Editing Nicolaus Zinzendorf (section)

==Formative years==

At age six, young Ludwig would often write love letters to [[Jesus]]. He would then climb to the castle tower and toss them out the window, where they scattered around the courtyard like innocent prayers. During the [[Great Northern War]], Swedish soldiers overran [[Saxony]] in 1706. They entered the room where young Ludwig just happened to be conducting his customary devotions. The soldiers were incredibly moved by the boy's prayer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Count Zinzendorf|last=Weinlick|first=John|publisher=Abingdon Press|year=1956}}</ref>

His school days were spent at Franke Foundations at [[Francke Foundations|Halle]] where Pietism was strong, and in 1716, he went to the [[University of Wittenberg]], to study [[law]] so as to be ready for a diplomatic career. Three years later, he traveled in the [[Netherlands]], in France, and in various parts of Germany, where he made the personal acquaintance of men distinguished for practical goodness and belonging to a variety of churches. During a visit to an art museum, Zinzendorf was said to have experienced the Holy Spirit upon viewing ''[[Ecce homo|Ecce Homo]]'' by Domencia Feti. Young Zinzendorf was converted, noting: "I have loved Him for a long time, but I have never actually done anything for Him. From now on I will do whatever He leads me to do."<ref name=":0" />