Mission guide
Brazil Fortaleza East Mission
A Portuguese-speaking mission serving around Fortaleza, a historic coastal city in northeastern Brazil.
- Portuguese
Brazil Fortaleza East Mission shirts
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Brazil Fortaleza East Mission Heart Map Shirt
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Choose size & color →I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission
2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
Weak Things Become Strong, in the language of this mission
"I make weak things become strong" (Ether 12:27) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
About the mission
Portuguese is the language used by missionaries and members. Families may also hear local names and expressions from Ceará and northeastern Brazil.
At a glance
- Country
- Brazil
- Main city
- Fortaleza, 2,574,412 people in 2024
- Language
- Portuguese
- Time zone
- Fortaleza Time (UTC-3)
- Climate
- Tropical wet-and-dry, warm year-round, with a rainy season from January through July
- Church in Brazil
- 1,573,360 members, 289 stakes, 2,008 congregations, 37 missions
A short history of the area
The city grew as a regional export center, especially through the cotton industry. Fortaleza later became an important center for education, transportation, trade, and tourism. Today, it has about 25 kilometres of urban beaches and is one of Brazil's largest cities.
The Church here
- 1928Missionaries began preaching in southern Brazil in response to requests from German members living there.
- 1930sChurch services in Brazil shifted to Portuguese after the government banned the use of German in public, and some German-language materials were destroyed.
- 1938The first Latter-day Saint branch in Ceará was organized in Fortaleza.
- 1940The Portuguese translation of the Book of Mormon was first published.
- 1962Missionaries were assigned to Fortaleza as part of efforts to reach northern Brazilian cities.
- 1980The Fortaleza Brazil District was organized on July 14.
- 1981The Fortaleza Brazil Stake was organized on July 19.
- 1987The Church organized the Brazil Fortaleza Mission.
- 2019The Fortaleza Brazil Temple was dedicated in June, with meetings involving missionaries from the Brazil Fortaleza and Brazil Fortaleza East missions.
Temples nearby
Fortaleza Brazil Temple
Dedicated June 2, 2019 · Near Fortaleza
The Book of Mormon here
Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.
Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before you go
Phrases to learn
- OláHello
- Bom diaGood morning
- Tudo bem?How are you? or Is everything well?
- Obrigado ou obrigadaThank you
Foods to try
- Baião de dois (rice and beans, often served with mutton barbecue or carne de sol)
- Tapioca (a pancake made from cassava starch)
- Moqueca steak (a local steak dish)
- Crab (a common part of Ceará seafood cuisine)
Fun facts
- Fortaleza has about 25 kilometres of urban beaches.
- The BR-116, described as Brazil's most important highway, starts in Fortaleza.
- Fortaleza is recognized as a Design City by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.