With consideration of his blessings and recollection of an accident when he was young that curtailed his pursuance of a military career, Elder Helio R. Camargo of the Seventy made gratitude the theme of his Sunday afternoon address.

Elder Camargo's release after five years in the Seventy was announced in the Saturday afternoon session. He has been called as president of the Sao Paulo Brazil Temple.He did not detail the accident he mentioned, but said it was a blessing in disguise because it propelled his life "in other paths that have led to higher levels of understanding and self-realization."

"I express appreciation to those who preserved the Bible for future generations," he said, "beginning with the faithful patriarchs of Israel and then passed on by those dedicated scholars who translated the prophets' writings into Greek - the universal language of the time - and thus preserved for us that precious version of the Old Testament known as the `Septuagint.' "

He mentioned individuals who copied the scriptures during the Middle Ages and reproduced and defended them from barbarians who invaded Europe. He also praised 16th Century reformers who translated the scriptures into the language of the people and made them available.

Elder Camargo expressed appreciation for Joseph Smith, "that humble and faithful prophet through whom were revealed to this generation the spiritual experiences and the precious doctrinal teachings of the prophets who lived in this hemisphere and recorded their testimony of Jesus Christ in the scriptures." He said those scriptures today are known as the Book of Mormon - "the book that casts so much light on the obscure passages of the Bible, confirming the word of God and filling that marvelous portion of the Plan of Salvation created by our Father in Heaven for the happiness of His children."

Elder Camargo acknowledged good families, descendants of pioneers who populated valleys of the West, who raised children to accept mission calls. He said, "I express a special thanks to those whose children were called to our native land of Brazil and for all they did for the people generally and for my family particularly."

Elder Camargo expressed gratitude for the Church, "perfect in organization, incomparable in spiritual power, and unassailable in doctrine and practice."

"I am grateful," he added, "that in the restored gospel, the truths of the universe are incorporated in such a way that all who embrace them are never forced to abandon any previously known truth nor any comforting hope, or any ennobling principle possessed before."

"

He observed, "Considering again the admonition of the Apostle Paul, `In everything give thanks . . . ,' we should be grateful for the blessings which we seek and receive as well as for those blessings that come to us that are beyond our current capacity to comprehend."