RIVERA, Uruguay — An outpouring of love and brotherhood from Church and community has followed the most tragic accident in the history of the Church in the South America South Area.

On July 15, a mini-bus, one of three chartered vehicles carrying 70 members of the Rivera Uruguay Stake to the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple, some 450 miles distant, was involved in a head-on collision with a large Brazilian semitrailer. Of the 10 people in the mini-bus, seven were killed, another later died from injuries, and two were critically injured.

Those who were killed were: Reynaldo Moreno, 35, the driver (not a member of the Church); Carlos Andres Roman, 23; Ana Gabriela Duarte, 14; Mariela Carriqui, 38, and her two daughters, Aline Antunez Carriqui, 8, and Karen Giovana Carriqui, 20; and Carol A. Barboza, 25. Matias Franco Chineppe, 15, died later from injuries received in the crash.

Seriously injured were Maria Virginia Gomez, 20; and Julio Cesar Duarte, 15, a brother of Ana Gabriela Duarte. The accident shocked and saddened the people of two nations, who responded with an unprecedented wave of love and sympathy toward Church members.

Elder Carlos H. Amado of the Seventy and president of the South America South Area immediately traveled to the accident site. He met with the rest of the stake group in the nearby Zarate 2nd Ward meetinghouse, offering words of comfort and consolation at the difficult hour.

"Life does not commence with birth, nor does it end with death," he said. "This life is a time of probation and a time when we are to prepare to meet God. The way we live determines our eternal destiny. It is a great consolation to know that these youth and adults who died had, in recent hours, testified to their bishops and stake president that they were keeping all the commandments and living lives of worthiness. They gave their testimonies before they died that they merited the highest blessings that have been restored in these last days of the earth — the ordinances of exaltation, the ordinances of the temple. They were faithful to their covenants and to their faith in the resurrection of the body.

"Christ said: 'I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.' " (John 11:25.)

Elder Amado said that it is "in the adversity of our faith that we are proven. We do not understand the reason for each of our trials, but if we face them well, the Lord of the heavens will exalt us."

He encouraged the members to live in such a way that they would eventually be worthy to be reunited with their loved ones, and to "show by our way of living our convictions and the certainty of belief we have in the resurrection to the entire nation of Uruguay."

More than 1,200 people gathered for the first funeral, held for the three youths, while another 500 waited outside the building. The funerals for the adults were also well-attended. Civil leaders, educators, and leaders of other religions in Rivera attended to express their condolences. When news of the tragedy reached Rivera, the Rev. Arambillete, representing the Catholic Church of Rivera, contacted Church leaders several times to offer his condolences and to assist in making funeral arrangements.

After being interviewed on the radio about the accident, Hugo Arostegui, stake director of public affairs, was stopped on the street by people to offer their sympathy and to discuss the Church.

"The stream of affection that poured from the community was surprising to us," said Brother Arostegui. "The major media in Uruguay and Argentina fully covered the events, expressing sympathy and speaking respectfully of the Church."

Sister Carraqui's husband, Atilio, who is not a member of the Church, expressed his appreciation for the help received following the accident in which he lost his wife and two daughters.

The Duarte family, who lost one child and had another gravely injured in the accident, have been members for only a year. They were traveling to the temple to be sealed following the call of Brother Duarte to serve as branch president. After receiving special permission from the First Presidency, the family, including Ana, was sealed in the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple on July 20. Upon leaving the temple, Sister Duarte commented, "This has been a very sad and hard experience for us, but after taking part in the temple ordinances, I feel a great peace within. This has made me look with great clarity at my life, and I believe that many things will change as we return home."

She turned to temple Pres. E. Lionel Brady and promised, "We will see you in a month, on our next stake temple trip."