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The missionary journal of Elder Dean Batt Cleverly, Brazil North Mission, 1968-1970
Journal entries are posted exactly 40 years to the day after they were originally written
Picture taken August 28, 1968
Places I served
- Salt Lake Missionary Home (Sept 1968)
- Language Training Mission (Sept-Dec 1968)
- Petrópolis (Dec 1968-Feb 1969)
- Tijuca (Feb 1969)
- Mission office (Feb-Sept 1969)
- Ramos (Sept 1969-Apr 1970)
- Maceió (Apr-Dec 1970)
Salt Lake Missionary Home
I was in the Salt Lake Missionary Home, an old school building located on the west side of Main Street just north of North Temple Street, where the Conference Center is now located, from Monday, September 23, through Friday, September 27, 1968. During that week I was set apart as a missionary and received my endowment in the Salt Lake Temple.
Language Training Mission
I was in the Language Training Mission in Provo learning Portuguese and otherwise preparing to become a missionary from Friday evening, September 27, until Tuesday morning, December 17, 1968.
Petrópolis
Our group of eight missionaries arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the morning of Wednesday, December 18, 1968, after an all-night flight from New York City. President Hal R. Johnson and his wife Virginia were there to greet us. Although I did not record it in my journal, I had a feeling of panic overwhelm me as the plane was about to land and I observed to my companion as we were looking out the window at the approaching city that no one down there spoke English.
My first assignment was to Petrópolis, up in the mountains a little more than an hour out of Rio. I labored in Petrópolis from Thursday evening, December 19, 1968, until Friday morning, February 7, 1969. And a part of that time I actually spent in the mission home in Rio for health reasons. Elder Michael Dean Slade was my companion.
My first assignment was to Petrópolis, up in the mountains a little more than an hour out of Rio. I labored in Petrópolis from Thursday evening, December 19, 1968, until Friday morning, February 7, 1969. And a part of that time I actually spent in the mission home in Rio for health reasons. Elder Michael Dean Slade was my companion.
Tijuca
My stay in the Tijuca part of Rio de Janeiro was brief. I arrived there on Friday, February 7, and left on Thursday, February 27, 1969. My companion for those three weeks was Elder John Martin Sarager. During those three weeks our work was severely interrupted by Rio’s annual celebration of Carnival.
Mission office
I worked in the mission office, where Elder Monte Stewart and I were companions, from Thursday, February 27, until Friday, September 12, 1969. We were a part of the headquarters missionary district and the Jardim Botânico Branch. I served as the mission recorder–historian, Elder Stewart as the mission accountant. It was a great blessing for Elder Stewart and me to have such close contact with President and Sister Johnson and their family during those seven months. We also were privileged, during the months we labored together as missionary companions, to see a couple families accept the restored gospel and be baptized into the Church. Right near the end of our stay we participated in a special meeting at the mission home with Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Council of the Twelve and his wife.
Ramos
I served in the Ramos District from Saturday, September 13, 1969, until Monday, April 13, 1970. In the Ramos District we were a part of the Meier Branch until Sunday, March 15, 1970, when it was divided and we became a part of the Cascadura Branch. I had three companions during the seven months I labored in Ramos as district leader: Elder John Edward Staker, Elder Alan Hatch, and Elder Bruce Warner. During my stay in Ramos President David O. McKay died on Sunday, January 18, 1970. He had been the only Prophet I had known during all my growing up years. President Joseph Fielding Smith became the next President of the Church on January 23, 1970.
Maceió
I spent the final eight months of my mission—from Wednesday, April 15, through Monday, December 14, 1970—laboring in Maceió, the capital city of Alagoas. I served as district leader and beginning Sunday, May 17, as branch president. My companions during my stay in Maceió included Elders Randy Prisbrey, Dana Blackham, and John Hendrickson. In July President and Sister Johnson visited our fair city and presided over the annual conference of the Maceió Branch. In September we participated in meetings in Recife with Elder and Sister Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
My journal by assignment
My journal by date
- 01: September 1968
- 02: October 1968
- 03: November 1968
- 04: December 1968
- 05: January 1969
- 06: February 1969
- 07: March 1969
- 08: April 1969
- 09: May 1969
- 10: June 1969
- 11: July 1969
- 12: August 1969
- 13: September 1969
- 14: October 1969
- 15: November 1969
- 16: December 1969
- 17: January 1970
- 18: February 1970
- 19: March 1970
- 20: April 1970
- 21: May 1970
- 22: June 1970
- 23: July 1970
- 24: August 1970
- 24: August 1970
- 25: September 1970
In my journal
- Christmas (4)
- Companion assignments (12)
- Conference (23)
- Decision to serve (1)
- Endowment (1)
- General Authorities (11)
- Introduction (1)
- Language Training Mission (27)
- Maceio (129)
- Mission office (72)
- Missionary farewell (1)
- Missionary setting apart (1)
- Petropolis (15)
- Preface (1)
- President David O. McKay (7)
- Ramos (34)
- Salt Lake Missionary Home (4)
- Thanksgiving (3)
- Tijuca (7)
About Me
- Deano
- I love the Lord Jesus Christ. I am grateful for my heritage as an American and a Latter-day Saint. I have lived with my wife, my best and dearest friend, for over 40 years. We have shared the adventure of 8 children and 28 grandchildren. In addition to time with my family, I love reading, writing, and taking a good road trip.
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