Elder Helvecio Martins, 75, died May 14 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, of heart problems.

Called and Prepared From the Foundation of the World

Elder Martins served in the Second Quorum of the Seventy from March 31, 1990, to September 30, 1995, serving in the Brazil Area presidency. He was the first General Authority of African descent.

"Elder Helvecio Martins was a living example of Alma 13:3: 'called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God,'" said Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Seventy, president of the Brazil South Area. "Within five days of meeting the missionaries in 1972, Brother Martins was at the church, helping and cleaning, serving in whatever way he could. Once he believed something was right, he had a steel determination to hold firm and never let go."

Financial and social success had left Helvecio Martins and his wife Ruda spiritually empty. They began attending various churches, seeking "something"—they weren't quite sure what. One day, while stuck in a traffic jam, Helvecio Martins prayed to God:

"My God, I know you are there some place, but I don't know where. Is it possible you don't see the confusion my family and I are experiencing? It is possible you don't realize we are searching for something and that we don't even know what it is? Why don't you help us? Why don't you help us find that something which will bring relief, satisfaction, joy?"

After I had uttered my plea, the traffic cleared up and I returned home, quickly forgetting about the incident. But Heavenly Father had not forgotten. I had prayed as earnestly as I knew how to at the time, and my request had been heard.

After everyone was seated, the missionaries said they were representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ and that they had a blessing for our family if we would like one. I told them yes, but stated that I first had some questions I would like them to answer.

"Given that your church is headquartered in the United States," I began, "a country with a history of racial conflict, how does your religion treat blacks?" The year was 1972—six years prior to the priesthood revelation allowing blacks to hold the priesthood. Elder McIntire initially went red in the face [blushed] and nervously squirmed in his chair. Then, he asked our permission to have a prayer, which we agreed to, and afterward began giving what I now realize was the first missionary discussion.

The elders continued talking. I kept asking questions, the most pertinent of which they responded to. Before we knew it, the hour was one in the morning, and those missionaries had given us, I again realize in retrospect, most of the missionary lessons. During that four-and-a-half hour discussion, we dealt with the issue of blacks and the priesthood. The missionaries' explanation seemed clear to me, and, more important, I accepted the practice as the will of the Lord.

Strong spiritual promptings began for us in 1973 when Ruda, Marcus, and I received extraordinary patriarchal blessings—extraordinary because they promised blessings that, at the time, seemed impossible for our family to fulfill. The patriarch informed me that I would be privileged to live on the earth in the joy of an eternal covenant. Ruda received the same assurance. But how? How could we enjoy an eternal covenant when, as Blacks, we could not go through the temple to be sealed?

Just as unusual was Marcus's blessing. In it, he was promised that he would preach the gospel to righteous families. Other parts of the blessing led us to believe he would serve a full-time mission. Again, how could this happen without the priesthood? We left the home of the patriarch confused, later deciding not to dwell too much on what had been said. We carefully tried not to let the promises in our blessings upset the tranquility of our lives. Nevertheless, we couldn't ignore personal prophecy from God; we opened a mission savings account for Marcus Helvecio. Today, when I read my blessing, I shed tears at the significance and inspiration of the patriarch's words to my family that day.

Then in 1975, spiritual experiences foreshadowing the priesthood revelation began occurring to us in earnest when President Spencer W. Kimball announced the construction of the Sao Paulo Temple. I was called to be a member of the public relations communications committee for the temple dedication and often attended meetings in Sao Paulo. One day, after one of these meetings, Ruda and I toured the construction site of the much-anticipated temple, which we never expected to enter. As we walked on the uncompleted main floor, we both stopped at a certain place—a place that, we learned only later, was the very spot of the future celestial room. A powerful spirit touched our hearts as we stood there. We hugged each other and cried, not really understanding why.

In 1977, Ruda and I again met the prophet President Spencer W. Kimball, who once again helped us to spiritually prepare for what was to come. On this particular occasion, the prophet had flown to Sao Paulo for the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Sao Paulo Temple. He sat on a platform with his counselor, President Marion G. Romney, Elder Faust, and other leaders. I was busily involved below with other members of the public relations committee. With the help of Douglas Borba of the Church's media company, Bonneville International, we assisted reporters from various newspapers, magazines and television-radio stations.

Before the ceremony began, I glanced up at the stand and could see that President Kimball was looking in my direction. He motioned his finger for me to come and speak to him. I turned away, not believing his gesture could be meant for me, and continued with my duties. Still, I couldn't help looking at him again. Smiling, the prophet repeated the signal, which I again could not believe was meant for me. Finally, he whispered something to Elder Faust, who then repeated the gesture and mouthed the words, "Helvecio, come here."

I excused myself from Brother Borba and went up to the stand. President Kimball stood up, gave me a hug, asked how I was doing, and introduced me to President Romney. Then the prophet put his arm around me, looked me straight in the eye, and said, "Brother Martins, what is necessary for you is fidelity. Remain faithful and you will enjoy all the blessings of the gospel."

On June 8, 1978, I returned home from a typical day at work to find Ruda extremely excited. Two women were with her, one of them Yara Lucia, the daughter of Ruda's friend Teresinha Bezerra dos Santos.

"I have news, amazing news!" Ruda cried as I came through the door. "Rosana Wilken called Yara from the United States. The First Presidency just announced the prophet's revelation: the priesthood will now be given to all men, regardless of race! Helvecio, you will hold the priesthood."

I could not respond. Was it actually true? It couldn't be—we never expected it. Yet, would Yara and her friend come to our house with this news if it were not true? Still, I resisted believing this incredible report. Then our phone, which had been broken, suddenly rang. My associate from Bonneville International, Douglas Borba, told me from the other end, "I'm calling from Salt Lake City. The First Presidency just made the announcement about a priesthood revelation. I have the official declaration in my hands and I'm going to read it to you."

He proceeded to read. My doubts disappeared. The foretold restoration had arrived.