Mission guide
Brazil Recife North Mission
The Brazil Recife North Mission serves families and missionaries in Recife, a historic coastal city in northeastern Brazil.
- Portuguese
Brazil Recife North Mission shirts
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Brazil Recife North Mission T-Shirt
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Brazil Recife North Mission Heart Map Shirt
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Brazil Recife North Mission Flag Map Shirt
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Brazil Recife North Mission Flag Map Shirt (Dark)
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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 mission's main language and the national language of Brazil. Missionaries use Portuguese in teaching, worship, and daily life.
At a glance
- Country
- Brazil
- Main city
- Recife (1,588,376 people in the municipality in 2025)
- Language
- Portuguese
- Time zone
- Brasília Time (UTC-3)
- Climate
- Tropical monsoon, warm and humid year-round, with the most rain in June
- Church in Brazil
- 1,573,360 members, 289 stakes, 2,008 congregations
A short history of the area
From 1630 to 1654, Recife was the capital of Dutch Brazil and was called Mauritsstad. Portugal recaptured the city after the Battles of Guararapes. Recife became a city in 1823 and is now one of Brazil's largest urban areas.
The Church here
- 1928Missionaries began preaching in southern Brazil in response to requests from German Church members living in the country.
- 1930sChurch services in Brazil shifted to Portuguese after the government restricted the public use of German.
- 1940The first Portuguese translation of the Book of Mormon was published.
- 1960Missionaries arrived in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, beginning organized missionary work in the city.
- 1966The first stake in South America was created in São Paulo.
- 1978Large numbers of people began joining the Church in Brazil, with hundreds of thousands baptized since that year.
- 2000The Recife Brazil Temple was dedicated on December 15 by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
- 2017The Brasília Brazil Temple, identified as Brazil's 10th temple, was announced on April 2.
Temples nearby
Recife Brazil Temple
Dedicated December 15, 2000 · Near Recife
João Pessoa Brazil Temple
Under construction · About 55 miles from Recife
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?
- Obrigado or obrigadaThank you
Foods to try
- Bolo de rolo (thinly rolled cake with sweet filling)
- Carne-de-sol (sun-dried beef, often served with green beans)
- Cartola (fried bananas with cheese, cinnamon, and sugar)
- Caldeirada (seafood stew with spices and coconut milk)
Fun facts
- Recife has more than 50 bridges and is known as the “Venice of Brazil.”
- The Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue, dating to 1646, is described as the oldest synagogue in the Americas.
- Recife's Carnival opening event, Galo da Madrugada, attracts more than two and a half million people.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.