Journal August 31 - September 13, 1962

August 31 (continued)—assistance, saying that she would soon be able to take care of herself; she just needed a little rest. We didn’t insist, inasmuch as the car was already full. But when we came back that way, she was still sitting at the side of the boulevard des Guines. It had begun to rain, and so she was a bit more willing to come with us [177] to Cleunay. She got the Winkels’ lovely leather seat covers awfully dirty, but Elder Guymon managed to get the spots out with one of my handkerchiefs, before we took the Mercedes back to its owners. In the afternoon, we saw Mme Raciné, the secretary of M Weiss of the Franco-American Institute. She was very friendly and cooperative, but she really couldn’t do anything to help us while M Weiss was away in Paris. Later, M Lemoine, one of our five investigators, gave us to understand that he didn’t wish to continue his study of the Gospel, because his family was persecuting him. Nothing we could say did any good, and we had to let him take the tube. Received an express letter from Elder Allen announcing that the next district conference will take place here in Rennes on September 9, if we can manage to find a big enough meeting hall to hold everybody. Also got a message that President Hinckley had called; I’ll [179] get back to him this morning. The President’s call was to let us know that the prefecture of the Loire-Atlantique department has agreed to proposed changes in the building that the Church is buying at Nantes. I’m to get this information to Brother Winkel, who will take the next steps. Elder Guymon and I hunted until 11 for a big hall to hold our district conference. Didn’t find anything. Saw M Crespel, who directed us to a building site between Rennes and Cesson; went to see it. It’s a fine property, but the urban planners tell us that there’s a plan to put a new national highway right through the middle of it. They also said that we’d better hurry, if we want to have something in Villejean-Malifeu. Having therefore borrowed Elder Bennion’s typewriter, Brother Winkel drafted an application letter—but in English. This [180] evening at 11, I hadn’t yet completed the translation. It’s now even later, and I need to sleep.

September 13—At last, I find a moment to recount all that’s happened at the Le Mans District Conference, last Saturday and Sunday the 8th and 9th. After feverish preparation, we left Rennes at 1:30, with our bus carrying nearly fifty people; got to Le Mans about 4. Attended the usual leadership and preparation meetings and finally the fête, where [184] André Chaussonnier’s “l’École des Joyeux” was the finale and the biggest success, even though it ran past midnight. Got to bed at 2:30 a.m. André never did break free of his pre-existing associations, to my enduring distress and that of his mother, the adorable Aurélie. But his École des Joyeux (hear it, on the next page) was a big hit at the District Conference, and we were all proud of our “Missionnaires de la Jeunesse Mormonne.” Still exhausted when we arose at 7:30. Attended the first general session, where President Hinckley presided. Elder Miller directed the youth chorus, which sang “Gently Raise the Sacred Strain.” Our own Pierre Desquines was sustained as President of the Le Mans District. Everybody from Rennes was delighted that he received this honor. If everybody sustains him as promised, he’ll be a magnificent presiding officer. …More, page 32-122…

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