In my estimation, the paragraph on Helmuth Huebner in the article "The Church in the Germanic Lands" [March] had nothing to do with the article mentioned. That which Brother Huebner and his three friends did, needless to say, was very commendable, but it was not inspired by the Church. As I recall, the Church, represented by the missionaries and the mission presidents, which are the voices of the First Presidency, has taught us to be subject to the laws of the land. If you try to make a hero out of Helmuth Huebner, how do you classify those who did follow the laws of the land? Are they cowards? What would you call them?

I was district president in Hamburg at that time, and those three boys were members of the Hamburg District. A few days after these boys were arrested, I was arrested and interrogated by the Gestapo for four consecutive days concerning this matter. These three boys used my office to listen to the London broadcast, and they used my typewriter to type the handbills they distributed. I was arrested because the Gestapo thought that I was the instigator of the plot. I was told, after they found me not guilty, that if a trace of guilt had been shown on my part, they would have executed me on the spot.

I have always been anti-Hitler, and if I had known what the boys were doing, I would have given them a helping hand; but through the wisdom of my Heavenly Father I knew nothing of their action, and therefore my life was saved.

Otto H. W. Bernut Salt Lake City