Last and First

 

For the last road trip of our mission, we headed to Calais on the north coast of France.

We found the location of the first baptism in France, in Boulogne-sur-Mer,

and the site where John Taylor dedicated the country for preaching the Gospel.

Here's the same beach as of yesterday, 176 years later:

Some excerpts from John Taylor's account of this event and his impressions of French people, from the Millennial Star:

• Brother Bolton, Brother Howell, and myself, arrived at Boulogne on Tuesday, June 18th; 

• Brother Pack arrived on the 26th June. Soon after his arrival we went on to the sea shore towards evening, and, separated from the world, called upon God for his assistance, and I offered up the [dedicatory] prayer.

• We took a hall in the centre of the town, near the theatre, in Rue Monseigny, and had placards on the walls announcing that a course of lectures would be delivered by me on the principles of the everlasting Gospel. 
• Our meetings were very poorly attended. The people of Boulogne being more disposed for pleasure than any thing else. 
• The French are [happy], careless, and volatile, but there are many saints that will yet rejoice in the Gospel of Peace. It is difficult on account of language, &c., to commence, yet the work will roll forth. Meanwhile we shall do what we can and leave the event with God.

Near the beach we found this plaque on the wall of a building:

"On April 6, 1850, the first branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in Boulogne-sur-Mer by Elder Howell, thereby opening the European continent to missionary work. This plaque was placed to mark the 150th anniversary of the Church. 1830–1980."

We had heard stories about these early events (see this blog post)

and we finally got to see the places first hand.

CHURCH HISTORY MOMENT

In a history of the Liege District in Belgium that I recently scanned, I found the following account of what they called the Miraculous Baptism, written by Charles S. Hyde, president of the Dutch Mission:

A baptismal service was planned for several new converts and was to take place on the river's edge in the Liege area in February 1924. In addition to those who were to receive baptism and enter the Church, all the elders of the conference were present, and a large number of visiting brethren were present, including President David O. McKay and myself.

The time of the service was set for ten o'clock in the morning on Sunday. It was a cold winter day and it was snowing. The time was approaching and I felt in my heart the apprehension that this unpleasant weather would seem very unencouraging for the performance of the rite.

Because of the inclement weather and the freezing water, I was very concerned for those who were going to receive baptism and also for the elders who were to officiate. My greatest concern was for a lady 68 years of age.

 This courageous woman was the first to receive the ordinance. As the elder led her into the water, the snow stopped falling. At the same  ime a ray of sunlight pierced the clouds and illuminated the water, where the officiant and the baptized woman stood. The sun continued to shine throughout the ceremony. As the last soul emerged from the water, the clouds closed and the heavy snow  began to fall again.

The old lady assured us that she did not feel that the water was cold and that she trembled only because of her respect for the ordinance and for the covenant she had just made with God. And none of the newly baptized, none of the old ones who officiated, had to suffer from having exposed themselves to the frost and plunged into the icy waters.

By some miraculous intervention, those who were baptized and the servants of God who administered the ordinance to them were protected from any shock and cold caused by the elements. The ray of sunshine was certainly seen as an expression of the Lord's approval on the occasion of the first baptismal ceremony celebrated in this new field of missionary activity.

Story translated from L'Etoile, Oct 1955, 

retold by Marcel Kahne in 

"Histoire du District de Liege"

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