Monday, May 4, 1970

A few days ago a letter came from Karen. It was good to hear from her once again. I thrilled to share in her happiness and joy. At the end of May she is being married in the Salt Lake Temple to a young man from her BYU ward, the elders quorum president. It sounds like she is in good hands. I returned today a letter of congratulations.

Yesterday was fast Sunday. In preparation for it, Saturday evening Aldo, Edmilson, and the four elders went out as home teachers to contact all the members, active and inactive, to invite them to the meetings. Investigators were expected, and we wanted a sharp and full meeting. For the meetings yesterday attendance was normal, and only one investigator showed up, but the Spirit’s influence was strongly felt. In Sunday School I taught a lesson on fast offerings and tithes, which turned out successful according to Aldo’s remarks in testimony meeting because it seems to have reconverted him to that principle of the gospel.

A delicious Sunday dinner followed the meetings at Aldo’s home, including a big luscious chocolate cake baked for Elder Bradshaw’s birthday.

Sunday afternoon I received my first letters from home since arrival in Maceió, five all at once that were forwarded from Rio. One was from Dale. The rest were from Jerry, containing newspaper clippings about conference. From what some of the Brethren indicate it appears that the so-called “golden age” of Mormonism may be passing and we can expect a few storms ahead with good old-fashioned (and likely some new) persecution. Elder Prisbrey and I discussing it during the afternoon were impressed at the close timing between President McKay’s passing and the breaking of the storms related to the Church’s lineage doctrine.

I wrote the following letter to Jerry: “Yesterday and today I received your letters, forwarded from Rio, that you sent April 9 and April 14, including all the conference clippings. Thanks so muchly for all that—news is slow in reaching this corner of the world.

“It sounds like the ‘golden age’ of Mormonism, so called, is an era that is passing. Notice how closely timed was the passing of President McKay with the breaking of the first storms. Each president of the Church has played a particular role, was the best man to lead the development of the kingdom in his own time. President McKay made the Church worldwide and respected. President Smith is just the man to lead us through gathering storms. This is the Lord’s work. He is at the helm and the work cannot fail. And all of us with a burning testimony, given of God, of the divinity of this latter-day work will follow the counsel of heaven-inspired apostles and prophets and not the whims and sophistries and cunning devices of men.

“It is my prayer that everything is going well on the home front. It sounds like life is a joy. May the Lord’s blessings ever be with you.”

Today was a day of rest and preparation and business. I had pictures taken, visited a tailor to have a pair of pants made, bought a Mother’s Day card, wrote several letters, filled out reports, etc. District meeting at five o’clock centered on the theme of spirituality. Elder Camargo gave a talk on that subject.
We visited Aldo and family tonight for home evening. We briefly discussed their reading assignments and then held a family inventory session, with ways each member suggested that the family might improve.