Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther (1529) by Lucas Cranach the Elder

We are coming up on the 500 year anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 Theses! Check out this article on Martin Luther.

Protestant Oktoberfest

Some Cool Points
• October 31, 1517 Martin Luther hangs 95 Theses on the All Saint's Church.
• Diet of Worms. And no, this does not mean you that eat only worms. A "Diet" is a council and "Worms" is a city.
• Martin Luther pretty upset about indulgences. Discuss.
• Famous quote from Diet of Worms:

"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen."

• 11th Article of Faith anyone?
• Despite the agreement that he could return home safely, it was privately understood that Luther would soon be arrested and punished. To protect him from this fate, Prince Frederick seized him on his way home and hid him in Wartburg Castle.
• He referred to his stay at Wartburg as "my Patmos"
• Translated the Bible into German

Martin Luther—Defender of Justice and Seeker of Truth. 1984 Friend article about Martin Luther.
Disguised as a knight, and wearing a sword and a beard, Luther spent several months in the castle studying, writing letters to friends, and translating the New Testament from Latin into German. He completed the translation of the whole Bible thirteen years later, which allowed the common people to read that sacred book for the first time. More than three centuries later, Joseph Smith said of Luther’s Bible: “I find it to be the most correct that I have found.”

• Luther Room in Wartburg Castle kind of like Talmage Room in the Salt Lake Temple, yeah?
• For a more thorough explanation of the Talmage Room, you'll need to go Ask Gramps.

***QUESTION***
What does Martin Luther have to do with the church or with the Gospel?

Everyone Loves Videos
Dramatization of Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms

Everyone Loves Pictures

Schlosskirche (Palace Chapel) in Wittenberg

Luther's theses are engraved into the door of All Saints' Church, Wittenberg. The Latin inscription above informs the reader that the original door was destroyed by a fire, and that in 1857, King Frederick William IV of Prussia ordered a replacement be made.