Monday, May 30, 2016

Hasta la Vista, Hermano Bronco Hollowell

Bronco Hollowell, the youngest of Bob and Carol Hollowell's four sons, will enter the MTC in Spain on May 31, where he will spend six weeks studying Spanish prior to serving the Lord and His children in the Spain Malaga Mission.  He had anticipated, before his call letter arrived, he would be called to serve "stateside" like his third brother Montana who served a Spanish-speaking mission in South Dakota rather than his oldest brother Jordan who served in Thailand.  When he was called to Spain, "I cried and had to have my mother finish reading my letter."

Bronco has been told - by friends who have served there - he can expect "the weather to be hot and humid, with great seafood and lots of Catholics!"

The first Spanish member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was Melitón Trejo (in about 1870) who emigrated to Utah, where he aided in the first translation into Spanish of portions of the Book of Mormon; and, later accompanied the first Church missionary expedition to Mexico.

The next known conversions in Spain did not occur until 1966, in association with two American congregations meeting for Sunday worship. The Spain Religious Liberty Law, passed in 1967, paved the way for the organization of the Madrid Branch in February 1968. Some 40 people attended, including Spanish wives of American servicemen, other Spanish-speaking members, and investigators. Official recognition for the Church in Spain was formalized in October 1968, and the first mission was organized in July 1970. During this period, many Spanish-speaking members from other nations were transferred by their businesses to Spain and helped to strengthen new congregations. By 1974, 620 members met in 17 wards and branches.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, visited King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia in March 1992 and gave them a copy of the Book of Mormon.

Today there are nearly 53,000 members of the Church in Spain, the Church's 56th temple in Madrid, and three missions headquartered in Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga.

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