Doors opened in Portugal
In 1975, President Monson had an assignment to dedicate Portugal for preaching of the gospel, after the church had received permission for missionaries to be assigned to that country. The mission had opened, and W. Grant Bangerter was president of the Portugal Lisbon Mission.
Prior to Portugal, President Monson was in Sweden. President Bangerter called and asked that President Monson come immediately instead of waiting for the scheduled day.
"He revealed that a general election was to take place in two days time that could have a very marked effect on the establishment of the church in that land."
The Monsons flew to Lisbon, were met by the Bangerters and a few church members and missionaries.
"The commodious hotel where we stayed was largely vacant, as pre-election fear of violence gripped the hearts of the populace.
"The next morning atop a hillside, our small party gathered. Just as I was about to offer the prayer of dedication, President Bangerter said, 'Ask our Heavenly Father to take charge of the election, that the church may remain in Portugal and fulfill its destiny among this people.'
"In the prayer of dedication, I importuned our Heavenly Father to watch over the land and to bless the people with an outcome in the election that would be beneficial to the presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Two days later in Europe, I read the Paris edition of the Herald Tribune, which carried a headline, 'Moderates Sweep Portugal Election!'
"From that point of dedication, the membership grew dramatically."
-- From "Inspiring Experiences That Build Faith," by Thomas S. Monson - found here.
The Dedicatory Prayer of Portugal, given on April 22, 1975, By Elder Thomas S. Monson, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve:
O God, our Eternal and Heavenly Father, we meet before Thee on this lovely day with the freshness of spring in the air and a feeling of peace within our hearts, and we express our gratitude unto Thee for the privilege to come before Thee in holy prayer. We are grateful for the blessings which we have received from Thy hand. We are appreciative of the manner in which Thou hast blessed Thy work upon the earth, and acknowledge before Thee Thy hand in our lives. We are grateful for a prophet of God, even Spencer W. Kimball, who has been able to influence all of us with a new desire to promulgate Thy word throughout the earth. He has called to the attention of the world the message which Thy Son Jesus Christ gave unto His disciples when He said, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." In response to this call and in accordance with this divine declaration, we have assembled here today, in the land of Portugal, that we might dedicate this land for the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Assembled here, Heavenly Father, are splendid missionaries who have come here from America and Brazil, and we remember when we look upon them the words of the Apostle Paul, "How beautiful upon the mountaintops are the feet of those who bear good tidings and publish peace." Bless these missionaries, Heavenly Father. Grant them power beyond their own, and as Thou dost bless them we ask Thee to bless every missionary who comes to this land, that each may recognize that he is standing in a land which has been dedicated for the preaching of the gospel, that he might labor with his might, and that each missionary may recognize that the worth of souls is precious in Thy sight.
We ask Thee to bless these members who have assembled here this morning. In a very real sense, each one is a pioneer in that he or she is one that has gone before, showing others the way to follow. Grant, Heavenly Father, that our membership may increase, that the blessings of the gospel may come into the lives of the Portuguese people. We recognize, Father, that from this land went navigators and seafaring men in days of yore and that the Portuguese people have an adventuresome spirit, as they trusted in Thee, as they looked for lands unknown. Grant that they may trust in Thee as they now search for those truths which will lead them to life eternal.
O Heavenly Father, bless the government of this land. Thou knowest the turmoil and the difficulty which have transpired. Wilt Thou touch the hearts of men in influential places and grant that they may make those decisions which would be favorable to the advancement of the cause of the gospel. And bless the people that they may take an active role in their government and that they may be lead of Thee in the decisions which they make, that all might be done for the furtherance of Thy work.
And bless those individuals who may be lead of Thee. We acknowledge that they have come as a result of Thy inspiration. We acknowledge Thy hand in their lives and in ours.
Now, Heavenly Father, there is burning within our hearts the words of Thy prophet, Joseph Smith, when he declared in a letter to Mr. John Wentworth the truth that the gospel will go forth, when he declared, "No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Armies may assemble, mobs may combine, and calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, until it has visited every country, swept every nation and sounded in every ear. That the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."
O Heavenly Father, we seek Thy blessings now upon the advancement of Thy work. We ask Thee that Thy gospel may be taught with testimony and with power. That the missionaries might be like the sons of Mosiah, who had searched the scriptures diligently that they might know the words of eternal life. That they may give themselves to much prayer and fasting. That they may have the spirit of prophesy and of revelation and that when they teach they may teach with the power and authority of God. We acknowledge, Heavenly Father, that this is a beginning, and we invoke Thy divine blessings to advance the cause which we have undertaken in Portugal. Wilt Thou open the way. Wilt Thou prepare the people, that those persons who are here who have prepared themselves for the message of truth may receive it. O Heavenly Father, be patient with the people. Extend Thy loving hand unto them. Thou knowest how long they have been without the truth of the gospel. And wilt Thou now bestow upon them Thy divine blessings in great abundance that they may rejoice in spirit, that they may praise Thy holy name, that they may know that Thou hast intervened in their lives.
We are aware, Heavenly Father, that the Portuguese people in Brazil have accepted Thy gospel. The stakes of Zion are now established in great number in Brazil. And a temple dedicated to Thy holy name will be erected. O Father, these are the same people here. Wilt Thou look upon them with as kindly a spirit as Thou hast favored their descendants and relatives in Brazil. Heavenly Father, grant that all Thy wishes may be manifest in the lives of these people, and wilt Thou now hear our plea, for in the authority of the holy Apostleship which I bear, even the authority of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood, I hereby dedicate the land of Portugal for the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and invoke all Thy divine blessings upon all that pertain thereto and, likewise, invoke Thy blessings upon mission leaders, branch and local leadership, upon the missionaries themselves, and upon all who could help bring to pass Thy purpose. And this I do in the name of the Redeemer, the Savior of all mankind, Thine Only Begotten Son in the flesh, even Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.
