Mission guide
Brazil Recife South Mission
Brazil Recife South Mission serves in Recife, a historic coastal city known as the Brazilian Venice.
- Portuguese
Brazil Recife South Mission shirts
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Brazil Recife South Mission T-Shirt
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Brazil Recife South Mission Heart Map Shirt
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Brazil Recife South Mission Flag Map Shirt
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Brazil Recife South 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 language and the main language spoken in Brazil.
At a glance
- Country
- Brazil
- Main city
- Recife, 1,588,376 people in the municipality (2025)
- Time zone
- Brazil Time (UTC-3)
- Climate
- Tropical monsoon, warm and humid year-round, with the wettest month in June
- Church in Brazil
- 1,573,360 members, 289 stakes, 2,008 congregations
- Church organization
- 37 missions, 611 FamilySearch Centers, and 11 temples
A short history of the area
From 1630 to 1654, Recife was the capital of Dutch Brazil and was known as Mauritsstad. Portugal recaptured the city in 1654. Recife became a city in 1823 and is now the largest urban area in Brazil's North and Northeast regions.
The Church here
- 1928Missionaries began preaching in southern Brazil after requests from German members living in the country.
- 1940The Portuguese translation of the Book of Mormon was first published.
- 1959The Brazil South Mission was created when the lower three states were separated from the Brazil Mission.
- 1960Missionaries arrived in Recife on April 2, beginning missionary work in the capital of Pernambuco.
- 1978The first temple in South America was dedicated in São Paulo, 12 years after the first stake in South America was created there.
- 1993The Brazil Recife South Mission was created from the Brazil Recife Mission.
- 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 75 miles from Recife
Maceió Brazil Temple
Announced · About 120 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 / ObrigadaThank you
Foods to try
- Bolo de rolo (a thin, rolled cake and symbol of Pernambuco)
- Carne-de-sol (sun-dried beef, often served with green beans)
- Caldeirada (seafood stew with octopus, spices, and coconut milk)
- Cartola (fried bananas with cheese, cinnamon, and sugar)
Fun facts
- Recife has more than 50 bridges and is known as the Brazilian Venice.
- 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.