By Paulo and Enírades Oliveira, Ridgeview 2 Ward
The photo above reflects a story that began decades ago in Brazil, where my beloved wife, Enírades (Ennie), and I were born.
I was baptized at age 13—the first in my family—paving the way for my parents and three siblings. My wife was baptized at 16, along with her parents and eight siblings. At the time, we lived in different cities: I in Juiz de Fora (State of Minas Gerais) and she in Nova Friburgo (State of Rio de Janeiro). In Brazil during the 1960s, adopting a new religion faced great resistance from traditional church leaders. Yet, in 1963, after missionaries visited us for five years, I obtained my parents’ permission to be baptized, thanks to the loving efforts of Sister Nelson (from Montana USA), and Sister Rodrigues (from São Paulo, Brazil).
On my baptism day, June 4, 1963, a cloud of negative feelings made me tell the sisters I wouldn’t go through with it. But the moment they left, an inexplicable feeling urged me to run after them. Enormous joy flooded our hearts. I later baptized my father in 1967 and saw my mother and siblings join the Church. In 1969, Enírades and her family were taught by the elders and baptized on November 8, 1969, bringing 11 new members to their small branch. In 1970, her father, an army officer, was transferred to Juiz de Fora, where Enírades and I finally met.
I kept a lifelong friendship with Sister Nelson. Enírades and I were sealed in the São Paulo Temple on March 13, 1979. Years later, our three daughters traveled to Utah and completed high school under Sister Nelson’s watchful care. Our daughters eventually married Americans and blessed us with six grandchildren, cementing our enduring connection to this blessed country.
In my city of Juiz de Fora, I had the privilege of serving in various callings, including as Bishop of the first ward, President of the city’s first stake, counselor to two mission presidents, and temple ordinance worker in the São Paulo and Campinas Temples. Enírades served faithfully in Young Women and Relief Society leadership roles at both the ward and stake levels, as well as Institute Teacher. After I retired as a Telecommunications Engineer and Division Manager for a state telephone company and getting our greencards, we decided to move to the United States in 2010.
Our hearts ached leaving our ailing parents and brother behind, but just two months later we were called to the Campinas Temple presidency and as an Assistant to the Matron. We had a wonderful experience serving in the House of the Lord. It was a clear act of divine providence and a massive blessing, as it allowed us to return and care for my parents and brother. During those three years, we were able to be present for the final moments and funeral services of my beloved parents and brother.
We returned to Utah in 2014, and became U.S. citizens in 2020. Here in Utah, we have served two missions—at the FamilySearch Library and the Church History Library—and I have served in two Portuguese-speaking ward bishoprics. We also served as ordinance workers and I as a sealer in the Jordan River and Draper Temples. Recently, we received a new call to serve a mission in southern Brazil, beginning this coming November.
Our family started with just the two of us, and today we are 14!
We testify that we have a loving Heavenly Father. We testify that Jesus Christ lives; He is our Redeemer, our Master, our light, and the source of all truth. Thanks to our beloved Savior, there is no problem without a solution. We have living prophets in whom we can safely trust. More than ever, we need to hear and follow their counsel. We testify, from our personal experience, that by serving and worshipping in the House of the Lord, we can feel more closely the power of redemption and the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is, in fact, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
Glory be to the Lord. This is the true Church of Jesus Christ, and if there is anyone who does not yet know this, we want to testify that it is true.