Helio da Rocha Camargo (1 February 1926 – 19 July 2024) was a Brazilian religious leader who served as the first Brazilian general authority of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

(LDS Church). He was called to the

First Quorum of the Seventy Seventy is a Priesthood (LDS Church), priesthood office in the Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints), Melchizedek priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Traditionally, a church member holding this priesth ...

in 1985 and served there for four years. In 1989, he was transferred, along with other limited-term members of the First Quorum of the Seventy to the newly created

Second Quorum of the Seventy Seventy is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Traditionally, a church member holding this priesthood office is a "traveling minister" and an "especial witness" of J ...

. Camargo was released as a general authority in 1990. Camargo was born in Resende,

state of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil. It has the second largest economy of Brazil, with the largest being that of the state of São Paulo. The state, which has 8.2% of the Brazilian population, is responsible for 9.2% of ...

. He entered a military academy in 1943 and he advanced to the rank of captain in the Brazilian military before his retirement. Camargo married Nair Belmira de Gouveia in 1948 and they had six children. They served together as president} and matron of the São Paulo Brazil Temple. She was also an area representative for the church's auxiliary boards. After leaving the military, Camargo moved to

São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...

where he became a banker and also entered a

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...

seminary. Camargo was ordained a Methodist minister but was later expelled from the seminary because he opposed

infant baptism Infant baptism, also known as christening or paedobaptism, is a Christian sacramental practice of Baptism, baptizing infants and young children. Such practice is done in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, va ...

. He was one of three ministers expelled at that point, the other two were Saul Messias de Oliveira and Walter Guedes de Queiroz, who also later joined the LDS Church. Camargo read literature he had previously received from LDS Church

missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Miss ...

and then started attending meetings of the church. His conversion was helped by hearing the testimony of a young lady on the power of the

law of chastity Teachings on sexuality in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is deeply rooted in its doctrine. In its standards for sexual behavior called the law of chastity, top LDS leaders bar all premarital sex, all homosexual sex ...

. He was baptized in 1957. Camargo served as the first

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

of the São Paulo East

Stake A stake is a large wooden or metal implement designed to be driven into the ground and may refer to: Tools * Archer's stake, a defensive stake carried by medieval longbowmen * Survey stakes, markers used by surveyors * Sudis (stake) (Latin for ...

when it was organized in November 1968. Camargo also served as a

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

, counselor to a

mission president Mission president is a Priesthood (LDS Church), priesthood leadership position in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A mission president presides over a geographic area known as a Mission (LDS Church), mission and the M ...

, and as president of the Rio de Janeiro mission, which then covered all of Brazil north and north west of Rio de Janeiro. Among the missionaries who served under Camargo when he was mission president was

Ulisses Soares Ulisses Soares (born 2 October 1958) is a Brazilian religious leader and former businessman who serves as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint ...

, who would later become an

apostle An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary. The word is derived from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", itself derived from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to se ...

in the LDS Church. Camargo's wife died in April 2020. He died on 19 July 2024, at the age of 98. Camargo's son, Milton R. Camargo, was called as 1st counselor in the LDS Church's

Sunday School ] A Sunday school, sometimes known as a Sabbath school, is an educational institution, usually Christianity, Christian in character and intended for children or neophytes. Sunday school classes usually precede a Sunday church service and are u ...

General Presidency in 2019.bio of Milton Camargo
/ref>

Notes

References

"The Church in Brazil,"
'' Ensign (LDS magazine), Ensign'', February 1975, p. 24 *McClellan, Richard D. "Helio R. Camargo" in Garr et al., ''Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History'', p. 172
"Elder Helio R. Camargo of the First Quorum of the Seventy,"
'' Ensign (LDS magazine), Ensign'', May 1985, p. 93

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Camargo, Helio R. 1926 births 2024 deaths Brazilian general authorities (LDS Church) Brazilian Mormon missionaries Converts to Mormonism from Methodism Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Mission presidents (LDS Church) People from Resende Temple presidents and matrons (LDS Church)