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Show 'Great New Era' Begins RY NELSON C. AIDUKAiTIS SAO I.U BKAI eta for the work of God great h .nca ih',0 o iu re March 20 I.O, new A 1 when ground was hrokon for !he no" Kao Paulo Temple This was the assurante of Eider .James E. Faust, an Assistant to the Twelve and area supervisor for South America, as he presided at the ground breaking of the lirs.t temple to lx built in South America More than ,000 Church members, visibly moved by the occasion, listened reverently as Idder Faust said, "The challenge for ail ot us who are privileged to stand on this sacred spot where the first temple in South America will be built is to strengthen our faith and to begin anew with a great desire to be faithful saints of God in these lands." Also present at the historic event were F.ldcr Asae! T. Sorensen, Elder Antonio Carlos do Camargo and Elder Osiris Grobei Cabral, Regional Representatives ol the Twelve; Pres. Louis P liefer of the Johannesburg South Africa Stake and Pres. Walter Spat of Iho Sao Paulo Brazil Stake. Elder Faust, speaking fluent PorI tuguese learned during earlier mission- ary work in Brazil, said, "On the front door oi this temple will he written The House of the bol d' arid Holiness to the Ford.' "It will be the first time these words will have been written in any language on a sacred building in South America. He said, "Through this temple it will bo possible for those who are worthy to reach their highest potential throug'h exalting ordinances sacred that we do so not unspeakably discuss them outside of the temples sacred walls. "They pertain to our eternal journey and to the endless development and potential of each human soul. The doors of the temple will also he City disappointed, hut his upijlici.t iuiis anil for in due lime converts in England and Germany to migrate to Brazil and Argentina," said Edler Sorensen. The converts wrote to the First Presidency asking for brandies to he organized and. missionaries to be sent. Sorts, "The First Presidency responded by Apostle Melvin J Ballard." said Elder Sorensen. "On Christmas day iPcro, Apostle Ballard offered a very significant dedicatory prayer in whieh he prophesied that the work would start small but would become one of the strongest missions of the Church. Detailing the growth of the Church throughout the years. Elder Sorensen said, "If mere is any lesson to lie learned from the history of the Church in South America, it is this, that the blessings of the Lord follow faith and works of the people, just as sure as night follows the day." Pres. Spat referred to the special significance of the temple and said, "It is here that we make the final prepara tions. It is here that we make voluntary covenants to honor the priesthood, to honor God and His Son Jesus Christ and to he obedient to the commandments and to the modern day prophets. "It is a challenge worth striving for," he said. "Through the ordinances of the temple we may draw closer to God than is in any other way possible. "This makes the temple not the structure of the building itself, but for what it represents and for what is performed within its walls, of unequaled importance for the saints .sending It was a simple and short 4.'i minutes but beautiful ceremony, held outdoors at 3 p.m. under blue skies and arm, autumn weather. The Church authorities present were seated on a stand specially built for the Continued on page 13 w Elder James E. Faust, Elder Asael T. Sorensen and Pres. Walter Spat, from left, break ground at temple site. open to the Kingdom of Gixi for those of our forebears who died without an opportunity t accept the gospel of Jesus Chris) in this earth." He addl'd. " c now come to a time of separation It is a separation from weakness and evil habits and compani ions "Those who enter the temple will the vows of lake upon theni'-chethe laws ol will learn and they chatity sacrifice and obedience s "It is a No a time n! choosing," ho said. " ho eliallonv.e then is to be worthy, so that we may not only he calk'd, hut imp he chosen," Mso speaking at the ground breaking were Filter Sorensen, who gave a brief history o( the Chnri'li in South America, and Pres Spat. iir. t stake president in Brazil and now president o! the Sao Paulo Brazil Slake m which the temple site located a ni a: ic;, P Piatt Sol do was sent to .South iih ;' a in bSal. "He arriv ed in Yalnnr.ib o. ( ale, only to.fi ml (he hearts ,id nmub ol the people Eider i i "I elosed Eider Ir.ai r!nriietl to Salt Lake Young people from six stakes in Sao Paulo, Brazil, form choir at temple ground breaking. WFEK ENDING MARCH 27, 1976 CHURCH |