A Trip to the Temple

Getting to Know the Members

One of our activities is to visit the various members of the branch and get to know them.  Since the Clear Springs Branch is the only Portuguese speaking branch in Georgia, it includes members from different stakes and missions all around Atlanta.

Wagner and Marcia de Souza with their children, grandchildren and son-in-law.  Can you guess which one is not from Brazil?

A Special Day at the Temple

On Saturday we went to the temple to assist with temple baptisms.  

Erika Marques has been a church member for about three months and was able to take several family names for baptism.

The baptisms are performed in a special font which rests on the back of twelve sculptured oxen.  The oxen represent the twelve tribes of Israel.  Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, talks about the resurrection of the body and alludes to the practice of baptisms for the dead, ''Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?  why are they then baptized for the dead?" 1 Corinthians 15:29.  The font is referred to as the "molten sea" in Solomon's temple.

Our temple group from the branch.  The youth serve as proxies and are baptized for their deceased ancestors while the adults officiate and assist with the ordinance.  I was able to be in the font and baptize the youth, performing some of the baptisms in Portuguese and some in English depending on the preferred language of the person being baptized.  

A Very Special Person

During our stay at home we were able to visit with the wife of Sister Erickson's very first mission president in Brazil.  

Sister Jeanette Oakes, wife of former President George Oakes of the Brazil North Mission.  Sister Oakes, a convert to the Church, served a mission in Mexico as a young woman.  George, also a convert, served in Brazil.  After their marriage and while yet in their thirties they presided over the Brazil North Mission.  Later they went on to serve as the executive secretary for the Brazil Area and most recently served as the president and matron of the Campinas Temple.  Their influence has been indelibly etched upon the tremendous growth of the Church in Brazil.

You Just Gotta Love the Senior Couples

Today we had Elder Richard Silver and Sister Kay Silver at our home for Sunday dinner.  They are Portuguese speaking and are also assigned to work with the Clear Springs branch.

Not only did Elder Silver serve as a young missionary in Brazil but, as a retired couple, he and his wife served in Mozambique and later in Angola.  And, of all coincidences, Elder Silver was in the very second class that matriculated at Harvey Mudd College, my alma mater.

Until next week, tchau!