President Faust Honored, Breaks Ground for Two Brazil Temples

During a visit to Brazil, President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, presided at groundbreaking ceremonies for the Campinas Brazil and Pôrto Alegre Brazil Temples. He also held member meetings in Brasilia and São Paulo, visited a total of 2,000 missionaries laboring in 11 missions and the new São Paulo Missionary Training Center, and was honored by São Paulo’s Municipal Council as an honorary citizen. President Faust was accompanied to Brazil by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and by Elder Craig B. Zwick of the Seventy, President of the Brazil Area, and his counselors, Elders Claudio R. M. Costa and J. Kent Jolley, both of the Seventy.

“None of us will ever forget how we feel today because of the Spirit of the Lord that is present,” remarked President Faust at the Campinas groundbreaking on 1 May, which was attended by about 3,000 people. The groundbreaking in Pôrto Alegre was held the next day and was attended by about 3,500 people.

“At the heart of our mission is to strengthen and fortify eternal families,” said President Faust during a 27 April ceremony held at São Paulo’s city hall, where some 200 city dignitaries and about 100 Church members gathered for the presentation of his honorary citizenship. “My wonderful wife of 55 years, Ruth, who is here this evening, and I were sealed in the temple in Salt Lake City for time and all eternity. We believe that our 5 children and our 22 grandchildren and our 2 great-grandchildren are sealed to us eternally if we are worthy of that blessing.”

President Faust was honored for his many years of service in Brazil, where he served as a missionary from 1939 to 1942 and as a General Authority from 1975 to 1977. He noted that while the Church has 26 missions in Brazil and more than 650,000 members organized into 183 stakes, there are about 140 Brazilian cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants and 400 cities with more than 40,000 inhabitants which have never had missionaries. When the two new temples are completed, Brazil will have four operating temples.

Photos courtesy of Brazil Area Presidency

President Faust shows his certificate of honorary citizenship in São Paulo, Brazil.

Church leaders break ground for the Campinas Brazil Temple. About 3,000 people gathered for the ceremony.