En route to dedicate the second LDS temple in the British Isles, President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke to thousands of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at regional meetings in France, Germany and Switzerland.
At the Paris France regional conference on Thursday, he requested that members "pray to help us find a site" for a temple in that country.Despite a major strike by public transportation workers in France, more than 2,500 people filled a public arena, La Pyramide, near Versailles to hear President Hinckley speak, with some sitting in the aisles.
On Friday, President Hinck-ley traveled to Frankfurt, where he held a press conference and addressed some 6,230 people in the Ballsport Halle between Frankfurt and Wiesbaden. Saturday afternoon, he spoke to 3,750 people in Geneva Arena in Switzerland.
In addition to speaking to the large gatherings, President Hinckley met with missionaries in Paris and Frankfurt. On his way to Europe, he stopped in Portland, Maine, for a meeting with members there on Tuesday. He is scheduled to leave England on Wednesday for his return trip home.
President Hinckley is to dedicate the Preston England Temple on Sunday morning. It will be the church's 52nd temple in operation worldwide.