Marcus Martins

Marcus Helvécio Martins (born 22 April 1959) is has been the chairman of the Department of Religious Education at Brigham Young University Hawaii and the author of Setting the Record Straight: Blacks and the Mormon Priesthood. Martins was one of the first Mormons of Black African descent to serve as a missionary after the 1978 Revelation on the Priesthood extended the right to priesthood ordination to all worthy male members regardless of race or color. Brother Martins is the son of Helvécio Martins, who was the first General Authority of African descent.

Biography

Marcus Martins was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Martins family joined the Church in 1972. In February 1978, Marcus Martins became engaged to Mirian Abelin Barbosa, who had just returned from serving in the Brazil São Paulo South Mission. Initially they planned on getting married in May 1978, but then postponed the marriage until after the dedication of the São Paulo Brazil Temple, so Mirian could be sealed to her parents at the same time. However, Mirian then decided not to follow that plan, and so they set a new marriage date of August 5. On June 8, 1978, Official Declaration—2 was announced. After much contemplation and prayer, Martins decided to serve a mission rather than get married immediately. He served in the Brazil São Paulo North Mission.

After returning from his mission, Martins married Mirian; they are the parents of four children. He worked for ten years as a systems analyst. During this time he also served as a bishop. In the late 1980s, Martins was involved in making a new translation of the Book of Mormon into Portuguese. He has also served as a president of the Brazil São Paulo North Mission.

Martins went to Provo, where he studied for six years at Brigham Young University (BYU). He eventually earned a Ph.D. in sociology of religion, race, and ethnic relations at BYU. He then worked as a religion professor at BYU-Idaho before taking his current position at BYU Hawaii. He was also the chair of BYU Hawaii's committee to promote a full understanding of English by its foreign students, who constitute over half of the student body. He also regularly delivers long-distance lectures and firesides via Skype to places as far away as Mongolia. He posts lecture videos in English and Portuguese on YouTube.

Brother Martins has also spoken to the World Family Policy Forum giving a talk on the need to use technology to advance the cause of the family.

References

• Aaron Shill, "Modern pioneer will always be linked to 1978 revelation", Mormon Times, 2008-04-30

External links

• Marcus H. Martins, "Thirty Years After the 'Long Promised Day': Reflections and Expectations", presented at the Orem Utah Institute of Religion, 2008-02-29