Ground Broken for Brazil Missionary Training Center

Ground has been broken for a new missionary training center in Brazil, a project that Elder James E. Faust of the Quorum of the Twelve emphasized will be important for the growth of missionary work in the country, as well as in other South American countries.

Elder Faust presided over the August 27 groundbreaking ceremonies. Also attending the event were Elder L. Aldin Porter of the Seventy, executive director of the Missionary Department; and the Brazil Area presidency, Elders Harold G. Hillam, Helvécio Martins, and Dallas N. Archibald of the Seventy. Other local Church leaders also attended the activity, as did several government and civil authorities.

The current missionary training center in Brazil is located at the Sao Paulo Temple site and accommodates up to 200 missionaries. The Church is growing rapidly in the country, which now has approximately 442,000 members.

Construction on the facility, which will be the second largest missionary training center in the Church, is scheduled to begin later this year. The seven-story building will accommodate about 800 missionaries and include a 1,000-seat assembly room. The facility, located in the Casa Verde district, is scheduled for completion in 1995.