Moroni Bing Torgan (born October 6, 1956) is a Brazilian politician and a member of the National Chamber of Deputies. As of 2001, he was the only Latter-day Saint serving in Brazil's congress.

Biography

Torgan is from

Porto Alegre Porto Alegre (, ; , ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian Federative units of Brazil, state of Rio Grande do Sul. Its population of roughly 1.4 million inhabitants (2022) makes it the List of largest cities in Brazil, 11th-most p ...

. His great-grandmother on his mother's side was among the first members of the LDS branches in Brazil in 1938. Torgan grew up primarily in the Brazilian state of

Rio Grande do Sul Rio Grande do Sul (, ; ; "Great River of the South") is a Federative units of Brazil, state in the South Region, Brazil, southern region of Brazil. It is the Federative units of Brazil#List, fifth-most populous state and the List of Brazilian s ...

and graduated from the

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (, UFRGS) is a Brazilian Public university, public National university, federal research university based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. UFRGS is among the largest and highest-rated universities ...

. Prior to his election to the

National Congress National Congress is a term used in the names of various political parties and legislatures. Political parties *Ethiopia: Oromo National Congress, original name of the Oromo People's Congress *Guyana: People's National Congress Reform *India: **In ...

, Torgan served as president of the Fortaleza Brazil

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 ...

from 1985 to 1991. Torgan served a

mission Mission (from Latin 'the act of sending out'), Missions or The Mission may refer to: Geography Australia *Mission River (Queensland) Canada *Mission, British Columbia, a district municipality * Mission, Calgary, Alberta, a neighbourhood * ...

for

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) in a

based in

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 ...

. His

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 ...

was Saul Messias. Prior to entering politics, Torgan was a Brazilian federal police officer in

Ceará Ceará (, ) is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. It is the List of Brazilian states by population, eighth-largest Brazilian State by ...

state. In 1987, he was appointed secretary of public security for this state, in which he served until he was elected to Brazil's congress in 1991. Torgan is married to the former Rosa Caldas. As of 1989 they had two sons, Mosiah and Jared. Torgan served in the congress of Brazil from 1991 to 1995. In 1995, he was elected vice governor of Ceará. He later served in the Brazilian congress again from 1999 to 2003 and from 2003 to 2007. In 2009, Torgan was called to serve as

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 Portugal Lisbon

Mission Mission (from Latin 'the act of sending out'), Missions or The Mission may refer to: Geography Australia *Mission River (Queensland) Canada *Mission, British Columbia, a district municipality * Mission, Calgary, Alberta, a neighbourhood * ...

of the LDS Church. On March 31, 2012, Torgan was called as an

area 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 ...

of the church. At times, Torgan has served in other positions in the LDS Church, including 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 ...

and as a counselor to the president of the Brazilia Brazil Mission. In October 2012, Torgan placed fourth in the election for Mayor of Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.

Notes

References

* ''

Church News The ''Church News'' (formerly ''LDS Church News'') is a multi-platform supplement and subdivision of the ''Deseret News'', a Salt Lake City, Utah newspaper owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (informally, the LDS Church). ...

'', August 25, 2001; September 16, 1995; March 16, 1991; September 23, 1989.
"Appointments"
''

Ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

'', February 1986, p. 77 *''Mormon Times'', October 1, 2009
Government biography of Torgan
camara.gov.br via archive.org. Accessed 17 April 2024. {{DEFAULTSORT:Torgan, Moroni Bing 1956 births Living people Brazilian leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mormon missionaries in Brazil People from Porto Alegre Brazilian Mormon missionaries 20th-century Mormon missionaries Brazilian police officers 21st-century Mormon missionaries Mormon missionaries in Portugal Area seventies (LDS Church) Mission presidents (LDS Church) Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) from Ceará Brazilian expatriates in Portugal