Friday, November 21, 1969

Yesterday the Meier and Rio Zones met together in zone conference, presided over by Elder Bernard P. Brockbank, an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. It was the longest single meeting in my entire life I have attended at one sitting, beginning at 8:30 and continuing until 4:30, with only a 15-minute break but without a session being closed and another started 15 minutes later. For me this was zone con­ference number six, the best of them all thus far. Highlighting the conference was the interview with Brother Brockbank, the testimony meeting, and the talks of Brother Brockbank and President Johnson. Elders Braithwaite and Johnson, zone leaders of Rio and Meier res­pec­tively, both spoke. Elders Ferrin, Gessel, and I put on a lineage les­son demonstration. An evaluation and critique session was held.

Brother Brockbank's talk was an answer to much pondering and many prayers on my part: How can we effectively use the members? How can we put the Book of Mormon to better use to make it the great converting tool it was meant to be? He outlined a program that he worked out by inspiration, emphasizing the eight steps suggested by Moroni's promise in Moroni 10:4–5. These are (1) read the Book of Mormon, (2) meditate in your heart the things read, (3) ask God the Eternal Father, (4) in the name of Jesus Christ, (5) ask if the Book of Mormon is true, (6) ask with a sincere heart, (7) and with real intent, and (8) having faith in Jesus Christ. We are asked to push the pro­gram further, enlisting member help, to give the Book of Mormon its chance to be a witness to all nations.

This evening a special district conference was called in the Tijuca chapel in which President Johnson and Brother Brockbank both spoke. President João Dias, district president, translated for Brother Brockbank. It was an outstanding and inspirational session. None of our investigators were able to attend, but most of our members in our area attended. Brother Brockbank spoke about being created in the image of God, about the differences between doctrines of men and the doctrines of the Lord, the importance of the Book of Mormon in the program of Restoration.

Tuesday evening the district received two new elders: Elders Arlo Weeks and Ronald Axtell, who will be laboring in Jardim America, Vigário Geral, and Cordovil. We have been having difficulties in find­ing a place for them to live. For now they are doubled up with us. Tuesday evening Elder Axtell, fresh that day from the States, went with me to teach the parents of Carmem a Blue Book lesson. I am really impressed with him. His abilities with the Portuguese language are remarkable, but even more impressive is the spirit he carries, the testimony he bears, the knowledge he commands.