Pocatello Times

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles concluded a nine-day ministry to Brazil Sunday, March 12. The Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with prominent civic leaders, visited the soon-to-be-dedicated Brasília Brazil Temple, and taught and testified to members, missionaries and leaders throughout the expansive South American country.

Elder Andersen was accompanied by his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, and members of the Brazil Area Presidency.

The leaders started in the northeastern coastal city of Recife, traveled for a day to the capital city of Brasília in the nation’s interior, and concluded with five days in southeastern mega-metropolis of São Paulo, where they lived when he helped lead and mentor Latter-day Saints and leaders during their five-year area assignment.

On March 6, Elder Andersen met with Rosângela Lula da Silva, the first lady of Brazil, who spoke with him about her goal to help children in her country who are hungry and lack basic needs.

“As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we certainly want to assist with this effort as well,” said Elder Andersen, noting the Church made a donation “to help with this initiative to help God’s children.”

Elder Andersen presented the first lady with a personal copy of the Book of Mormon, read a scripture that describes Jesus’s love for little children, and invited her to attend the open house of the Brasilia Brazil Temple later this year.

“We had a wonderful visit and are looking forward to continuing to build this relationship with her,” said Elder Andersen, who posted about the experience on his social media account.

In the two days following the historic meeting with the first lady of Brazil, Elder and Sister Andersen visited several state and city leaders, including Governor Raquel Lyra of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco in the Palácio do Campo das Princesas in Recife, Brazil. Lyra lost her husband to a heart attack during the 2022 fall elections, and the Andersens shared with her their belief of Jesus Christ and the eternal nature of the soul. (See Elder Andersen’s social media post about the experience.)

“We felt that it was a preview for the dedication and open house,” said Elder Andersen of the visits with government leaders that supplemented the usual leadership instruction conferences and devotionals with members and missionaries. “It allowed some preparation for the temple dedication, helping create some connections that we’ll be able to revisit during the open house.”

Over the next several days, Elder and Sister Andersen — joined by members of the Brazil Area presidency and their wives — also met with a national senator, the governor of São Paulo state, the governor of Pernambuco and the mayor of Recife.

Of the meetings with government leaders, Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, a General Authority Seventy and Brazil Area President, said that “though these are very critical relationships for the Church in Brazil — and we are grateful that Elder Anderson took the time to meet with these government leaders — I want to say that these were spiritual visits and experiences for each one.”

During the visits, substantial donations were made — from medical equipment to a cancer hospital in Pernambuco to playground equipment to 90-plus preschool daycare centers in Recife, from money to help field needy indigenous children in northern Brazil to financial assistance to aid victims of floods and landslides in northern São Paulo state.

Original source can be found here.