Louis A. Bertrand facts for kids
Louis Auguste Bertrand (born January 8, 1808 – died March 21, 1875) was an important early leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France. He was born as John Francis Elias Flandin.
Bertrand was born near Marseille, France. As a young man, he worked in business and traveled to many places. In 1848, he was in Paris and was part of a group called the Revolutionary Committee of 1848. During this time, he changed his name to protect his family.
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Early Life and Conversion
After the revolution, Bertrand worked as an editor for a newspaper called Le Populaire. In 1850, he met John Taylor, who was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Soon after, Bertrand was baptized and became a member of the Church. He then helped translate the Book of Mormon into French. This was a big step for the Church in France.
Missionary Work in France
Bertrand helped publish L'Etoile du Deseret, which was a Church magazine. In 1853, he served as a missionary on the island of Jersey. While there, he even taught the famous writer Victor Hugo. However, Bertrand felt that Hugo was too focused on political changes to think much about the gospel.
Challenges for Missionaries
After 1855, the work of the Church in France became very difficult. There was a lot of political unrest. New laws under Louis Napoleon made it hard to publish religious materials and limited how many people could gather in public. Police were told to watch out for and stop Mormon meetings. Louis Bertrand wrote a letter to the emperor asking for tolerance, but his request was not granted. Not many French people joined the Church, and most of the new members were people from other countries living in France.
Moving to Utah and Later Years
In 1855, Bertrand moved to Utah Territory in the United States. In 1859, he returned to France to serve as the mission president for the Church there. This meant he was in charge of all the missionaries in France.
Closing the Mission
By 1863, Bertrand wrote to Brigham Young, another Church leader, saying that the French people were not interested in the gospel. He stayed for another year to "prepare the ground" for a time when missionary work might be easier. In 1864, he left France and returned to Utah. After he left, the mission in France was officially closed for 48 years. Bertrand's wife did not join the Church and stayed in France. Louis Auguste Bertrand passed away in Salt Lake City on March 21, 1875.
