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Show Mrs. Agricol Lozano aixl daughter Xiuhsal enjoy a moment together. in the baptism of 2,000 members in one year, Mrs. Lozano did her part. She was part of a group who, committed to each other, then worked together raising funds for missionaries. They had the theme, We are the servants of the missionaries in the Mexico Mission. : As a result, each ward was equipped with projectors, training films and other equipment necessary for a missionary open house. Mrs. Lozano supported her husband even before they were married. He was busy as a law student and she imposed a date schedule, so he would once-a-wee- k not be taken from his studies. STORY AND PHOTOS BY MEXICO CITY, MEXICO J M. HESLOP M Church News Editor Texioo City Stake had the honor of Latin being the first Spanish-speakinAmerican stake organized in the church. It was the 344th stake and was formed Dec. 3, Ml by Elder Marion G. Romney, then of the Council of the Twelve. Today, three stakes are functioning in Mexico City, all under the leadership of local members, whose strength reilects the growth of the church as effectively as the increase of numbers. . The future of the church in Mexico is bright as men and women step forth from the branches and wards to fill positions of leadership and responsibility. Three fine women serve side by side with the three stake presidents who preside in Mexico City. Their strength of testimony and undaunted support adds to the strength of their husbands. They are Mrs. Agricol Lozano, Mexico City East Stake; Mrs. Guillermo Torres, Mexico City North Stake, and Mrs. Juan Casanova, Mexico City Stake. Mrs, Lozano exemplified the spirit Of support and sacrifice a few years ago when her husband asked the members to make an extra effort to meet their share of the building expense of the new stake center. More than 250,000 pesos (63,000 U.S. collars) were needed and Elder Marion G. Romney had challenged Pres. Lozano, saying, When do you want to dedicate this building? Next year? In 1980? or in the millennium? Elder Romney just laughed then, but I prayed and fasted about the solution, Pres. Lozano said. The plan was for the members to contribute 20 percent of their earnings for a period and then seH everything they owned that they were not using. The sacrifice was great and more than 300,000 pesos were contributed in the six-we- short period. Mrs. Lozano saved from the family food budget. Treats were cut out for six weeks. She sold her coat to help raise the funds. The coat was a special coat, a gift from her husband, brought from the United States. He had brought other coats, but this was the first to fit and she liked it so very much. Pres, and Mrs. Lozano shared a good deal of satisfaction as he called Elder Romney to report that the building was ready for dedication that year, 1967. But, sharing is standard procedure for their family. When Pres. Lozano organized a missionary plan that resulted met in 1948 while he was a her home town. She was 14 he was 21. It was the cuselders to walk her home after meetings because she was young and had recently lost her father. Four years later she came to Mexico City as a leader in her district MIA. The couple missionary in years old and tom for the This time he saw her several times. I saw her dance. I heard her preach at the meeting. 1 saw her in drama and I was impressed with her quality of leadership, Pres. Lozano recalled. i i His interest began to grow; he did not think of her as a little girl any longer. They began to correspond. The next time he saw university. i i her was at the 1 am studying to be a lawyer, told her. I am too, i he she replied That mutual interest added to their relationship and soon the romance wrns started. They were married in 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple. They now have five children. I think that women make a great contribution in the church. Being shoulder to shoulder with their husbands is a great step in pushing the work along. But then they have their own programs and if they accept the programs and support and uphold them, the church will move forward., Mrs. Lozano said. And then there is the great responsibility for the family. Each child is a joy to me. It is a joy how they grow physically and spiritually and how they progress in school and church work. Father isnt always home and the mothers have the privilege of being with the children and seeing that they understand the gospel, she added. Like Mrs. Lozano, Mrs. Torres met her husband through church activity. Now, I feel my greatest job is to support my husband m his responsibilities in the church and family, she said. It is a wonderful opportunity to serve the people. Mrs. Torres was converted to the church when she was 14 years old. My aunt was a member of the church, and she was a very special mis: sionary. Because my family lived in a very small town, there were no missionaries. There are still none. When we would visit my aunt in Tula, she would teach us about the church. Her father was killed defending the church. Her tes- Mrs. Torres timony was very strong, recalled. As a child I was so impressed with the priesthood and the meetings that were held in a home. There was no persecution when I was a small girl, but we did have to travel, taking two buses, to the small branch, she said. Mrs. Torres was called in a similar way to a labor mission, to work with the building of chapels. She kept the records, and was eventually transferred to Mexico City. It was there in the Roma Branch (now a ward) that she met her husband. We mostly tered group stake were with a very close group, students, and our social life cenaround the church. From that have come six bishops and two ' presidents, and everyone of the Continued on page 14 Pres, and Mrs. Juan Casanova share excitement of service. |