The history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada began shortly after the Church was organized. Early missionaries into Canada include Phineas Young, Parley Pratt, Brigham Young and the Prophet Joseph Smith himself, all of whom found early success in establishing branches of the Church., specifically in "Upper Canada", now Ontario. Among those converts were noble men and women whose descendants have since become familiar to all in Church leadership - the Fieldings, Youngs, Taylors (including President John Taylor), and others.

One of the first missionaries to actually labor in what is now Québec was Elder Hazen Algrick in 1836. He reported the following:

"I went into the province of Lower Canada, and took me up a circuit where I spent most of my time for three months. School houses were opened in almost every district and I improved the times as the Lord gave me strength. I baptized eleven persons and many were searching the scriptures to see if the things preached were so. I left them in the care of Elder Winslow Farr, to carry on the work, for I believe that it was just begun."

Even though the Church continued to grow, the work was confined almost exclusively to the English population. Many of these would leave and "gather with the Saints" in Ohio, Missouri, and then to the West. Thus the growth, although steady, was slow. Ignorance and misconceptions were a source of opposition. As growth of the Church increased in other areas in Eastern Canada the Provinces of Manitoba, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick were taken into the boundaries of the other missions of the Church.

The Ottawa District in the Province of Ontario was first organized about December, 1919, as part of the Canadian Mission. It included the area from Kingston east to Cornwall, north to Ottawa, southwest through Smiths Falls and on to Kingston. Missionary work was slow but steady and the Ottawa Branch was organized in July, 1926.

When missionaries were withdrawn from Europe in 1939, at the commencement of World War II, many were absorbed into the Ottawa area. This resulted in a great growth which was aided by the influx of members among servicemen and government office workers.

The first branch in Québec was organized in Montréal early in the 1940's. In 1942 the new branch took possession of a newly purchased chapel on St. Joseph Boulevard East subsequently dedicated by President Joseph Fielding Smith, then an Apostle.

In 1953 the Ottawa-Montréal District was formed and in 1960 Kingston was transfered to the Toronto Stake when it was formed and subsequently transferred back to the Canada Montréal Mission in 1976.

In 1962, the Greenfield Park Branch (English) was formed on the South Shore by a split of the Montréal Branch. In March of 1967 the Point Claire Branch (English) was formed by another split of the Montréal Branch. In June of 1967, through the efforts of President Lamont F. Toronto, the Church was given official recognition in Québec for the first time by an Act to Incorporate passed by the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.

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1972

President John K. M. Olsen

In April, President Olsen, while in Montréal looking for a mission home, saw an ad in the Montréal Gazette which led him to "85 Henley Ave." in the town of Mount Royal. Two days later the purchase of the new mission home was approved and later an agreement was signed to buy it for $80,000.

In July of 1972, President Olsen and his family arrived in Montréal by car (1971 Chrysler Wagon) driven from California. They stopped in Salt Lake City on the way, and President Olsen was set apart on June 28th by Elder Legrand Richards (who also set him apart in 1948 for his mission to France).

The first mission office was on Devonshire Road, and had been leased without consideration to privacy and convenience. President Olsen was able to locate a more suitable office space in the Laird-Canora Building at 1255 Laird Blvd. about 1/2 mile from the mission home. This office space was right above the best little deli in Quebec. It had the greatest french pastries.

At the time of the division of the missions, there were 2 1/2 zones in the Québec Mission. The two french speaking zones were Montréal Zone, and Québec Zone, and the 1/2 zone was made up of the 12 English speaking missionaries (10 elders and 2 sisters) who were part of the Ottawa Zone serving in the Montréal area.

There was some concern as to what to do with the English speaking missionaries. In October, President Olsen flew to Toronto to meet with Elder Thomas Monson and President Spackman of the Ontario Mission to try and find a solution. The concern was whether or not french speaking missionaries would be able to retain their language skills while serving in English speaking areas. It was finally decided however, to send the English speaking missionaries back to the Ontario Mission. So on October 31st the English speaking missionaries were returned to the Ontario Mission and the areas they were in were filled by french speaking missionaries.

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1973

Zone Conferences were held in February, but due to the expenses involved in finding accommodations and renting a room at the YMCA, it was discovered that it would actually be cheaper to hold the Zone Conference in Québec City at the Chateau de Frontenac. It was noted during the conference, that President Olsen had left for a student tour of France from Wolfe's Cove Pier below the Frontenac in 1955. He recalled boarding the boat and when he looked up the steep face of the cliff to the majestic Hotel at the top, he stated to himself,"Someday I want to stay in that place." His wish had been granted.

By now President Olsen had made some changes in the mission's organization. The Québec Mission was now made up of four zones: 1. The Montréal South Zone, 2. The Montréal North Zone, 3. The Central Zone (Sherbrooke area), and 4. The Québec Zone.

While in Québec City in April for Zone Conference, President Olsen inspected a potential meeting place for the Branch on Charest Boulevard consisting of the third and fourth floors of a commercial building. The President felt it had real potential, and President Izatt was asked to prepare a proposal for the Church's Real Estate Department.

On June 15th President Olsen set apart Elder Gaitan Pomerleau, the first Quebecois member of the Church to serve a full time mission to Quebec.

Later in June, the President and his Assistants, Elders Calvin Van Dyke and Jeffery Packer drove to Chicoutimi to investigate that city as a possible area for placing missionaries. It was determined that the area should be opened as soon as possible.

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1974

The Mission Zones were reorganized as follows: Québec City (Quebec Zone); Drummondville (Central Zone); Longueuil (Montréal South Zone); Montreal (Metropolitan Zone); Pointe Claire (Montréal North). The Zone Leaders would now also have to double as District Leaders.

In May big changes once again took place. President Olsen received confirmation that the Ottawa District was now part of the Québec Mission. This meant the transfer of missionary and member records. Now the Quebec Mission had two Districts, the Montréal District and the Ottawa District, a new Zone, the Ottawa Zone, and six new branches: Ottawa, Ottawa 2nd, Deep River, Brockville, Cornwall, and Massena (in New York).

In June, the Missionary Department decided it was best to rename the missions to relate them more closely to the major metropolitan areas in the country or state where they are located. Accordingly, the Quebec Mission will now be known as the CANADA Montréal MISSION.

Brother Andre Anastasion came to Montréal from Salt Lake City for a few days to review his translated Russian manuscript of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price with a noted Russian professor at the University of Montréal . After the final review by Professor R.V.Pletnev, the manuscripts were returned to Salt Lake City in the company of some of the returning missionaries from the Canada Montréal Mission in order to safe guard their arrival and get them there at the least cost.

In August the mission is again reorganized to run more efficiently since the transfer of the Ottawa District into the mission. The Montréal District is split into an English District, which will retain the name of the Montréal District, and a French District, which will be called the Québec District. Thomas Wilde was sustained as the District President of the Montréal District, and George Bourget was sustained as the District President of the Québec District. Another step is taken towards a French Stake.

In September, due to the organization of three Districts in the Canada Montréal Mission, President Olsen calls Hans Peets former District President of the Montréal District to be his counselor in the Mission Presidency. Later that month, Max Sabey, former District President of the Ottawa District is called to be the other counselor in the Mission Presidency.

On assignment from by President Ezra Taft Benson (President of the Quorum of the Twelve) Bishop Vaughan J. Featherstone toured the Mission. He spoke at many meetings over the next four days, and on the evening of the 16th of October, he offered a dedicatory prayer on the Mission Home.

In November the Mission Presidency traveled to Drummondville and organized a new independent branch, the Drummondville Branch. Brother Robert Gaudreau was sustained as the Branch President.

President and Sister Olsen fly to Washington to attend the dedication of the Washington Temple on November 22nd. There were approximately 300 members of the Church from the Canada Montréal Mission in attendance, 45 of them French Canadians.

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1975

President Olsen received a call from President S. Dilworth Young of the First Council of the Seventy in February, asking if he had two Canadian missionaries with good French who could be transferred to the Fiji Suva Mission. The Church had the opportunity of opening up missionary work in the New Hebrides islands which are part of that mission. Elder Brett Olsen and Elder Rodvern Lowery both had the qualifications needed and were transferred via Calgary for a short visit with their parents, to the Fiji Suva Mission.

The First Presidency notified President Olsen in March that he and Sister Olsen would be released in early July. Their successor would be President and Sister D. Wayne Owens, also a former missionary to France.

Towards the end of March, President Olsen presided at a ground breaking ceremony for the new Greenfield Park Chapel in Greenfield Park at the Church owned lot at Miller and Campbell Avenues. President Olsen took the first shovel full of frozen dirt. This Chapel will be constructed under a pre-fabricated plan by Lindal Cedar Homes, Ltd. This is a first for the Church in Canada and may be the first of this kind of construction as far as materials are concerned in the Church.

A meeting was held between the Mission Presidency and the Montréal District Presidency to discuss the possibility of forming a Chinese Branch. There are about 50 members in the Montréal area and for the most part they feel isolated because of the difficulty they have in understanding French or English. Currently there is a Chinese Sunday School class.

An LDS Businessman's Association was formed, and held it's first meeting at the Montréal Athletic Club on April 22.

On May 10th at a meeting of the Mission Presidency, it was determined to proceed with the organization of a Chinese Branch. The new branch will be called the "Tung Fong Branch" (translation - "Oriental Branch").

The Mission gathered in June for a Mission Conference at the Montréal -Hochelaga Branch Chapel. One hundred and sixty five missionaries attended.

At the Hochelaga Branch Sacrament Meeting the branch was divided into three smaller branches: the Laval Branch (Laval and North Shore); the Hochelaga Branch (Montréal Island); and the Lemoyne Branch (South Shore).

President and Sister Olsen held a release meeting with 13 missionaries, the last group they would send home. Among these was Elder Gaetan Pomerleau, the first Québec native to serve a full time mission to his own people.

June 30; President Olsen reviewed the statistics of the mission over the 2 year 11 month period of time since it was divided from the Ontario-Quebec Mission. There were a total of 396 conversions, with 54 presently inactive and the balance active for a retention rate of 86.3%. The first year saw 111 conversion, 24 inactive (78.3%); the second year saw 135 conversions, 23 inactive (82.9%), and the last 11 months saw 150 conversions, 7 inactive (95.3%).

President Olsen left the mission with his family on July 4, 1975 to return home.

President Wayne Owens

On July 1st 1975, President Douglas Wayne Owens and his family (his wife, Marlene, and children, Elisabeth, Doug, Sara, Steve, and Teddy) arrived in Montréal to begin their mission.

Within a week of arriving, President Owens formed two new zones, the Laval Zone on Laval Island, and the Gatineau Zone, a division of the Ottawa Zone.

President Owens had set a goal to form 3 Stakes during his term as Mission President. He was inspired by President Kimball who had given challenges to all the missions of the world to substantially increase their baptisms. President Kimball indicated that the Canadian and United States missions should be able to increase their baptisms six-fold.

The first publication of the mission "Messenger" was made in July, and was to better unify the missionaries towards common goals.

The Hochelaga Branch was split into three Branches; Hochelaga, Laval and Lemoyne.

The goal for baptisms in August was 36, which represented six times the number of baptisms from last August. The mission baptized 40 people in August which not only exceeded the goal of 36, but also was the largest number of people baptized into the Church in the Canada Montréal Mission.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell toured the mission in August. He met with members and investigators in Montréal , Québec City, and Ottawa. His talks were translated for the benefit of the French speaking members.

The following brethren were released from their callings in September:

September's goal for baptisms was set at 54. The mission baptized 56 people into the Church, again exceeding the six-fold goal, and again setting a new mission record.

In October, the Canadian Post Office went on strike. A shuttle service for postal delivery was established with the mission's areas in the United States so that missionaries might still be able to send and receive their mail.

The mission fell short of it's October baptismal goal of 74, only baptizing 43 people. However to brighten the month, the first Chapel built especially for the Church in Québec was opened on October 26th. This of course is the Greenfield Park Chapel.

Two more Zones were also opened in October. The St. Lawrence Zone covering the southwestern part of Montréal Island and part of the South Shore, and the Chicoutimi Zone in the Shaguenay River Valley. Two new areas were also opened in the far northeast part of the mission, Baie-Comeau and Hauterive.

In November, the mission was visited by Elder L. Tom Perry. He met with Missionaries and he spoke to a congregation of about 900 people in Montréal which represented the largest gathering of Saints ever held in Quebec.

65 people were baptized in November. This represented yet another new record for the mission.

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1976

President Owens continued to be very goal oriented for baptisms in the mission.

President Owens introduced the following in February 1976:

On February 19th, Elder Neal A. Maxwell visited the Mission.
The Mission "Messenger" reported the following:

Note: The Ottawa stake was organized 12 December 1976, the Montréal Quebec stake on 18 June 1978, and the Montréal Québec Mount Royal stake on 6 July 1980.

In May 1976, the MISSION MESSENGER reported on the visit of Elder Charles Didier:

medium size (74k)    large size (194k)

In October, President Owens reported: "Sister Owens and I had the opportunity, on September 13, of participating in ground breaking ceremonies for the new chapel to be built on the hillside overlooking a small town just outside of Kingston."

There were approximately 500 convert baptisms for 1976.

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1977

In April, President Owens announced:

"Brothers and Sisters, this is my last tape to you as your area supervisor. As you may have heard, the First Presidency and Twelve have organized the missions and stakes of the Church into eleven zones throughout the world. Once of the purposes of this that has been indicated to the rest of us as General Authorities is that this will permit the Twelve to be global in their Apostolic mission.
Members of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy and four other members of that quorum will become Zone Advisors. My assignment will be Europe, the British Isles and South Africa. Zone Advisors will no longer have the privilege and the pleasure of being in the more direct association with the missions and stakes of the Church as we have been as Area Supervisors.
This is obviously a watershed moment in the history of the Church in which to accomodate the growth and the complexity and the challenges of the Church, this new system of supervision is being undertaken.
Personally, I shall miss greatly the direct association with President Owens and his wonderful wife and with you on mission tours. I will still, from time to time, have stake conference assignments that might put me in proximity with some of you, but my assignment is elsewhere. Your new Zone Advisor is to be Elder Carlos E. Asay, and your new Area Supervisor will be Rex D. Pinegar.
I have appreciated greatly the chance to work closely with Elder Perry as our Area Supervisor and most of all the chance to be close to you. ...

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1978-85

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1986

I served in the CMM in 1986 & 1987 under Presidents Scott Taggart and James Rasband. Under President Taggart, we achieved a one-month baptismal record of 50 people, which was astonishing by comparison to the previous months where we had been baptizing below 20.

President Taggart encouraged a program of working 70 proselyting hours per week, and many or most of the missionaries managed to do this. My companions and I achieved it by packing lunches so we could spend 15-20 minutes instead of an hour on a meal break, and by trying to schedule our discussions at 8:00pm or later, so that the late evening hours, which are awkward for tracting, would be taken up by scheduled teaching.

President Taggart also instituted a standard first contact lesson which introduced the Book of Mormon and laid out an entire teaching plan, including all six lessons, church attendance, reading and prayer. In other words, we let any prospective investigator know what the entire program consisted of up front. We would invite people to take all these steps over a period of three weeks, and promise that if they did all these things they could obtain a divine witness that the Church was true and be baptized. I very seldom saw anyone complete these steps without joining the Church.

In 1986, the late Elder Derek Cuthbert toured the mission and spoke at some zone meetings. One of his comments was that we are far too quick to say people are "hardening their hearts." He said people may not be interested, they may not be motivated to hear us, but very few are actually going so far as to harden their hearts against the gospel.

I arrived in Montréal on 1 Jan 1986. New year's day was not a very good day for trying to contact people, so President Taggart had declared a "Book of Mormon read-out." The idea was to try to read the entire Book of Mormon that day. (Still tired from the MTC, I fell asleep at some point in Jacob, but it was still a good experience.) President Taggart continued the B of M read-out tradition each year of his presidency.

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1987

President Rasband drew back from the 70-hour-per-week goal, and emphasized perfect obedience to the schedule outlined in the Missionary Handbook. He also instituted more specific instructions on music and other diversions for missionaries.

In the summer of 1987, the branch chapel in Québec City (one of very few church buildings in Québec to have been built originally by the Church) was dedicated by Elder Royden G. Derrick. The chapel had already been in use for several years, but the dedication had been delayed because of debts on the building.

During the time I served (1986-87) the Church occupied three main meeting houses in the city of Montréal , none of which had been constructed as a chapel. One was a former Jewish synagogue (very beautiful building); one was a former fire station; one was a former convent. This last building, on Boulevard Lacordaire, also housed the mission offices.
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1988-89

From Eric Hughes:
In the summer of 1989 the decision was made to move the mission home from bulovard laccordaire, the top floor of the old convent, to a new site. President Rasband choose a location close in proximity to the Mission home in the Town of Mount Royal, where the office is located today.

From Gary Coleman:
In the twelve months between July 1988 and July 1989, there were 368 convert baptisms. Of these, 336 were French/English baptisms and 32 were Spanish. Of the French/English baptisms, 64% were found through tracting, 28% through member referals, and 8% through self referals. During this time there were between 180 - 200 missionaries in the mission and President James E. Rasband was the Mission President (July 87 - July 90).

1993

Montréal , Québec - Completion of the first stake center for French-speaking Latter-day Saints in North America has been observed with a successful open house.

The new center will serve the Montréal Québec Stake, which consists of five French-speaking wards, two Spanish-speaking wards, and five French-speaking branches.

During the open house, visitors were taken through the building and saw exhibits in various classrooms, and to the cultural hall where five missionary booths were located, staffed by missionaries who answered questions about the Church.

"The building is a testament to the faith and devotion of the saints here inQuebec," said Elder Jonathan Stathis, public communications director for the Canada Montréal Mission. "The Church has struggled here to make inroads among the predominantly French-speaking population of Quebec, but the Church has always looked forward with an eye of faith."

1998

In the wake of a disaster - dubbed by some media as "the great ice storm of the century" - Church members and missionaries in Northeast United States and Eastern Canada are giving service.

..examples of members and missionaries giving service include:

- Church Welfare Services provided 12 emergency generators to the affected areas. One of these generators powered a Red Cross shelter with 60 beds. Another was used in the Mont-Saint-Hilaire Branch meetinghouse - which still did not have electricity Jan. 18.

- Missionaries in the Canada Montréal Mission have been providing service full time since the storm hit. One companionship spent several hours working at an animal shelter - where people who had to enter public shelters could leave their pets. There the missionaries fed and walked animals, and cleaned dog pens.

Other missionaries milked cows for dairy farmers who had no electricity, stacked and cut wood, removed branches and downed trees from roads and yards, and carried generators door to door for residents who still do not have electricity, said mission president Fredrick (Buck) Froerer III.

The Montréal Québec Temple

President Hinckley's visit
Montréal Temple announced

Thursday, 6 August 1998: Montréal

The tri-lingual choir was wonderful. The discourses were inspiring. The spirit was as present as anywhere else I have felt it. At the very sight of our dear prophet my eyes welled up with tears for joy at being in his presence. My wife, on the other hand, wept when he announced that it was time for the meeting to conclude. The highlight of the meeting was when President Hinckley announced that a temple would soon be built in Montréal . (I heard "two years" but my wife heard "a few years".) He said that it would be a small temple but would be able to provide all of the temple ordinances but the patrons would have to acquire their own temple clothing.

By Guy Bouchard, as published in the LDS Church News, Saturday, June 5, 1993 ...

For the first time, a president of the Church has addressed members in Québec City.

Speaking Aug. 7 at the Grand Theatre of Quebec, President Gordon B. Hinckley told some 550 members that, though small in number, they are part of the great promises of the Lord regarding this land.

"The work will never go back," President Hinckley said. "It may take time and go slow, but it will increase, and in the near future you will look back and contemplate the fact that you've been pioneers in that great work."

As President Hinckley was leaving, he waved to the congregation and, in French, said, "Je Vous Aime" (I love you). Many Church members replied, "Nous aussi" (we too).

Michel Morin, a priest, worked as an usher during the meeting. "I was deeply impressed by the simplicity of his words," Michel said. "He speaks with such authority. I had never thought before I would see the prophet in Quebec. I sat very near to him but yet I wanted to be nearer. He was so natural, a humble man of God."

Trisan Casanovas, who translated President Hinckley's remarks into French, said he could not sleep after the conference. "I deeply realized he . . . has an extraordinary stewardship, and that he carries it beautifully upon his shoulders."

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2000

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Scott H. Taggart, 72, Kirkland 1st Ward, Kirkland Washington Stake, called as president of the new Montréal Québec Temple, which will be dedicated June 4. President Taggart's wife, Lou Ceil Briggs Taggart, will serve as temple matron. President Taggart, counselor in the Guayaquil Ecuador Temple presidency, served as president of the Canada Montréal and Zaire Kinshasa missions, and as temple sealer, temple missionary in Switzerland, Spain and Chile, as well as high councilor and bishop. He is a retired engineer and management director for Boeing Co. He received an engineering degree from the University of Wyoming. He was born in Cowley, Wyo., to Lloyd and Louise Welch Taggart. Sister Taggart, assistant matron in the Guayaquil Ecuador Temple, is a former stake and ward Relief Society president, temple missionary in Switzerland, Spain and Chile, and president of a mission YWMIA. She received continuing education, and was born in Cowley, Wyo., to Ivan Richards and Annabelle Thorley Briggs.

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Montréal Québec Temple

Location: 1450 Boulevard Marie-Victorin, Longueuil on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River across from Montréal .
Temple presidency: Scott H. Taggart, president; Georges L. Bourget and Bernhard Gruber, counselors.
Rooms: Celestial room, two endowment rooms, two sealing rooms and a baptistry.
Size: 10,800 square feet.
Exterior: Bethel white granite quarried in northern Vermont.
Architect: Andrij Serbyn, Sichten Soiferman
Contractor: Leonard Weber, Opron Inc.
District: Serves 11,842 members in the Montréal Québec Stake, Montréal Québec Mount Royal Stake, Ottawa Ontario Stake, Québec Québec District and Montpelier Vermont Stake.
Pertinent facts: Announced Aug. 6, 1998; ground broken April 9, 1999; open house held May 20-27, 2000, except Sunday, May 21, with nearly 10,000 attending, dedicated in four sessions June 4, 2000, by President Gordon B. Hinckley; 3,714 in attendance.
Schedule: Tuesday through Fridays, two sessions, 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays, four sessions, 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.; by appointment only.

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Following is the full text of the dedicatory prayer for the Montréal Québec Temple given by President Gordon B. Hinckley on June 4, 2000.

Our Eternal Father in Heaven, we Thy covenant children come unto Thee in solemn prayer. This is a day which will long be remembered by Thy faithful Saints in this choice part of Thy vineyard. We are met to dedicate unto Thee, Thou great Elohim, and to Thy Son, our Redeemer, this the Montréal Québec Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is our gift to Thee, dear Father. It is an expression of our love for Thee and for Thy divine Son.

Acting in the authority of the everlasting priesthood, that priesthood which is a precious bestowal from Thee, and in the name of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate and consecrate this holy house, the grounds on which it stands, and every facility of this temple. Bless the structure that it may stand against the storms of nature and against any act by unholy hands. We consecrate unto Thee the beautiful baptismal font, the endowment rooms, the celestial room, the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, and all other spaces and facilities found herein.

May all who enter the portals of Thy house be worthy to come as Thy guests and enjoy Thy rich and bounteous blessings. This is a house of salvation and exaltation for the living and the dead, made possible through the Atonement of the Savior of the world. Every ordinance performed herein, every blessing granted will be eternal in its consequences.

This house becomes a fulfillment of the promise that Thou, in Thy power, "will reveal . . . the Priesthood by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

"And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.

"If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming" (D&C 2).

How wondrous are Thy ways, dear Father. Great are Thy promises, and certain is their fulfillment. These eternal keys have been restored through the prophet Elijah and will be exercised herein by those holding the fullness of the everlasting priesthood. Wonderful is our gratitude for the blessings of this sacred edifice.

We praise Thy holy name and speak words of thanks unto Thee for Thy generous blessings. Here we will enter into covenant with Thee. Here our families will be sealed together under divine authority that time cannot break and death cannot destroy. Here we will engage in a marvelous work in behalf of the dead, extending to them the wonderful blessings that have come to us.

Oh God, our gracious Father, we thank Thee and bow in reverence before Thee. Bless us to be worthy always of coming to this Thy house. Save us from evil and doubt. Bless us with righteousness and faith. May Thy holy Spirit be felt by all who come within these walls. May old men dream dreams and young men see visions as they contemplate the wonder and majesty of Thy divine and eternal plan for the salvation and exaltation of Thy sons and daughters of all generations.

We pray for all who shall serve here, be they workers or patrons. We pray for the temple presidency, for the matron and her assistants, and for all who labor in Thy service. May their burdens be light. May they have strength and energy. May gladness crown their efforts.

We thank Thee for the faithful tithe payers among Thy people throughout the world. It is they who have made all of this possible. Bless them for their faith and reward them for their consecrations. Bless Thy kingdom throughout the earth that it shall grow and multiply and fill the earth with righteousness.

On this historic day we sing Thy praises, dear Father. We speak words of thanksgiving. We look upward to Thee and pray that Thou wilt smile with favor upon us.

We are ever mindful that Thou art our God, the Father of our spirits, the Almighty governor of the universe, the judge of the nations. How thankful we are that we can come unto Thee in prayer with confidence that Thou wilt hear and answer. We so pray on this day of dedication as we renew our faith and strengthen our covenants, in the name of Him who is our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord and our King, even Jesus Christ, amen.

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2003

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Canada Montreal Mission History, 2003

President: David O. Ulrich

Our vision of missionary work in the Canada Montreal Mission is simple: Bring souls to Christ. We hope to do this by bringing ourselves as missionaries, members, and converts to the Savior through our concerted efforts and the convincing power of the Holy Ghost.

• The opportunity for all the missionaries to sing the national anthems of Canada and the US at an Expos baseball game, under the direction of Elder Reid Nibley from the BYU music department, here on a CES mission. We made the Montreal Gazette, the Church News, the Ensign (news of the church section), and the Liahona with a great picture of the choir and a brief article. The members loved seeing all the positive press for the Church and for the Mission, and the missionaries had many people say they had seen them sing, with favorable comments. Many members also came to the game, and when the missionaries sang Called to Serve from the bleachers during a break there was spontaneous applause.
• Even a bigger highlight than the Expos singing was the all-mission conference that followed, a unique opportunity to have the missionaries together for a spiritual feast. The sweetest moment of that conference was when Elder Ryan Sweetwood conducted us from a bench in the middle of the chapel in singing "We are As the Armies of Helaman" and "As Sisters in Zion." We all felt transported for a moment as the music surrounded us and as we looked into each others' faces as we surrounded Elder Sweetwood to sing. Singing to each other in this way has become a sweet tradition in the mission.
• Other special zone conferences included an outdoor zone conference, "Give Me This Mountain," held in a park in Quebec City, Gatineau Park in Ottawa, and Mount Royal Park in Montreal, and a zone conference focused on the temple which gave everyone the opportunity to attend the temple and unite the prayers of missionaries and temple patrons for the investigators we are working with.
• Approval was given for a new chapel in Quebec City, and the ground breaking took place amid much excitement and enthusiasm. The chapel will be completed in 2004.
• We reassigned two missionaries, Elder Radnoti, and Elder Hong, who had been called French-speaking to learn Chinese and work full-time with Chinese investigators in Montreal. There were about 15 Chinese and Taiwanese natives baptized in 2003, and we gained approval for a Chinese-Mandarin compliment to begin next year.
• The Spanish units on the island of Montreal continue to grow, and Spanish work keeps the missionaries here very busy. In addition, we placed bilingual Spanish-French missionaries in five units, Sherbrooke, Mt. St. Hilaire, Chicoutimi, Quebec City, and Trois Rivières, where they are finding many Spanish investigators to work with. These units have been willing to try to integrate Spanish members into their French-speaking classes and meetings, and have opened their arms to welcome them.
• We have tried a variety of innovative finding techniques, including talks to professional audiences by President Ulrich, a portable puppet show for parks about Family Home Evening, car washes with a free video, a musical fireside on the Book of Mormon, an Easter Egg Hunt for members and investigators, and many service projects.
• The first French media campaign for the video Lamb of God (Agneau de Dieu) was very successful, with an unprecedented 1300 referrals in a few weeks before Easter. A second campaign for La Nativité before Christmas yielded 600 referrals. (In addition, we are doing follow up calls on many additional referrals from people who wanted the videos but not missionaries, and about 10% of these are now willing to have missionaries visit.)
• The Kinghorns paid a surprise visit to the Quebec District Conference this year to underscore the theme, "Everybody has a missionary." Brother Kinghorn was the missionary who found current District President Pierre-Paul Morin, and his visit reminded us all of the wonderful missionaries who brought us or our families the gospel - a legacy we all want to continue for others.
• During the first seven months of 2003 the monthly average for baptisms was 20, up over 30% from the previous several years. During the last five months we pushed that average to 30/month, double the average of previous years. With a total of 287 baptisms at the end of the year, we were 13 short of our goal, but thrilled with our progress.