125 years in Mexico celebrated on 'Popo'
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Gazing at the mountain (Popocatepetl) now silvered with the soft rays of the quarter moon; at sunset it was golden with the fading rays of the sun. Under the moon's light it has a melancholy, lonely yet lovely appearance. . . . — Moses Thatcher, April 5, 1881
TECALCO, Mexico — Devout and fervent prayers offered high on Popocatepetl in 1881 among rocks sheltering a diminutive group of missionaries and converts from a piercing north wind have been remembered 125 years later.
About 3,000 members and their friends attended events held here April 6-9 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the dedication of Mexico, as well as the 130th anniversary of the coming of the first missionaries to Mexico, and the 120th anniversary of the printing of the Book of Mormon in Spanish. The events were sponsored by the Museum of Mormon History in Mexico City, the Tecalco Mexico Stake and the Mexico City East mission.
Among the events were devotionals held above the snowline on Mount "Popo" by members, friends and missionaries, a cultural evening, a historical fireside and museum display.
Their very commemoration is one evidence that the devout prayers of that early group have since been answered in abundance: membership of Mexico is more than 1 million, with 21 missions and 12 temples.
In 1881, Elder Moses Thatcher of the Quorum of the Twelve, president of the Mexico Mission, lead the group. He was accompanied by two missionaries, Elders James Z. Stewart and Feramorz L. Young, and some of the first converts and missionaries from Mexico — Silviano Arteaga, Fernando A. Lara, Ventura Paez and Lino Zarate. Two non-members also participated, Marciano Perez and Florentino Paez.
At that dedication, Elder Stewart "prayed earnestly for such blessings as we were in need of. Bro. (Silviano) Arteaga by his own request followed praying, while tears flowed down his cheeks for the deliverance of his race and people," wrote Elder Thatcher.
On that mountain that day, Elder Thatcher offered the dedicatory prayer for the preaching of the restored gospel in Mexico.
"We were far above the perpetual snow lines as indicated on the North and West side of the mountain and had reached a point probably between 15,500 and 16,000 feet above sea level," he wrote. "There crowding closer to the frozen snow under the rocky cliffs I read a few selections from the Book of Mormon referring to the promise made to the remnants of Israel on this continent, and to the covenants made with their forefathers, and then bowing down . . . I earnestly besought God in the name of Jesus to speedily fulfill these things and bring the oppressed remnants to a knowledge of the truth as understood by their ancestors.
"I dedicated the land to peace that the seed of Jacob through the loins of Joseph might learn the truth and rejoice in the gospel of their salvation. I dedicated the mountains upon which we were praying that it might become a holy place of worship where the sons of Joseph should hereafter upon it, seek the Lord that they might have the door open, ask and receive."
Two ambitious hikes to commemorate this dedication were made. The first was on Thursday, April 6, by missionaries who rode part way up the mountain and held a devotional. President S. Shane Littlefield of the Mexico City Mexico East Mission spoke of the devotional.
"This experience was in a way miraculous," he said. "We felt a very special spirit. I had never felt the Spirit as I did at that moment with my missionaries."
The second hike up Popocatepetl was held Saturday, April 8, by several hundred members who walked to the 14,000-foot altitude. There, a plaque was cemented to the ground. In a devotional that followed, speakers were President Elias Martinez Caoba of the Tecalco Mexico Stake, which has the mountain within its boundaries, and where early missionary work occurred, and Fernandez Gomez Paez, president of the Mexico Museum of Mormon History.
This trek up the steep mountain "helped create an understanding of the faith and dedication of our early leaders, missionaries and pioneers," said Brother Gomez, a former mission and temple president.
President Martinez then offered a prayer in remembrance of those early leaders and missionaries. The experience on the mountain, though arduous, left an impact on those who participated.
"Today, Popocatepetl has united us once more," said Mercedes Rancano Galindo, a granddaughter of early missionary Febronio Perez. "The days we have spent together have been glorious."
"It is a blessing for me to have made the trek up the volcano because from this place all of the Church in Mexico was blessed," said Carlos Trueba Neri, 70, the first bishop of the Tecalco Ward. "These commemorative activities give us strength."
More than 600 attended a cultural program in the Tecalco stake center April 7 where folkloric dances, poetry, and musical numbers were performed. A missionary play about the Prophet Joseph Smith was also presented, concluding with the cast and audience singing "Called to Serve." In attendance at the cultural evening was Elder Clate W. Mask of the Seventy, first counselor in the Mexico South Area presidency.
A historical fireside held Sunday, April 9, completed the activities. Addressing the fireside was Jeffery Jones, a senator in the Mexican congress, and a descendant of Daniel W. Jones, the first missionary to Mexico who taught in northern Mexico beginning Jan. 6, 1876.
Brother Jones told of his ancestor and paid tribute to the children's choir, saying it was the best one he had heard in the republic. A presentation on the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith on DVD was shown and President Martinez concluded with his testimony.
A display featuring significant events in the history of the Church in Mexico, sponsored by the museum, was seen by some 700 people.
—Fernando Gomez Paez provided the information for this article.
