Brazilian receptivity in the land of Mormon!

Date: 26/10/2012 the 29/10/2012

Path: We left Cooke City by US-212 and then take the U.S. 89 Hair entering Yellowstone National Park, where we take a “shortcut”. We peeled U.S. 20 entering Idaho and no-cutting or peeling Sul sense I-15 to Salt Lake City tied cam, Utah not.

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With the advancement of snow in northwest U.S., decided to accelerate the way to the parks to the south of the country and enjoy their útimas weeks without snow. Leaving Yellowstone parks would follow for the southwestern Utah and doubt, then, era: passar por Salt Lake City (em Utah) or Denver and the Rocky Montanhas (Colorado not). As ja das havíamos percorrido longos Rochosas stretches from or Canada, * a look at Ralf was enough for the decision to be taken: Salt Lake was our next stop.

* For those who do not remember, Ralf is the nickname we gave to our guide book U.S.

The intention was to stay only one day in Salt Lake and then continue the trip. However, some movement in the streets around 21h, something unusual in the U.S., we called attention. A prayer was made at the end of a Halloween Party America. Something that city was different from what we were used. And a group of Brazilian, an Ecuadorian and a Honduran were willing to present this new reality.

We left Cooke City with cloudy weather and temperatures below 5 ° C. Were accompanied by high mountains with their peaks becoming less snow while the temperature increased most southerly. We arrived in Salt Lake hungry around 20h and good first impression: our thermometer marked 16 ° C and there was winds! It was the first time within the last 35 days had temperature above 15 ° C! We left the car happy, and without coats, for dinner!

A long conversation at the table, traçávamos few laughs and the exit plan for the next day, after lunch. We left the restaurant and something we called attention. It was a Friday and already passed the 21h, even so many people of all ages walked the streets. We stranger, because it was not something common in the U.S.. How was the weekend pre-Halloween we thought it might have something to do with it. We went in search of a place to see the movement and take a few beers before bed. We took a walk around town and spotted an ice cream shop with costuming. Support. The costumed entered into a settlement, beside the ice cream, that formed a large queue. We asked what it was and the answer came in Spanish: "Halloween is a celebration of America". Caramba! How strange! We liked the idea and decided to join. As we had no fantasies, wear some shirts of the Brazilian team and went to the football team! Original hein?! Hahaha… Good for a party last minute was worth. We soon realized that was not sold any alcoholic beverage. Filled with Latinos, the music styles ranging from Peruvian, Mexican, Venezuelan, Colombian, and others. All animated dancing and soon people came interact with 5 boys who drew attention with those shirts with colored highlighter. Hours after the largest wheel and the party was… Brazilian! Clear! Among other, there would know the 3 Sara(s) (two Brazilian and Ecuadorian), Giulli, Leylyane e o hondurenho Helaman. Dance, talked and at the end of the party… a prayer of thanksgiving!!?? It really was not common. We were curious and to our surprise: the party was 'Mormon'! As our new friends, Salt Lake City is a city composed, mostly, by people who attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church JCSUD). Havíamos não Sabendo that place to sleep, the Helaman opened her home for the night.

The vedade is that the term 'Mormon' - as they are popularly called today those who attend church JCSUD - was created by people who do not attend church, to refer to members. The reason for giving them this name is linked to the 'Book of Mormon' - the book considered sacred by that church goers - which is another testament portrayed the life of Jesus Christ. So, according to the Church, the name that its members should be known is Latter-day Saints (SOUTH).

The city sits within the Salt Lake Valley (Vale do Lago Salgado) is surrounded by two large cadeias montanha the east and west, and rightly so named due to the Great Salt Lak (Big Lake Salgado) located northwest of the city. His foundation, and the State of Utah, is associated with the coming of the Mormons to the region: due to severe persecution of its members and to the doctrines of the Church of JCSUD, Brigham Young led the Mormons trip to the American West after the death of Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the church. And it was there in the Salt Lake Valley who chose the site - where today's Salt Lake City - to be the 'New Zion' (English: the new Zion). Under the leadership of Brigham Young (at the time that not only became leader of the church, but also leader of the territory) there developed the city through a sitema Harvest Community.

Being situated at a crossroads for those who journeyed from the East to the American West in search of fortunes - known in Gold Rush California (California Golden Rush) - Salt Lake City became a stopping point for travelers and benefited from the trade generated intense speculation and land. The great development made, in 1856, Salt Lake became the capital of the territory of Utah, later to become another state of the Union.

And under the mentorship of one of Sarah(s), we started to learn a little more about this story from the modern city of Salt Lake City, the interesting doctrine of the Church members of JCSUD and how they made their living in the city.

Dirigimo-for us to Temple Square (Temple Square) where is located the main church building and where, in their vicinity, are the major building (historical and administrative) church. We visited the museum that tells the history of the church, and the huge visitor center that, Through word, images and videos are passed some values ​​and doctrines of the church. There is also a model of the interior of the main temple of the Church of JCSUD: the Salt Lake Temple - Which has restricted entry to church members. And it was under the help of two nice Brazilian missionary who visited the Beehive House (House Colmeia) where he lived the former leader of the Church: Brigham Young.

You can not deny that these visits served to us as a great moment of spiritual reflection and social. Motivated, mainly, the spirit of brotherhood and affection shown by all members of the Church who welcomed us very well at all times and visits. We learn, also, on missions that many church members perform once in a lifetime, as well as the complex center of production and distribution of food and gifts for underprivileged people. Interesting, also, was the visit to Family Story Library (library of the history of families), where the Church JCSUD provides a huge collaboration to society, assembling the largest collection of the stories of the families that inhabited the planet! That the same 'Family Search’ (searching for families) - Also available online - is in development to catalog as many people as possible, to assemble the largest collection of family trees of the world! Anyone who wants to seek some distant relative or family and you want to know more about the history of your family worth to check it out on their website to see if your family is there already cataloged.

Com more certainty or high Ponto da visit to Mormon culture or espetáculo foi 'Light of the Nations - His Promises' made no da Igreja de JCSUD Auditorium. With capacity for more than 21 mil pessoas, the auditorium was over 80% of their seats occupied. It was beautiful to see that public interbred, in which Americans using simultaneous translator clapped and sang along with Latinos of different nationalities. All contemplating festival honoring the culture of indigenous and Hispanic civilizations, da América Latina. The show featured dances, clothing and musical styles over 8 Latin countries of the Americas, allowing Latinos recognize and appreciate their origins, although living in a different country. Everyone clapped and cheered in a spectacle that, besides celebrating the music, celebrating acceptance and tolerance among nations! It was just amazing!!!

The morning after the festival a new surprise: Wake up early to, punctually at 9am, being in the Tabernacle Church of JCSUD which presents the weekly Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Mormon Tabernacle Choir). An absolute silence since the presentation of 30 I call Music and the Spoken Word é transmitted, ao vivo, nationally, and the program being transmitted sequentially over time in the world!!!

In the late afternoon, finished all the fellowship greeted with a picnic at Ensign Peak. With a trail of approximately 20 my, is a peak with a privileged view of downtown Salt Lake. From there we closed our visit contemplating the aerial view of the city with its beautiful Capitol and Salt Lake Temple, at the bottom!

Preferences religious part, a visit to Salt Lake City was really a spiritual inspiration for Expedition 4×1! We are very grateful to Sarah Albuquerque, Sara Cardenas, Sara Rocha, Giulli, Leylyane Helaman and the warmth and hospitality. That we will be friends for the rest of our lives!

To see more photos from our visit to Salt Lake City click here.