Work in Brazil 'a miracle;' will grow
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SAO PAULO, Brazil — In what may have been the largest member meeting held outside the United States, President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke to a reported 60,000 members assembled in the Pacaembu Stadium Feb. 21.
The program was also carried by satellite to tens of thousands of other members at 184 stake centers and 13 districts throughout the nation.
The meeting preceded a cultural extravaganza called "Day of Celebration," at the same location, and by the time the cultural celebration began, a soaking rain began to fall.
In addition to President Hinckley, others who spoke at the member meeting were President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency; Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Seventy, Brazil South Area President; and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen. Testimonies were shared by Elders Mervyn B. Arnold and Elder Paulo R. Grahl of the Seventy, counselors in the Brazil South Area Presidency.
A choir of 1,200 voices, directed by Paulo Toffanelli, sang the prelude, "This is the Christ," a hymn with words written by President Faust, in Portuguese. After the prayer, they sang, "My Redeemer Lives," the text of which was written by President Hinckley.
President Faust, a former missionary in Brazil, also lived there from 1975-77 as area administrator over South America for the first year, and over Eastern South America the following year. He was named Honorary Citizen of Sao Paulo in 1998 by the Sao Paulo Municipal Council.
"The work in this great nation is indeed a miracle," said President Hinckley. "We are now established in 160 nations; however, 7 percent of the total membership of the Church resides in Brazil, and 10 percent of the converts that are made each year are made in Brazil.
"This is a great harvest field in the work of the Lord, and you, my beloved brothers and sisters, are the fruit of that harvest."
He said the membership of more than 800,000 "could grow and multiply. That number could be doubled. That number could be tripled with every one of us."
"If every member of the Church in this great nation were to live the gospel at all times, and under all circumstances, the work would grow in a fashion that it has never grown before."
"When those converts come in, reach out your arms to them. Encircle them with your love. Let them feel that they are welcome. Let them feel that they are important. Be friends to them. Hold them fast, so that they will remain within the fold of the Church, strong and active in the faith."
To the youth, President Hinckley instructed, "Never lose sight of the fact that you are a child of God. What a tremendous thing that is, to realize that there is something of divinity within each of us, that we have something of Godhood in us, and that it is so important to live up to that heritage which is ours."
He counseled them that "we live in a world saturated with evil. Stand up against it. Do not surrender. Be faithful. Be true. Walk in the ways of the Lord."
President Hinckley encouraged the youth that they "never let anything stand in the way of your worthiness to enter the House of the Lord, and there engage in a great and marvelous service in behalf of those who have gone beyond."
He asked young men to find their life's companion in the Church. He told of meeting a young Brazilian couple recently married in the Salt Lake Temple, the daughter of Brother Osiris Cabral, director of temporal affairs in Brazil; and the son of Elder Claudio R.M. Costa.
"It just made my heart glad to see that wonderful young couple."
President Hinckley encouraged husbands and wives to "live together with love. Appreciate, honor, and respect one another. The Lord made us as companions. Under the gospel plan, the man does not take precedence over the woman. He does not walk ahead of her. He does not walk behind her. They walk together hand in hand as companions before the Lord."
He asked that parents rear their children in love and with appreciation for the gospel, and encouraged families to pay their tithes and offerings so they could be eligible for the blessings of the Lord.
He encouraged members to read the Book of Mormon as he and his wife are doing in family home evening.
"Somehow there is a spirit about that book. A spirit of conversion that touches the heart of the reader."
President Hinckley concluded by expressing his love to the members.
"You won't remember very long what I have said, but I want you to remember this one thing — that I love you as my fellow members of this great Church."
During his address, President Hinckley said that while he did not serve a mission in Brazil, "Brother Faust did serve a mission here. He never quits talking about it. It is the proudest thing of his life, that he served a mission here. I want to say to you that Brazil is well represented in the First Presidency of the Church and among all the General Authorities."
In his remarks, President Faust told of the history of the Church in Brazil, and what changes he has seen.
There were very few branches here in 1939-40 when he and Elder Wm. Grant Bangerter, now an emeritus General Authority, served in Brazil. As a companionship, they opened the city of Curitiba, which now has 10 stakes.
He asked: "What can we hope of the future?" By way of reply, he answered, "The saints will be tested and persecuted, for the influence of Satan will continue to increase. But those who pay their tithing, attend the temple and keep the commandments will be protected."
President Faust said that when he served as a missionary in Brazil almost 40 years ago, there was not even one stake. Today, just in Sao Paulo, there are 23 stakes with more that 64,000 members, as well as the first temple in South America that was to be rededicated the following day.
