March 2013 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

NEWS OF THE CHURCH
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Elder Andersen Sees Commitment,
Testimony of French Saints during Visit
By Marianne Holman, Church News, and L. Hollie McKee, Frankfurt Germany Area Public Affairs Office
It was a joyful day for Latter-day Saints in France
as they celebrated the 20th anniversary of the
creation of the Bordeaux France Stake and welcomed
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles.
For Elder Andersen, accompanied by his wife,
Kathy Andersen, the assignment to France was a
return to their mission and his first return while on
official assignment as an Apostle.
“Looking at the progress over 40 years,” Elder
Andersen said, “we now see many families in the
second and third generations. We see a strength
of commitment and testimony.”
While in France, Elder and Sister Andersen
visited members, leaders, and missionaries in
Bordeaux, Lyon, Paris, and Angers, and urged
them all to lift the light of the gospel to all
around them.
Members of the Church in France listened to
Church leaders speak with conviction about the
Savior Jesus Christ and the responsibilities of
discipleship.
A significant moment during Elder Andersen’s
assignment was a special meeting in Versailles
with all of the French-speaking stake presidents
and mission presidents in the France, Belgium,
and Switzerland areas.
Blake Roney, president of the France Lyon
Mission, recalled how personal Elder and Sister
Andersen’s visits with the members seemed
to be.
“There were an unusual number of very faithful
Saints who loved the Andersen family when
they were here 20 years ago and love [them] still
74 Ensign
Elder Neil L.
Andersen and
his wife, Kathy
Andersen, visit
with members
in Bordeaux,
France.
today,” he said. “All who listened were lifted and
brought closer to their Savior.”
President Roney said that Elder Andersen
discussed the circumstances of this particular time
and advised that this is the “dawning of a new
day, a day when the Lord is blessing this special
part of the world.”
Elder José A. Teixeira of the Seventy and
Europe Area President commented following
Elder Andersen’s visit: “There is a renewed sense
of purpose and urgency in the work in France
and the French-speaking countries of the Europe
Area to continue to build up the Church because
of the visit of Elder Neil L. Andersen. [He] met
with priesthood leaders and spoke and testified to
them in their native language. This was a blessing
that will be felt for a long time.” ◼
PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMES DALRYMPLE