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During a visit to France, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder James W. McConkie III from the Europe Central Area Presidency met with French Senator Stéphane Demilly in Paris on November 12, 2024. The meeting included a tour of the French Senate building and discussions on various topics.
Elder Soares commented on their meeting, stating, “We had a wonderful meeting with [Sen. Demilly] today. He is very interested in our humanitarian initiatives that we have around the world.” He emphasized the importance of religion in fostering communication and peace among people.
Senator Demilly has previously visited Church Headquarters in 2022 and engaged with several aspects of the Church's community efforts. He maintains a relationship with Brigham Young University students who assisted him in translating his book into English. Demilly expressed his connection to Salt Lake City, saying, “When students from BYU come to Paris, they call me … and I am very happy to welcome them.”
Elder Soares noted Senator Demilly’s positive outlook towards the Church: “He is very positive about the Church. He knows the Church. He has been to BYU, and he wants to continue this relationship.”
The discussion also covered how religions can play a role in promoting respect and understanding within society.
Later that day, Elders Soares and McConkie held meetings with missionaries from France Paris and France Lyon Missions. Elder Soares shared insights on choosing joy as a theme for life’s challenges: “My dear Elders and Sisters, I testify to you that you have been called to help people find joy in life because the gospel of Jesus Christ means joy.”
On November 10, Elder Soares spent time with young adults in Paris, encouraging them about their significance within their communities: “You are precious children of Heavenly Father... He expects you to become the light of the world.”
Shannon Mura, one attendee at this gathering, reflected on its impact: “I think it’s really important as a young adult to know that if we [put Christ first] we will be blessed.”
