Saturday, September 5, 1970

This evening in MIA we celebrated Brazil’s day of independence, using the following program with Nádia as emcee:

Opening hymn: “Hino Nacional Brasileiro”
Prayer: Edmilson
Introduction: Nádia
Song: “Hino à Bandeira Nacional”
Reading: “Oração à Bandeira” by Sônia
Song: “Hino da Independência do Brasil”
Jogral by Inez, Simone, Edmilson, Sônia
Reading: “A Pátria” by David
Slide show by the elders (108 slides of Brazil)
Special number: “Agora Cantarei a Ti” by the elders
Reading: “General Moroni and the Title of Liberty” by Vitória
Special number: “Brasil” by the elders
Closing prayer: Elder Cleverly

The program was really sharp. Unfortunately, attendance could have been better. This was largely an elder-sponsored show, our way of showing that we are concerned about Brazil and her people. One of the songs we sang I wrote the lyrics to during this afternoon. It goes to the tune of “Oh, Beautiful for Spacious Skies.” The words are as follows:

Agora cantarei a ti, meu belo lar natal,
Hinos de paz e gratidão, do meu coração.
Ó Brasil, o meu Brasil, que Deus te abençoe.
Tu és meu lar e sempre eu serei um filho teu.
 
Os montes cantam teu louvor, os campos pois também,
Cidades lindas, beira-mar e praias imortais.
Ó Brasil, o meu Brasil, que Deus te abençoe.
Com devoção e grato som: Salve a patria!
 
Nesta terra da promissão eu viverei feliz,
O sol da liberdade brilha no alto céu.
Ó Brasil, o meu Brasil, que Deus te abençoe.
O meu amor és tu Brasil, ó patria sem igual.
 
Quão lindo é o meu país, estrela entre mil,
Terra de meus antigos pais, também dos filhos meus.
Ó Brasil, o meu Brasil, que Deus te abençoe.
Eu cantarei do coração: Salve a patria.
This morning Elder Blackham and I visited Pedro Maia to see if he was going to the special conference next week. He had traveled to João Pessoa for the weekend. The rest of the time we spent beating our heads out for ideas for tonight. We asked members all week long for ideas. Their only response was that they had never seen an Independence Day celebration.