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Paris France will be the location of one of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s newest temples. The news was first broken by the French press in July 2011 while government approvals were still pending. Church President, Thomas S. Monson announced the Church's intention of building a temple on the outskirts of Paris in July 2011 and then confirmed it during the October 2012 semi-annual General Conference worldwide broadcast. Construction is planned for grounds in Le Chesnay, France, located in Paris’ western suburbs.
There are currently about 38,000 members of the Church in more than 100 congregations in France. Missionaries are serving in two missions in the country.
The Paris Temple is the first to be completed in France. In the past the French Saints have attended temples in Frankfurt Germany, The Hague, Netherlands, and Bern, Switzerland.
Mormon missionary work in France began shortly after the Church’s organization. The apostle John Taylor, who later served as the prophet of the Church, began a lengthy European proselyting mission in 1849. France’s first six Latter-day Saints organized the country’s first congregation in April of 1850 in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Just over three years later, there were nine small congregations in France, totaling 337 church members. Many of France’s first members (289 of that 337) were from the Channel Islands.
The growth of the Church continued at a slow pace until World War II ended. The LDS Church’s contributions to European reconstruction after the war sparked interest from outsiders. Missionaries resumed the work in France and the Church’s growth rate increased. In 1955, the renown Mormon Tabernacle Choir stopped to perform at the Parisian Palas de Chaillot during its historic European tour, at which time the country’s membership was roughly 1,500. The first meetinghouse for church members was finished and dedicated in 1962.
Former Church President Gordon B. Hinckley visited France in 1998, prophesying that someday French members would enjoy a temple of their own. During a return visit in 2004, he asked members to exercise patience and faith. Now these members, who come from all walks of life, enjoy the exciting fulfillment of that promise.
