Mexican leader makes visit
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Mexican President Vicente Fox and his wife, Marta Sahagun de Fox, made a visit to Church headquarters May 24 during their recent visit to the Utah.
The president and First Lady spent about 25 minutes meeting with the First Presidency at the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City. The courtesy visit marked the first time a president of Mexico — home to hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints — enjoyed an audience with the president of the Church and his counselors at Church headquarters.
"It was an excellent meeting," said President Fox as he left the Church Administration Building.
The Mexican leader said he and Mrs. Fox spoke with President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, "about the presence of the (Church) members that are from Mexico."
President Fox noted that more Church members live in Mexico than any nation outside the United States.
He indicated that he is proud of the Mexican presence in the Church.
President Fox was greeted outside the Church Administration Building by Elder Ben B. Banks, an emeritus Seventy and director of Church hosting.
Mrs. Fox expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Church in Mexico. An advocate of education and charitable work, Mrs. Fox is no stranger to the Church. In 2002, the First Lady welcomed a contingent of Church representatives to the presidential home of Los Pinos in Mexico City that included Bishop Richard C. Edgley, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, and Relief Society General President Bonnie D. Parkin. Bishop Edgley and Sister Parkin were in Mexico at that time to donate 1,000 wheelchairs to Mexicans with disabilities.
Mexico enjoys a rich Church history. Missionary work began in 1875 and, a decade later, a group of nearly 400 members from Utah colonized several communities in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. The Mexican Colonies have produced countless priesthood leaders who have been instrumental in the growth of the Church throughout Latin America and beyond.
Mexico's first temple was dedicated in 1983 by President Hinckley. Today, 12 temples are operating in the country.
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
