The newest old city
Last month we visited Marseille.
Jonathan has been to France many times
but Marseille was new to him.
but Marseille was new to him.
We learned that it is the oldest city in France,
settled in 600 BC by Greeks,
and was a prosperous trading port
and was a prosperous trading port
on the Mediterranean.
This Palais de Longchamp, built in 1869,
houses both the Musée des beaux-arts (fine arts museum)
houses both the Musée des beaux-arts (fine arts museum)
and the Muséum d'histoire naturelle (natural history museum).
The dramatic fountains are celebrating water,
the indispensable factor that made settling Marseille possible.
The old and the new: the Oursjayet (Teddy Bear) built in 2020
welcomes visitors of all ages to the city.
In the background is the Cathedral de la Major,
started in the 12th century and completed in its current state in 1893
with neo-Byzantine architecture.
welcomes visitors of all ages to the city.
In the background is the Cathedral de la Major,
started in the 12th century and completed in its current state in 1893
with neo-Byzantine architecture.
He and his wife addressed a mission conference,
which is the reason we came to Marseille.
He shared a remarkable conversion story (see below).
In nearby Toulon, the local ward meets in a chapel that looks plain on the outside,
but has a neat courtyard and inside entrance.
We visited the Vitrolles Ward Chapel
Later, we met Sisters Smith and Apedaile in the St Etienne Ward
Church History Moments
When he was 14 and living in Argentina, Ruben went to stay with his Latter-day Saint uncle and aunt in Utah. Ruben's mother was a devout Catholic and made the uncle promise he would not talk to Ruben about the Church, and he kept his promise. The room Ruben stayed in had a large library including many copies of the Book of Mormon in different languages. Ruben found one in Spanish and started reading it in secret. He had noticed the promise from Moroni 10:4 written inside the front cover, and he thought about that and prayed as he read.
He came to know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon was true. He went to his uncle to explain to him what had happened and that he was ready to be baptized. His uncle was very surprised but also alarmed. He immediately got a plane ticket and sent Ruben back to Argentina, with a note saying "I had nothing to do with this!" Ruben's uncle also telephoned Ruben's mother and said, "don't worry, he will get over this soon."
She grilled Ruben about his desire to be baptized, and reminded him that he would have to commit to attend church and keep the Word of Wisdom, which he promised to do. Four years later he was called on a mission, and his mother phoned his uncle to ask, "when exactly is he going to get over this?" But Ruben had noticed his mother was happier ever since he was baptized.
Elder Ruben Alliaud has been an Area Seventy in South America, and is now Area President in the Europe Central Area. He told this story to our mission conference in Marseille, and related it also in 2019 General Conference.
To read other posts in our Mission Blog,
click on the arrow or 3 lines to the left of NEVILLES IN FRANCE
then click on ARCHIVE to see a list of all posts.
