The French East Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints existed for the short span of nine years that began on 19 January of 1961 and ended with a reorganization and name change on 20 June 1970. There were three Mission Presidents who each served three years in this special area with their devoted eternal companions. President Henry D. Moyle, Jr. presided over the Mission from 1961 to 1964, President A. James Martin served from 1964 to 1967 and President J. Fielding Nelson from 1967 to 1970. 2011 marks the 50 year anniversary of it's beginning.
The French Mission that existed previously was headquartered in Paris and had included all of France and parts of Belgium and Switzerland. The headquarters of the new French East Mission was located in Geneva. The area of the Mission encompassed the french speaking part of southwest Switzerland along a rough line across Switzerland connecting Germany and Italy and approximately half of France roughly from the midway point of the France/Germany border to the midway point of the border of Spain between the tiny country of Andorra and the Atlantic (Bay of Biscay). The Mission was bordered on the south and east by Spain, the Mediterranean Sea and Italy. Major cities within those boundaries included Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Cannes, Toulon, Grenoble, St-Etienne, Clermont Ferrand, Dijon, Lausanne, Neuchatel and Geneva.
Prior to the creation of the French East Mission LDS Church missionaries had proselyted among the people of France intermittently for one hundred twelve years and had succeeded in building a membership of approximately 3,500 members in the entire country. The portion of those who were active met together in small branches in "salles" that were rented. Often the local Branch President was a foreign missionary who served only a few months. Transfers brought a frequent change in leadership. There were no chapels or Church-owned meetinghouses, no Wards and no Stakes of the Church anywhere in France in 1961.
The purpose of this project is to bring to light those persons and events that shaped and brought about the phenomenal growth of the Church in France. Like many early missions of the church around the world, the work was often quite difficult but also extremely rewarding. The French East Mission may well be viewed as the "Zion's Camp" of France.
Our intent is to start with what we know and can document from our records and experience and then utilize any additional information, stories or experiences others have (who wish to contribute) to help compile a complete and accurate history of the French East Mission (FEM) from 1961-1970.
We look forward to seeing where this project goes and hearing the fun and uplifting experiences you have about this wonderful mission and period of church history.
Sincerely yours,
Dub Lawrence and Corky Wright
My name is William Joseph "Dub" Lawrence and my companion in this endeavor is Roland Shan "Corky" Wright. We both served under the guidance of President A. James Martin between 1964 and 1966. We dug into trunks and boxes stored for more than 45 years and found hundreds of photos, letters, journals, slides, even tape recorded testimonies of members and missionaries. We were amazed at the volume of valuable untold history in our possession. With your help we can tell the whole story.
My dad served in this mission from 1967-1969, he does not have much in way of photos, etc... and I am trying to put together a scrapbook for him for a Christmas gift, I appreciate very much all of your information; thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteI came in May of 1961 and the headquarters was in Lyon, France. I t was moved to Chambesy, Switzerland outside Geneva so that the President's children could go to the American school there.
ReplyDeleteI came in September 1961 and the mission headquarters had already moved to Geneva Elder O'Reilly, you and I were companions in Geneva when you broke your shoulder
DeleteWhen the French East mission was first created in 1961 President Moyl chose James Talmage Stevens to be his assistant. The mission office was established in Lyon. After a month or so I was chosen to travel the entire mission & get a feel of how things were. After receiving permission from Salt Lake I was set apart as the first 2nd Counselor to President Moyl. I chose several traveling companions until my release on June 5th 1961. It was after my departure that the mission home was transferred to Switzerland. When President Moyl first came to Paris he interviewed every elder going to that mission, except me. I was serving as the accountant to Pres Edgar Brossard & served there for one full year. I’m sure it was President Brossard who recommended me to be the 2nd Counselor. I only met Pres Moyl while in informal discussions with other missionaries. This was an exciting time setting up a new mission with our mission president only being 10-12 years older than his missionaries. Pres Moyl came with his young family a son John & 2 small daughters. Elder Stevens stayed as an assistant until his release a few months after me. He was an intelligent missionary who could speak French Beyer than any missionary I ever met. He didn’t have to worry about his pronunciation and He kept in close touch with the Moyls- even to this day even though they divorced.
ReplyDeleteI was in the French East mission from 1967 to 1969. I served in Vevey, Switzerland, Marseille, in Geneva district covering Geneva, Lausanne, La Chaux de Fond Neurchatel, and later Besancon, Dijon, St. Etienne.
ReplyDeleteI served 1967-69 also. Is this blog still active? Would like to connect to former missionaries. Martin Green
ReplyDeleteHi Martin this is Thomas Walker. I worked with you on the Cote working on a singing group the summer of 1969. I would also like to get in touch with former missionaries.
DeleteAre you the Tom Walker who served in Nice with Paul Thompson and taught me and my father? If so, I have been looking for you for years!!!
DeleteI don't know why my comment before said unknown. I was in Vevey, etc. My name is Stephen J Burr. I know Martin Green. He was the best in Marseille. He could really play the piano. That inspired me to play. Martin Green where are you? I'm in SLC, 801-966-6633, Steve.
ReplyDeleteI arrived in August 1964, as a 22-year-old convert of less than three years. I learned the gospel along with the people we taught. Over the past 50+ years I have had many wonderful experiences as I have served in the Church. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I had to serve in the French East Mission. Here are some slides from my mission, see if you can recognize some of the people and places. https://www.familysearch.org/photos/gallery/album/529402
ReplyDeleteBill Buchanan, formerly of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I'm so thrilled to stumble upon this blog. Thank you! My father, Dean Maurice Hansen (1935-2020), served in this mission from 1960-1963. Our family has been trying to figure out what mission he would have been called to in 1960 before the mission name change. He served mostly in the Swiss area of this mission and spoke mostly German. If anyone could help me understand what the area he served in would have been called, I'd be so grateful.
ReplyDeleteI am Frank Bria. I served in the French East Mission from September 1961 to February 1964. I'm looking for my last companion who served with me as Zone Leader in the Rhone Zone. I think it was Pearson, but I am not sure.
ReplyDeleteI am in Arizona 602 554 6413 I would like to talk to anyone from our mission
Brian Schow of Calgary Alberta, . email bschow@shaw.ca. Served in Marseille, Geneve and Nice. Wondering if Hank Moyle is still living and in Virgin, Utah?
ReplyDelete