Leaders pay tribute to Brazil, note its 500th anniversary
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SALT LAKE CITY — Church leaders and dignitaries from Utah joined in
paying tribute to Brazil during a ceremony April 1 at the rotunda of the
State Capitol for a U.S. Postal Services pictorial stamp cancellation
honoring the 500th anniversary of the founding of the South American
country.
Church leaders attending were Elder W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy, former president of the Brazil South Area, and Elder Athos M. Amorim of the Seventy, a Brazilian and first counselor in the Brazil South Area presidency. Also attending were a number of government officials including U.S. Sens. Orrin G. Hatch and Bob Bennett, and Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt. Music for the gathering was provided by the Winder 17th Ward, which has a large number of Brazilians. They performed the United States and Brazilian national anthems.
A framed postal picture of a stamp, signed by the dignitaries present, and by President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency and a former missionary to Brazil, was displayed. It will be presented by Elder Amorim to Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who sent a message of appreciation.
In his remarks, Elder Zwick described the headwaters of the Amazon River at the confluence of two others rivers, Solimoes and Negro, which join to form the Amazon, but for several miles remain separate because of their different characteristics.
"They move along together down that great Amazon and don't interact for eight miles, then they mix and they become one powerful river. This is a great metaphor for what you Brazilians in this country accomplish; you are making a great contribution. And many of you young missionaries have come back and become great ambassadors for Brazil in the United States."
Elder Amorim recalled his experience in the Brazilian military with American soldiers, and expressed appreciation and respect for them. He also thanked those in attendance for the tribute to Brazil. "In the name of all the Brazilian people, I say thank you, thank you very much."
The government officials also paid tribute to Brazil, a major trading partner of the United States and Utah, and to the Brazilian people who live in the United States.
