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Carole Mikita ReportingThe President and First Lady of Mexico made a courtesy visit to headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.
President Fox and the First Lady are well aware that there are nearly a million Latter-day Saints and 12 temples in Mexico. They expressed very positive feelings after meeting with the LDS Church's First Presidency.
The Foxes emerged from their meeting with President Gordon B. Hinckley, waved to a few countrymen and talked only with KSL about the visit.
Vicente Fox, President of Mexico: "We got his blessings, and to me, that's very important. I really feel fine right now, strong."
The president knows this church has had a strong presence in his country for more than a hundred years, with 980-thousand members there.
Pres. Fox: "The activities of the church in Mexico which precisely promote education, promote harmony, promote spiritual values, which I share completely."
President Fox expressed his concern for and interest in his fellow countrymen here, and shared those thoughts with President Hinckley.
Pres. Fox: "We talked about our paisonos here, that they are members of this church, many of them. And the way they are respected, how Utah and all its people respect this Mexican community here."
The Foxes thanked church leaders for their humanitarian work in Mexico, particularly the wheelchair program. The President and First Lady were on hand to receive a shipment recently.
Marta Sahagun, First Lady of Mexico: "We are going to receive some more, too, in the next month. So I really appreciate all the help this church has given to our people, not now, continually."
The Foxes expressed gratitude for how the governor and people of Utah greeted them and their ideas.
"This is a great example of what should be going on everywhere in the united states. Gracias."
Mexico's First Lady is involved in educational programs in her country for both women and children. She also spoke with church leaders about that.
