Originally Posted April 8, 2017
Today was a special day. 25 years ago I was serving an LDS mission in southern France. As a male missionary you normally serve for 2 years. (Females serve for 18 months). I gave it my all for these two years and it made me a better person and helped shape me into who I am today.
In the Mormon faith, we believe in eternal marriage and families. We believe these relationships can go beyond the grave because of sacred sealing ordinances which are performed in holy temples. We call the temple the “House of the Lord.” They are more sacred than our churches where we go to our weekly worship (sacrament) meeting. But up until now, there was not one of these holy temples in France.
I am so thankful for this great blessing for my French brothers and sisters whom I love to have a temple in their country now. I love this country, the culture, the food, and the language. I served with some remarkable people. I was blessed to have Elder Neil L. Andersen as my mission president along with his lovely wife, Sister Andersen and their wonderful children. These people have touched my life. I truly love them.
A few of us were able to gather today with our former mission president, now ordained as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, and walk through the different rooms of the temple together. As we stopped in various different rooms, Elder and Sister Andersen shared thoughts and taught us of the sacredness of the House of the Lord. There is much good in the world and he counseled us to search it out and to not let all the other things in the world bring us down.
I have many missionary friends who wanted to come but were not able to for one reason or another, so I wanted to share this experience with you. Elder Andersen spoke of how our lives intersecting (the missionaries) has made their life more enjoyable. Sister Andersen expressed her love for us missionaries. He shared this scripture:
D&C 64:33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.”
The Paris temple is beautiful inside and out. The craftsmanship and details to the work from the awe-inspiring stained glass to the staircase are a beautiful tribute to God. It’s His home. That’s why I didn’t want the Versailles post confused with the temple. Versailles is beautiful, but it was built to glorify a king. The House of the Lord is built to glorify the King of Kings. “Sainteté au Seigneur. La maison du Seigneur.” (Here is a link to some pictures of the inside of the temple.) https://www.presse-mormons.fr/article/photos-du-temple-de-paris
Rocky Mountain Sunshine 