SAO PAULO, Brazio — Rain just made the dancing more energetic and the colors more vivid for the reported 60,000 members gathered in the Pacaembu Stadium to watch or participate in a Day of Celebration, said to be among the largest Church musical programs held outside the United States.
The extraordinary celebration that took place Feb. 21, 2004, will remain in the memory of the saints in Brazil as a day of joy and gratitude commemorating the rededication of the Sao Paulo Temple.
The rain was abundant, starting during the member meeting, and by the time the cultural celebration began, people donned plastic covers. Literally soaked, having been in torrential rain for two hours, the members were excited, dancing to the music during the production.
Members and friends of the Church witnessed the entrance of more than 5,000 people in water-spattered colors, of pink, yellow, green, blue and red, besides an additional 2,300 people in other costumes and accompanied on stage by 350 larger-than-life props.
Dancers in traditional costumes from the many regions of Brazil, and characters from Brazilian children's literature began to parade before the curious eyes of the audience. Elderly, youth, adults, children, whole families — all were part of what was transmitted via satellite to stakes throughout Brazil.
Under the direction of the Brazil South Area presidency, the huge celebration was produced and carried out with the support of several hundred volunteers, including those who trained the performers, organized the staging, sewed the costumes, and built the props. More than 500 members were involved with security, cleaning, organization and medical assistance, among other things. A 1,200-voice choir, representing members of 60 stakes, performed.
The field had two small stages on the sides and a principal stage with four large television screens around it, as well as a screen on top of the stadium, which allowed the event to be seen by people near the stadium.
"The people who came here were touched by what we did for them," Conrado Santos said.
Altogether, more than 10,000 people representing members of 60 stakes participated in the hour-and-a-half show, practicing in stakes for the previous four months, but together just once on the morning of the event.
"The professionalism and beauty of the show was to us a miracle of the goodness of the Lord in allowing all to come together so well," said Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Seventy, president of the Brazil South Area.
"Seeing Pacaembu Stadium full, and knowing tens of thousands attended by way of satellite gave all a sense of the miracle the Lord is bringing to pass in this great nation of Brazil," he said. "It brings to mind the words of Moses: "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13).
"The Day of Celebration, which came at the request of President Hinckley, lifted the vision of the Brazilian saints, and helped them to see what they could achieve with faith, work, and the help of the Lord. How grateful we all are for the prophetic mantle of President Hinckley."
After the prayer, all sang with nationally known vocalist Liriel Domiciano the Brazilian national anthem, with the giant flag of Brazil waving. About 1,200 missionaries from five missions in the Sao Paulo area and the Sao Paulo Missionary Training Center entered soon afterward, singing in Portuguese "Called to Serve," followed shortly by 300 Primary children, dressed as missionaries with small "future missionary" name tags.
Among the children participating were two young boys whose impoverished parents are not members. The boys worked to earn the money to come to the stadium by bus. Other youth walked eight miles to practice each week.
The music of Ari Barroso, "Watercolor of Brazil," excited the audience, foreshadowing a show that would represent the five regions of the county, beginning in the North, passing through the Cangao, whose principal theme was intoned in saxophone and trumpet by Christian Pinheiro and regional dances, followed by the samba and ginga of Rio de Janeiro and the culture of Sao Paulo. Giant puppets, cars, boats, soccer players, animals — all to commemorate, exhibit and reverence symbols of hope, faith and joy in this, one of the largest nations of the world, Brazil.
"It was an event in which I will never participate again, so it was a unique moment for me," recalled member Lisa Baccelli.
"After all the preparation, after all the rain that fell, it was marvelous. Really, the feeling of the people was indescribable," concluded member Regina Rondena.
