MONTERREY, Mexico — About 40 years ago, Jorge Valencia Treviño left to serve a full-time mission shortly after making a solemn vow to his cousin, Carlos.

"[Jorge] told me he would baptize me when he returned home," Carlos Treviño recalled.

Photo by Jason Swensen

Monterrey's most recognizable landmark, Cerro de Silla, or Saddle Mountain, stands majestically behind Carlos Trevino. Over the past decades, Brother Trevino has witnessed remarkable growth in Monterrey, Mexico, and has become something of a Church historian in the region.

That promise between cousins was not the first time the Spirt had snatched young Carlos' attention. As a child in the early 1940s, Carlos had attended Primary near his home in Monterrey, Mexico, with an aunt who had joined the Church. But later the aunt moved to the United States. Jorge began serving his mission away from Monterrey and Carlos largely lost contact with the local members.

Then in 1958 Carlos wandered past a Monterrey home that was being used as the meetinghouse for the local branch of the Church. A Mutual dance was underway in the home. Carlos slipped into the party.

"I had a curiosity to go in without knowing what the future would bring," Carlos wrote in his testimony that was included in a compilation chronicling the history of the Church in Monterrey.

He was greeted warmly by the young people who invited him to join the dance — then return on Sunday for LDS Church services.

"I felt happy to be there; it was different from the places I was usually at with my friends," Carlos said.

Hungry to feel that happiness again and again, Carlos began attending Church with his new friends. During one Mutual activity he spotted, standing at the pulpit, a pretty young woman named Emma Almaguer.

"I liked her right away, she was different from the rest of the girls," he recalled. "I'd told myself I was going to work hard. . . and make her my wife."

Despite Carlos' newfound activity in the Church he had not yet joined. But in 1961 he asked to hear the missionary discussions and be baptized. Cousin Jorge, now home from his mission, made good on his promise.

A short time later Brother Treviño offered an oath of his own. A group of fellow Monterrey members had gathered for a reception before embarking on a trip to the Mesa Arizona Temple. Carlos stopped by the reception and spoke with Emma.

"I promised her that in a year's time I would take her to the temple and make her my wife," Brother Treviño wrote.

In November of 1962 Carlos and Emma were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple and began a life of service together that has focused on the temple. Over the years, the couple made trips to Mesa aboard old buses ill equipped for the elements. Yet each trip was wonderful, they say.

Their lodging and meals during those trips were made possible largely through the efforts and sacrifices of faithful local members in Arizona who helped arrange temple excursions for members from across the U.S.-Mexican border.

"Those folks earned a better place in heaven for what they did," Brother Trevi�o wrote.

Now the Church in Monterrey has grown and the Treviños and their fellow members no longer travel long distances to marry or secure their temple blessings. President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Monterrey Mexico Temple on April 28.

"Having a temple gives us an opportunity to serve and enlarge [the Lord's] kingdom here on earth," Sister Trevi�o said.

Brother Treviño feels privileged to have witnessed and been a part of the Church's remarkable growth in Monterrey. He's become something of the area's Church historian. His chronicle on the building of the Monterrey temple was included in the time capsule that now rests behind the temple's cornerstone.

"The temple will bring blessings — not only to the Church members, but all of Monterrey," he said.

E-mail: jswensen@desnews.com