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MANAUS, Brazil — Thousands of teenagers in Brazil performed in a special cultural celebration before their church leaders Saturday.
The teens, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, were celebrating the completion of the newest LDS temple. The temple, which is the sixth in Brazil, will be dedicated Sunday by church leader President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the LDS Church Presidency.
Uchtorf, who attended the celebration in a stadium, lead services and received a traditional headdress as a gift from the Brazilian members.
"Thank you so much for this," he said. "We will honor this and keep this, and are cherishing it throughout our lives."
He and Apostle Quentin L. Cook traveled to Manaus in the Amazon for the dedication of the temple deep in the jungle. Uchtdorf praised the area for the remarkable growth of the Church in one generation.
"Your strong faith, your example of dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ will be a blessing and a hope to the world," Uchtdorf said. "As you look back to those few in the very beginning with gratitude, future generations will look back to you."
After his remarks, young people performed traditional dances and missionaries even joined the celebration.
As per tradition, Uchtdorf will seal the cornerstone of the temple and lead the dedicatory sessions Sunday.
