This West Mission Office used to be the home of Elder Faust and Elder Bangueter. Both of these men were an important part of our first Brazilian experience. Elder Faust and his wife remained part of our life until they passed away.
TOUR OF MISSION OFFICE
December 17, 2018
The first Stake in Brazil was organized in São Paulo in 1966 by Spencer W. Kimball.
Elder Faust (1975 - 1977) presided over the Brazil area of the Church, and during his tenure the São Paulo Temple was announced.
Elder Faust became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles October 1, 1978 and continued as president of the International Mission.
Wm. Grant Bangerter served in Brazil as a young missionary (1939 – 1941). Not only did he and Elder Faust serve in the same mission at the same time, they were companions!
Elder Bangerter presided over three missions: Brazil (1958 -1963), Portugal (1974-1975), and the International Mission (1975-1977).
Elder Bangerter became an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Apr. 4, 1975 – Oct. 1 1976).
Elder Bangerter served as a member of the First Quorum of Seventy (Oct. 1, 1976 – Apr. 5, 1989).
Elder Bangerter returned to Brazil as Area Supervisor, replacing Elder James E. Faust, July 7, 1977 – January 1978. It was then he lived in this house.
Elder Bangerter had 4 children (1 died at birth) with his first wife, Mildred and 7 with his second wife, Geraldine, including Julie Beck, past General Relief Society President. Three of his children were born while he was President of the Brazil Mission, Peggy Brasilia, Glenn Paulo, and Layne Rio. Paulo presided over the Brazil Salvador South Mission and Elder Greg Biddulph’s brother, Michael, took his place. Another son, Howard Kent is currently presiding over the Piracicaba Mission and will be released the same day as President Thomas.
In November of 1977 Elder Bangerter was stricken with a serious disease, he thought it was Scarlet Fever, it turned out to be Lepto Spirosis, a disease that is transmitted through the urine of rats. It affected his kidneys, brain, skin and digestive system, he had encephalitis, nephritis, myocarditis, and meningitis. Every day he would walk on the sidewalk on the side of mission home, barefoot, for exercise.
In April of this year President Paulo Bangerter and his wife, who were here for a Mission President’s Conference, brought another Mission President and his wife to the office and gave them a tour of the buildings and told them many stories of his childhood here.
He said this was the first MTC in South America.
In June of this year President Howard Bangerter visited the office with 3 of his sisters and 1 brother-in-law. They talked non-stop as they walked through the office and other buildings, about their experiences of living here as children. They remembered many General Authorities who stayed here. Some of them include: O. Leslie Stone, Gene R. Cook, Hartman Rector Jr., David B. Wirthlin, Mark E. Peterson, Bruce R. McConkie, James E. Faust, Joseph Fielding Smith, Spencer W. Kimball, Harold B. Lee, and Gordon B. Hinckley. One day one of the young boys, about 8 years old was struggling practicing the piano. Elder Gene R. Cook sat by his side and gave him some pointers, and before long he became a very accomplished piano player. They remember them and the missionaries playing ping pong.
They called the bathroom in the entry way, the “Throne Room”, because it had a gold colored toilet.
On June 8, 1978 Elder Bangerter was in his office, on the south side of the entrance door, when the first phone call was made to Brazil announcing the change in policy that all worthy males could receive the Priesthood. Elder Bruce R. McConkie was the caller.
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| New historical marker in front of West Mission Home |
A MISSIONARY HOUSE
This house is a symbol of the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil and a remembrance of the missionaries and leaders of the Church who have served in this country.
One of the first missionaries of the Church in Brazil was Elder James E. Faust. By the time he arrived in 1939, there were less than two hundred members across the country. He returned to Brazil from 1975 to 1977 as Area Supervisor. During this assignment he lived in this house, which he helped buy for the Church. For a time, this house was the headquarters of the Church in Brazil, and in subsequent years several General Authorities of the Church lived here before it became the home and office of a mission.
In a later period of his life, Elder Faust made frequent visits to Brasil, as Apostle and Counselor in the First Presidency. In recognition for a lifetime of service in Brazil, the members affectionately called him, The Brazilian Apostle”, and the Sao Paulo City Council granted him the honorary title of “Cidadao Paulistano”. At the time of his death, in 2007, Elder Faust had watched the Church grow in Brazil until it had more than one million members. This growth was for him “a cause of great admiration and wonder” and a testimony that it “is the work of God”.
Posted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2018
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