Helvécio Martins

Helvécio Martins (27 July 1930 – 14 May 2005) was the first person of Black African descent to be called as a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Early life and education Born to Honório and Benedita Martins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Helvécio Martins grew up there in a middle-class environment in the outskirts of what was then Brazil's capital. Due to the federal policies of Getúlio Vargas, Honório's profession as a fur trader was jeopardized, causing Helvécio to drop out of school when he was twelve years old to help generate more income for his parents and six younger siblings. Nevertheless, Helvécio continued to attend school whenever he could, eventually graduating from high school at twenty-six years old. Education became highly important to him, especially as he saw how hard his father had to work because of his lack of education.

Introduction to the LDS Church In 1972, Martins had returned late from work and was preparing to sleep when there was a knock on the door. Initially, the Martins family was wary about answering the door so late at night, but his wife, Rudá, decided to open it. Standing outside were two missionaries of the LDS Church. Martins was intrigued, having been curious about these men and their purpose just days earlier. Nevertheless, the Martins family opted to stay rooted in the faith and testimonies they had developed by continuing to remain active in the LDS Church. To help integrate them into their ward, their bishop called Helvécio to be a Gospel Doctrine class teacher and Rudá as a counselor in the Primary presidency. About his call to the Second Quorum of the Seventy, Martins was quoted as saying, "I felt very inadequate, but the Lord qualifies whom He calls." and again in April 1995 with a talk titled "Watchmen on the Tower."

After serving a standard five-year term as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, Martins was released as a general authority on 30 September 1995.

Personal life Helvécio Martins married Rudá Tourinho de Assis on 8 December 1956, when he was twenty-six years old. Together they had four children: Marcus, Mariza, Raphael, and Aline.

On 14 May 2005, Martins died at 74 years old in Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil, due to heart problems. Following his death, Elder Neil L. Andersen said, "Elder Helvécio Martins was a living example of Alma 13:3: 'called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God.' 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."