Monday, April 28, 1969

Each new day I am more overwhelmed at how the gospel touches people's hearts, changes people's lives, broadens horizons and aspirations, and adds happiness and peace and joy to life. No matter what part of the world, in Brazil or Samoa or Germany or California or even Vietnam, the Saints are bound together in a love and a brotherhood and a royal priesthood that know no nationalities or barriers.

Yesterday William said that he was ready for baptism and that he and his wife and the four older children would be baptized Saturday. That made me so grateful. This week we have several members planned to drop by to visit the family, including President Carter for complimentary interviews. We will visit them a few times, each of these daily visits designed to bring the influence of the Holy Ghost into their lives during this important period when Satan will be trying to tempt them.

This afternoon we four elders in Headquarters District (Elders Henderson, Richins, Stewart, and Cleverly) met together with the elders of the Jardim Botânico District (Elders Martinson, Murphy, Bishop, Marsh, Knight, and Thomas) for a joint district meeting and a short festa because Elder Martinson is leaving for home this weekend. The meeting was fantastic, especially as testimonies were being borne by the power of the Spirit. Elders Thomas and Martinson both spoke, and they were great talks.

During the evening we taught a first lesson to a man named Fausto and his good wife, introducing them to the message of the restoration of the gospel. The lesson went very well because they were easy to be entreated by the Spirit, which was there in the lesson with us. They are honest, sincere, frank people, of similar minds, and prepared to accept the gospel. If we do not fail as missionaries in giving them their full opportunity and if they do not knowingly reject the light they are receiving, they will be baptized.

The letter I wrote today to my family:

Here it is almost another new month and, proverbially, time continues pushing onward. At times it is nearly frightening to see life slipping away so quickly and upon us devolves the responsibility to use it wisely and effectively. Life cannot be hoarded or saved away or guarded. To really live we need to give life away to others freely and unselfishly, not counting the gifts we give to brighten other lives, to lessen others' worries, to lighten others' loads. Happiness, the end and design of our existence, is promised to us, is ours if we lose ourselves in the service of others.

No word has reached me yet as to whether or not you received the tape I sent at the end of March. I certainly hope it has arrived by now and you have had the opportunity to listen to it and are planning to return it with your recorded voices soon. This reminds me of another thing: I have no pictures of the family with me here in Brazil and could use them at times. Did you happen to take any pictures when everyone was gathered at Thanksgiving? You might send some sort of something to me.

For nearly a month we have been working with a wonderful family of ten people, teaching them, praying and fasting for them and with them, struggling to help them appreciate the beauty of the gospel message. Yesterday at Sunday School he told us he was ready to be baptized and that he and his wife and the four oldest children (those over eight) would be baptized next Saturday. That certainly made us happy. If only I could share with you what a neat family they are and how the gospel has already literally changed their lives for better!

I am more amazed each new day at how the gospel touches peoples' lives, changes their hearts. In any part of the world—whether Brazil or Samoa or Germany or Idaho or Vietnam—the gospel is working miracles in the lives of the simple and the meek and the humble people of the earth. It is simply marvelous to see the great brotherhood that the priesthood binds together in every land. Love and peace and joy are the fruits of true religion. There is a prophet upon the earth in our day (I sometimes think we do not really appreciate what that means), and he is speaking with God, and the Lord is speaking through him to us as a Church and to the world at large.

At the last general conference of the Church the Prophet again emphasized the home and its importance to all of this. Unfortunately, we only hear about what he said and have not been able to read it, but his life and his teachings have emphasized this theme for years—by word and example. Why? Because we need it so badly? The Lord has commanded us to make our homes a heaven on earth. But He has also commanded us to be perfect like He is, and it is impossible to comply with that important commandment, as possible as it is to be perfect, unless we can live the "little" things. The Lord has told us to have weekly family home evenings and yet the Church response has been discouragingly low, especially is it noticeable in places like here in Brazil. But the families obeying this commandment are reaping richly the rewards and are walking close to perfection.

An assurance of exaltation is possible in this life. We are commanded to make our calling and election sure, to become perfect before the Lord. If you will search the Doctrine and Covenants, you can see that we are expected to see the Lord in this life, in the flesh. That is a fantastic promise and a glorious one. We are here to walk and live by the Spirit, not trust in the arm of flesh.

Except for Jerry and Karen, it has been quite a significant time since I have heard from anybody. Probably the mail systems are just slow. As usually happens, mail may come tomorrow or Wednesday—always coming soon after I write and say I am not receiving anything. Thanks for your support and your faithfulness and interests in my behalf. And so until next month, I say good-bye once again. May the Lord bless you with every needful blessing. My love and prayers remember you. May the elephant of happiness stomp heavily on your toes.

Thursday, April 24, 1969

Just a note about Monday: We had planned to see a football [soccer] game in Maracanã stadium because it was a holiday, but the time schedules were different than we had been told and did not work into our plans. Maracanã is the world’s largest sports arena and holds about 250,000 people.

A letter from Elder Steve Hill in the South German Mission arrived yesterday. He also had been called into the mission office there, as an assistant’s junior, but stayed only three weeks. The experience was not fully a good one.

This evening William and his family received the sixth lesson and a discussion of post-baptismal responsibilities. The family is ready for baptism, except for William. It finally was revealed that he was not obeying the Word of Wisdom in the detail of coffee. As soon as this is resolved, he will ask for baptism. Irmão José attended again to help us out as our Amulek and was perhaps in his finest hour.

Tuesday, April 22, 1969

This evening I participated in my first fifth lesson since being here in Brazil. Last Thursday, on the eve before my four-month mark, was my first fourth lesson. Tonight William and his family accepted really well the lesson on the plan of salvation and the law of eternal progression and also concerning the restriction on the priesthood. He said he would be baptized Saturday but did not seem to think he was ready to accept the responsibilities of activity required in the kingdom of God.

Sunday the members of the Church in the states of Guanabara and Rio de Janeiro met together in quarterly district conference in the Tijuca chapel. Both the priesthood session and the general session that followed were outstanding experiences. District and mission leaders spoke. The Jardim Botânico choir provided the special music, including a fantastic rendition of “Eu sei que vive meu Sehnor” [“I Know That My Redeemer Lives”]. It was particularly good to see and speak with members from Petrópolis again. We had three investigator families marked to attend, but only Victor's wife showed up. She left home at 9:30 and arrived at the chapel at 11:00 for the second half of the session because the taxi could not find the right street.

Friday, April 18, 1969

Tonight in an investigator fireside, a film about the Book of Mormon was shown in the chapel. We had three families committed to attend, and none of them showed up except William Jr., who came straight from school.

Work in the mission office saw us downtown in the afternoon banking.

A letter from Karen came today. Spring has come to Utah. She and her sister attended a session of general conference, making her all bubbly and excited and grateful.

Thursday, April 17, 1969

Tuesday evening Elder Stewart worked with Elder Henderson in their area, leaving Elder Richins and me to work in ours. We had an unconfirmed third lesson marked with Irmão Victor. When we arrived he was still at work. He works a great deal these days. Having hoped for the best, having planned for the worst, and taking what came, we presented to his wife a review and vision-expanding lesson using the Arnold Friberg Book of Mormon pictures and a set of 30 other pictures.

Today was the mission fast, and we continued it until our lesson with William and his family was over because we wanted the lesson about the mission of Christ to be a special spiritual experience for them. Irmão José attended again. The Lord's Spirit was present at times, but not as much as I would like to have seen. We committed them hard, including baptism on April 26. His wife is slowly and steadily progressing, while I wonder at times if William has not stopped or is even retrogressing. The two oldest boys have always been sharp. The commitments will bring progress and, if they comply, will have them ready for baptism on the planned date.

My appreciation and love for the Savior grew a great deal today. While fasting I was pleading for His Spirit to be with me while working with William's family. As always when I feel closer to the Lord, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for what I have been blessed with. I was reading in the Book of Mormon various chapters dealing with the Savior and His life and mission (2 Nephi 2, 9, 31; Mosiah 3, 4; Alma 32, 24; and Moroni 8) and realized more what the Savior has done.

Tuesday, April 15, 1969

Sunday evening we had the opportunity to meet two brethren visiting from Salt Lake City: Brother Grant Burbege, head of the translation department; and Eduardo Baldeiras, from the distribution center. This second man spoke in sacrament meeting, in Spanish, delivering an outstanding message about the importance and responsibilities of the home. He spoke with authority, and the Spirit was with him.

Early Monday morning the four elders in the Headquarters District joined the six in the Jardim Botânico District for a game of beach football. We played for two and a half hours. Lonely beaches are beautiful early in the day. The ocean is always a fascinating place. Of course, those of us who have not played football for a long time are a little stiff today.

Recent weeks have brought me letters from some of the great men that call me friend: Elder Jeff Boswell in Samoa, Elder Evan A. Ballard in West Spanish America (California), and Elder Steven J. Hill in South Germany. Using a carbon, I answered them all with the same letter, sending a copy to Elder David LeSueur in Franco-Belgian also.

Friday, April 11, 1969

William and his wonderful family were taught the third lesson this evening. They accepted the Word of Wisdom well. Irmão José was at the lesson to help out, which he certainly always does.

Wednesday, April 9, 1969

A great apathy seems to be spreading over the face of the world. People no longer seem to firmly believe in anything, just agnostically clinging to some particular tradition, saying all churches are good and equal and lead back to God. The religions of the day are so blandly watered down and popularized that little is left to satisfy the needs of the people. It seems that even in most quarters religious intolerance has disappeared, not because of more tolerance but because of more apathy.

Joseph Smith taught that only a religion requiring the sacrifice of all things had the power to save and exalt the souls of men. Thus The Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints stands alone, as it claims, as the only church of God upon the earth, with the power and authority to bring about the eternal life of man.

Sunday, April 6, 1969

Easter morning dawned early in Rio de Janeiro today. We were up early, at 4:15, to participate in the sunrise service planned by the branch. The city has a special charm to it at such a quiet hour. The President’s car came by at 5:20, right on schedule, to pick us up. The service was planned for the City Park, but just a few moments before 6:00, when it was to start, a heavy rain started. We all retired to the chapel and there remembered the Savior’s resurrection in song and word and prayer.

Following the meeting Elder Stewart and I found a room upstairs and held a study class until time for priesthood meeting. During Sunday School the two families we are teaching, the 11 in William’s family and the four in Victor's, showed up. As soon as we sorted them all out into their proper classes, Elder Stewart and I stepped out behind the chapel in a secluded spot and spoke with the Lord. We were both of us filled with extreme gratitude. Both families remained for testimony meeting following Sunday School.

To break our fast we had a pizza with Elders Henderson and Richins. A Brazilian pizza is not exactly like one that would be eaten in the United States. After a study class and a brief nap, Elder Stewart and I taught a second lesson, the one on the Book of Mormon, to Victor and his wife. It was a good lesson in which they further progressed. This left us with about an hour to check back on other people we had already spoken with.

During the evening we participated in a member fireside at the mission home with the families in our immediate area. Unfortunately, a few of the members could not attend. The purpose of the meeting was to inspire the members in their duties and to discuss ways they might help us in the missionary work. After a little introductory get-acquainted game, a slide strip What Is a Mormon? was shown. President Johnson spoke concerning the priesthood and its importance to us. His thoughts were brief but inspiring. Refreshments followed.

On the way back home, and after reaching home, Elder Stewart and I had another good discussion about the gospel and our blessings. We decided today had been our best Easter ever. Today also we were remembering the birth of the Savior, the organization of the Church in this last dispensation, and of course the resurrection of the Redeemer.

Friday, April 4, 1969

President Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike), the great general of World War II, who served two terms as president of the United States (1953–1960), passed away last week. He had fought off heart attacks since 1955, but his last one last fall his weakened body could not overcome. President Nixon, the man who served the eight years as Ike’s vice-president, proclaimed last Monday a national day of mourning and ordered flags to be at half-mast for 30 days.

Today is a holiday in Brazil. It is Good Friday of Holy Week, a tradition in all nations with any degree of Catholic influence. Sunday will be Easter.

The general conference of the Church was scheduled to begin today. Unfortunately, we were unable to participate in any way, but assume all commenced as planned.

Work today was quiet, almost a bit lonely, in the mission office with President and Sister Johnson traveling to visit elders in the mission and with Elders McFarland and Walters gone. Elder Dorrell Henderson is our new district leader, replacing Elder McFarland.

Thursday, April 3, 1969

Parting is a natural part in the process of life. Daily activity brings it to us in varied forms: a simple good-bye that is meant to last a few hours, a more extended farewell that stretches over a longer time, the difficult leave-taking that does not expect reunion, and the parting when death calls. Saying good-bye has at most times been difficult for me when it involves long separation, although such occasions hold a revered spot in memory.

Today we said our farewells to Elders McFarland and Walters. We have worked together with them since February 27, training into our new jobs, and have grown quite close to them. They are good elders.

At the end of my first day alone as mission historian–recorder I have organized the mess that is mine so that progress might proceed a little more orderly.

Rain fell all day. During the last week or two there has been a great deal of rain here.

William and his wonderful family of eight children received the second lesson tonight. They are very receptive.

Wednesday, April 2, 1969

Today was the last day for Elders Walters and McFarland in the mission office. Tomorrow they leave for new assignments, after having been together for nearly ten months as companions. Elder Walters goes to João Pessoa, Elder McFarland to Fonseca on the far side of Niterói.

Tuesday, April 1, 1969

Last week Elder Stewart and I had several marvelous discussions about the gospel. One interesting thought found its way into words: There are three levels involved in living the gospel. Level one merely involves performing the duties and striving to fulfill the commandments. Unfortunately, many members of the Church are yet plodding along in this Mosaic level, many of whom are dedicated and good people but for some reason are missing the vision of the gospel. Level two consists of those who are living or trying their best to live by the Spirit, walking in the paths of righteousness as the Lord directs. Level three deals with those who have progressed to the point of having their calling and election made sure, their exaltation sealed upon them, the Second Comforter having visited them, and walking in a perfectness of life. There are men on the earth today in level three.

Tonight while tracting, we spoke with a man who had already read the Book of Mormon. He said it reminded him of a James Bond movie. The Mormon Church, he said, has no philosophical or theological foundation and about the only original thing we had come up with was polygamy. He said we could not say Joseph Smith was a prophet or that Jesus Christ had visited him because even our own scriptures, referring I suppose only to the Book of Mormon, do not speak of such things.

Another lady we spoke with became almost violent. She said she had attended the Church in Brasília and told of a big statue without a head next to a lopsided cross with ten idols on the other side. I merely told her it must be another church because we did not use crosses or statuary in our chapels. She asked if I had been in Brasília and, when I replied no, she told me to go before I tried to tell her what she had or had not seen. She was of an antagonist nature throughout the entire interview.