After addressing the more than 1,000 people who attended the dedication of the Brazil Missionary Training Center in Sao Paulo, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of Twelve offered the dedicatory prayer in Portuguese.
"I feel the faith of those present, and my faith is strong enough that I will be able to deliver the dedicatory prayer in your native language," he told the congregation attending the ceremony.The Brazil Missionary Training Center is the largest constructed building of the Church outside the United States, according to Elder Dallas N. Archibald of the Seventy and president of the Brazil Area. The facility consists of two buildings running parallel to each other. The buildings are six stories high, and are connected by a two-floor structure at the rear which houses the cafeteria and auditorium. Each building is capable of housing 375 missionaries for a total of 750 missionaries. Initially, only one building will be utilized.
The new center was dedicated May 18 by Elder Nelson, who was accompanied by Elder Harold G. Hillam of the presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Carol; and the presidency of the Brazil Area, including Elders Archibald and his wife, Linda; W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy and his wife, Janet; and Claudio R.M. Costa, an Area Authority Seventy, and his wife, Margareth. Also attending were Jerry F. Twitchell, new Missionary Training Center president, and his wife Patricia, and H. Birch Larsen, former Brazil Missionary Training Center president, and his wife, Melba.
Special guest Sen. Julio Campos of the Brazilian Senate also attended and offered brief remarks.
In his dedicatory prayer, Elder Nelson blessed "the citizens of Brazil with freedom and accountability to grow in righteousness," and "the leaders of this great nation with wisdom and integrity."
He also pronounced a blessing on "this sacred edifice [that was] funded by the tithes of faithful people from many nations and circumstances . . .[to] be a place for the blessing of [the] sons and daughters who are privileged to enjoy these wonderful facilities."
The auditorium, arranged to seat 800, accommodated more than 1,150 people during the dedication. A regional choir of stakes in Sao Paulo vicinity provided the music. An estimated 3,000 people toured the building.
