage caused by the earthquake was US$16 billion. L'Aquila's historic buildings were severely damaged, resulting in most inhabitants abandoning their homes and the city. The timing of the quake—being the wee hours of the morning—prevented thousands of more injuries and even deaths—as these buildings would have been overflowing with people who either worked there and/or came to do government tasks there.
We were visiting with the Diodato family, who are members of the Church and live in L’Aquila. In fact, they are one of the reasons we went to visit that Sunday. Fratello Bruno Diodato is the Branch President of this little Branch in L’Aquila. I had first met them in the Temple quite soon after we arrived and began serving in the Temple. It was a day in December 2022 when I saw Fratello and Sorella Diodato waiting to visit a Member of the Temple Presidency—it may have even been President Toronto himself. Both of them were so excited for their son, Marco, who was with them, to be called as a Temple worker—a special temple worker. You see, Marco has a form of autism and will not be able to serve a regular mission. But with his parents help, he can be a Church Service Missionary. And so he comes to the Temple every 2-3 weeks (usually with his father) and they serve for 1-3 days doing those things that Anziano Marco Diodato is capable of doing. I wish you could see them! They are so happy for him to have this opportunity to serve. Talk about a sacrifice of time and effort—and yet there is not an ounce of self-pity or complaint in the way they have embraced this way of service opportunity for him. What makes this story even sweeter, to me, is that the name, Diodato, means “God given”. Anziano Marco Diodato is a “gift” his mother said to me on that Sunday we visited L’Aquila and “we want him to have as many opportunities to experience life, friendship, service and many other things that he can while he is able”—as she reaches up to give him a little smooch on the cheek. Which he’s not crazy about, btw.
So we made our way to this city of roughly 70,000 and we’re poised to be on time for Sacrament Meeting when we parked our car and began looking for “the building”. Maps had gotten us there—but COULD NOT get us there—if you know what I mean. We walked in every direction possible, asked any who would stop and listen to our queries. Finally, we found it and they waited for us to come in so they could begin Sunday School ( we had missed all of Sacrament Mtg “looking”). There were 11 of us there—that including the teacher and the 2 Anziano assigned to that area and Anziano Diodato who serves with them on Sundays and other special times when he can be of help. The class was beautiful, one of the Elders translated for me and it was a special time. Then after, Sorella Diodato came back into the room to share some snacks and visit with us. Fratello Diodato asked if we’d like to partake of the Sacrament and authorized the 2 Full Time Elders to bless and pass it to us. What a spiritual experience that was!! That was the very thing I had felt the most sad about —not finding the building in time to receive the sacrament—and then we did!! After, the Diodato’s knew of our interest in the earthquake and offered to guide us up to the City Center and walk around. It was a beautiful spring day and so lovely out. They showed us the building where the Government records were kept. It had suffered terrible damage.
And this is where I want Ron to explain the significance to the Church and the aftermath of this Quake.
Several months after this quake (in 2009) I had a conversation with Clair Davis, a good friend from Clifton Idaho. He had served in the Salt Lake City, Headquarters Mission, at the time or shortly after the quake. He said he believed that this earthquake was the reason, or, a major reason, for the Italian government to reach an agreement with the Church, for Italy’s vital records to be digitized, preserved, indexed and made available throughout the world.
I wanted to learn the details but could not find anyone who could substantiate or refute this.
Shortly after we began our mission here in Italy, I was introduced to Bruno Diodato and his son, Elder Marco Diodato.
As Carol has already mentioned, Bruno is the President of the L’Aquila Branch, and Elder Marco is a Service Missionary from L’Aquila. Marco’s mission includes service every 2-3 weeks in the Rome Italy Temple. Needless to say, I was excited to talk with them.
Before they left, I asked President Diodato about the earthquake and how it might have contributed to Italian vital records being available. He didn’t know the details about the Church’s agreement with Italy, but did confirm that the archive in which the records were kept was almost completely destroyed. He invited me to come and see. It’s about an hour drive for Rome.
I had also raised this subject with our Temple President, James Toronto. He authored “Mormons in the Piazza” - a history of the Church in Italy. He did not have any details on this particular subject but suggested I speak with Walter Zafarana, a native Italian and the Strategic Relations Manager for FamilySearch in Italy. Here’s what he shared:
From previous efforts or from individual requests to obtain records - at the time of the earthquake - the Church had been able to digitize about 3 million vital Italian records that included some L’Aquila records.
FamilySearch had had many discussions with the Italian Minister of Culture, asking to digitize all records throughout Italy. These discussions had gone on for about seven years - but no agreement had been reached.
FamilySearch had offered - without cost to Italy - to photograph and digitize all records, index these records so they could be searched by date, place, name, etc - anywhere in the world - and provide a copy of these records to the Italian government, and a copy would be retained by the Church. At the time of the earthquake nothing had been finalized.
When the earthquake occurred it was thought that most of the L’Aquila records had been lost. (It was later found that the records had been smashed but most were still useable.)
After the earthquake the Church provided the Italian Minister with a copy of records it had, including some from L’Aquila. This offer was appreciated and received. The Minister, seeing what happened in L’Aquila, and reviewing the records held by the Church agreed to accept the Church’s offer and the agreement, was signed about a year later - 9 years before the Rome Italy Temple would be dedicated so that members in Italy, and throughout the world could find and perform temple ordinance work for their ancestors.
When Carol and I were serving in the Church History library in 2017 - in part because of the agreement - about 700,000 Italian records were being indexed and made available per year. I trust that number has increased since then.Pondering this experience, I believe the Lord often uses a tragedy or trial to bring about His work, and for His hand to be manifested:
The storms in the early winter of 1846 revealed the hearts of handcart pioneers, who “came to know God”. Their examples have served as a foundation of faith for all.
From trials and Heaven’s hand: All of Israel saw that a shepherd boy and five stones were stronger than Goliath.
Ten plagues changed Pharaoh and prepared a people to trust Moses in crossing the Red Sea.
Lions yielded to a Holy Angel and Daniel’s life was preserved.
Ester saved her people.
Lazarus was raised.
The gold plates were obtained from Laban.
From Trials and Heaven -
Our sins were redeemed and the tomb was empty.
It has been such a blessing to have come here and to have been able to see God’s hand is over Italy; to know and experience again this good, good people.
Hurrah for Israel. Hurrah for Italy. Hurrah for Missions.
T3 Photos of the damage just after the L'Aquila Earthquake in 2009
Photos of the Restoration that is currently "in progress"
Restoring this lovely "strolling Street'" that the town uses especially on weekends--even until late into the evening.
The Restoration of the TOWN PIAZZA that they all loved and now miss so much! Projected finish is maybe 2025.
Ron and Carol with a family friend (of the Diodatos), Sorella Diodato, Anziano Marco Diodato and Fratello Diodato
It was an amazing trip and will be long remembered, especially in light of the Records Preservation on going and how that relates DIRECTLY to the work we have been called to the Rome Temple to do. I was going to tell you more--but this email has gotten L-O-N-G!! SO I'll close.
from Rome,