23. To My Family

A letter to my family in Nampa, Idaho, written in the mission office in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, July 21, 1969, two days after my twentieth birthday and one day after man’s historic first step on the moon.

Saturday I received one of the best birthday presents any person could ever receive—we held a baptism service, and I baptized a lady and her eight-year-old son members of the Church. It was exactly three weeks ago yesterday that we first spoke with her about the Church, but she had been prepared and when the message of the Restoration came she gladly answered. You cannot imagine how fantastic she is.

Yesterday in the district quarterly conference (a district is like a stake, except still part of a mission) she was sustained as first counselor in the MIA presidency of both the district and mission. That is pretty good progression, considering she was only a member one day. Her name is Maria Yolanda de Souza and her son’s name is Marcos, also a fantastic little kid. Someday he will be a bishop or stake president here in Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, as you can imagine the happiness that comes to a young man when he sees someone embracing the gospel, you can understand how thrilled I was to receive such an honor as a birthday gift.

As I mentioned, yesterday were the concluding sessions of the quarterly district conference of the Rio de Janeiro District. The Saints from the states of Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo (study your maps) all gathered in the district center chapel. It is always a thrill to meet with the Saints assembled in conference. It is just as great to hear members of the Church stand and sing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” and “Come, Come, Ye Saints” in Portuguese as in English, or any other language, I suppose. The gospel is the same in any language and in any corner of the earth. Before and after conference I was able to see again many of the members from the Petrópolis Branch (where I first labored) and renew those friendships.

Yesterday, July 20, man first stepped onto the moon. A dream of centuries has been realized within sixty-six years after man’s first heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk on that December morning in 1903. In just a lifetime fantasy has become reality. What will that many more years bring? We are living in an exciting age, in adventurous times.

In two weeks, on August 2, is my companion’s twentieth birthday (his name is Monte Stewart). Like a good companion’s family should, you ought to send him a birthday card or short note saying Happy Birthday. I would appreciate it. Thanks for everything. So long for now.