Church History Firesides
We enjoy presenting firesides about Church History
where we cover topics such as
- How Joseph Smith was prepared to be a prophet
- The translation and printing of the Book of Mormon
- History of the Church in France
In the last week of May we presented in
Lormont, Eysines, Angoulême, and Blois.
Lormont, Eysines, Angoulême, and Blois.
Some groups are large
and others are small but intense.
To introduce ourselves we show photos of
when Jonathan was a young missionary in France
when Jonathan was a young missionary in France
and when Beverly was a young missionary in Colombia
We mention that we have attended church or visited temples
in many countries during our travels
and that members all over the world
enjoy the same spirit and love of the Gospel.
enjoy the same spirit and love of the Gospel.
Since 1998 there are more members outside USA and Canada than within.
We share some stories about the first missionary called to France,
William Howell, a new convert from Wales,
and we tell stories about his wife Martha
and his daughter Ann who was the first Sister Missionary in France,
at ony nine years old!
Louis Bertrand was one of the first French converts,
and became an amazing missionary.
He even taught the Gospel to the famous author Victor Hugo.
When exiled from France because of his vigorous proselytizing,
he moved to Utah and became a close friend of Brigham Young.
Later he was the first French Mission President.
One favorite story is about Jean Caussé
who moved from Algeria to Bordeaux
where he joined the Church.
His oldest son is Gérald Caussé, now an Apostle.
many members are unaware that Joseph Smith once wrote
that the beginnings of the restoration
started when he was six years old,
and a near-death experience.
He spent the next several years recuperating,
when he was unable to walk or work on the farm.
Instead he spent days and months on end
reading and studing the Bible and religious tracts,
the only material available to him.
when he was unable to walk or work on the farm.
Instead he spent days and months on end
reading and studing the Bible and religious tracts,
the only material available to him.
giving him the knowledge and vocabulary he would need
to translate the Book of Mormon.
We share about the translation and printing process.
The members are fascinated to see many artifacts we have on display,
such as accounts of the original Book of Mormon manuscript
and the printer's manuscript,
replicas of the 1830 Book of Mormon,
the first hymn book,
Book of Commandments
and Doctrine and Covenants.
We also tell about Joseph's and Hyrum's
martyrdom in Carthage.
Jonathan shows the special copies he was given
of Joseph's and Hyrum's death masks.
Jonathan shows the special copies he was given
of Joseph's and Hyrum's death masks.
Reactions to seeing the death masks vary widely.
Some people consider death as taboo, and decline to approach them.
Others are fascinated and want to hold them.
One woman said it was an answer to her prayers to see them.
One woman said it was an answer to her prayers to see them.
And a Guatemalan couple wanted their son to see them
because he was named Hyrum.
We believe the firesides are helping
members in France to understand their heritage,
and appreciate how others have sacrificed to bring the Gospel.
members in France to understand their heritage,
and appreciate how others have sacrificed to bring the Gospel.
This is a special part of the gathering of Israel,
and we feel very blessed to be involved in this mission.
and we feel very blessed to be involved in this mission.
We have shared some of these stories in earlier blog posts:
And you can view many of our artifacts
at the Church History Library website.
at the Church History Library website.
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.
