Marcus Martins
Encyclopedia
Marcus Helvécio Martins is a former 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 the first black member
to serve as a Latter-day Saint missionary
after the revelation
extending the priesthood
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to all male members regardless of race or color. Martins is the son of Helvécio Martins
, the first Latter-day Saint of African descent to serve as a general authority in the LDS Church.
, Brazil
, and became an American citizen in 2010. The Martins family joined the LDS Church in 1972. In February 1978, Marcus Martins became engaged to Mirian Abelin Barbosa, who had just returned from serving in the church's Brazil São Paulo
South Mission
. Initially they planned on getting married in May 1978, but then planned to postpone 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, she then decided to not follow that plan and 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. He served in the Brazil São Paulo North Mission from 1978 to 1980.
After returning from his mission, Martins married Mirian. He worked as a construction inspector and later as a systems analyst. During this time he also served as a bishop in the church (a position he would again occupy years later in Hawaii). In the early 1980s Martins was involved in making a new translation of the Book of Mormon
into Portuguese
.
Martins then went to Provo
, Utah
, where he studied for six years at Brigham Young University
(BYU), earning degrees in business management, organizational behavior, and a Ph.D.
in Sociology
at BYU. During his doctoral work he was a part-time Religion and Sociology instructor at BYU, and later worked as a religion professor at Brigham Young University–Idaho
(then Ricks College), before taking his current position at BYU-Hawaii in the Summer of 2000. As department chair at BYUH he was responsible for revitalizing the religious education program through the use of educational technology
and public relations
. He also served as chair of the Faculty Advisory Council (akin to a faculty senate), and member of the strategic planning and academic planning committees. He was the first BYU-Hawaii professor to work closely with BYU Television
in taking academic lectures to an international audience.
He has spoken to LDS and professional audiences throughout the United States, Brazil, and Japan, and participated in professional conferences in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Qatar. He is working on his next book The Bishop: Steward of God, Agent of Salvation.
In 2011 Martins was assigned to serve as the president of the Brazil São Paulo North Mission.
Brigham Young University Hawaii
Brigham Young University–Hawaii is a private university located in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
and the author of Setting the Record Straight: Blacks and the Mormon Priesthood. Martins was the first black member
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
to serve as a Latter-day Saint missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
after the revelation
1978 Revelation on Priesthood
The 1978 Revelation on Priesthood was a revelation to the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which reversed a long-standing policy excluding men of black African descent from the priesthood.-Background:...
extending the priesthood
Priesthood (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the priesthood is the power and authority to act in the name of God for the salvation of humankind...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to all male members regardless of race or color. Martins is the son of Helvécio Martins
Helvécio Martins
Helvécio Martins was the first person of Black African descent to be called as a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, the first Latter-day Saint of African descent to serve as a general authority in the LDS Church.
Biography
Martins was born in Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and became an American citizen in 2010. The Martins family joined the LDS Church in 1972. In February 1978, Marcus Martins became engaged to Mirian Abelin Barbosa, who had just returned from serving in the church's Brazil São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
South Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
. Initially they planned on getting married in May 1978, but then planned to postpone the marriage until after the dedication of the São Paulo Brazil Temple
São Paulo Brazil Temple
The São Paulo Brazil Temple is the 19th constructed and 17th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, it was the first LDS temple built in South America, and also the first temple to use the single story, single spire design...
so Mirian could be sealed to her parents at the same time. However, she then decided to not follow that plan and they set a new marriage date of August 5. On June 8, 1978, Official Declaration—2
Official Declaration—2
"Official Declaration—2" is the formal 1978 announcement by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that the church's priesthood would no longer be subject to restrictions based on race or skin color...
was announced. After much contemplation and prayer, Martins decided to serve a mission rather than get married. He served in the Brazil São Paulo North Mission from 1978 to 1980.
After returning from his mission, Martins married Mirian. He worked as a construction inspector and later as a systems analyst. During this time he also served as a bishop in the church (a position he would again occupy years later in Hawaii). In the early 1980s Martins was involved in making a new translation of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
into Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
.
Martins then went to Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, where he studied for six years at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU), earning degrees in business management, organizational behavior, and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at BYU. During his doctoral work he was a part-time Religion and Sociology instructor at BYU, and later worked as a religion professor at Brigham Young University–Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho is a private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded in 1888, the university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001, known for the greater part of its...
(then Ricks College), before taking his current position at BYU-Hawaii in the Summer of 2000. As department chair at BYUH he was responsible for revitalizing the religious education program through the use of educational technology
Educational technology
Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources." The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and...
and public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
. He also served as chair of the Faculty Advisory Council (akin to a faculty senate), and member of the strategic planning and academic planning committees. He was the first BYU-Hawaii professor to work closely with BYU Television
BYU Television
__NOEDITSECTION__Brigham Young University Television is a cable/satellite television channel operated by Brigham Young University...
in taking academic lectures to an international audience.
He has spoken to LDS and professional audiences throughout the United States, Brazil, and Japan, and participated in professional conferences in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Qatar. He is working on his next book The Bishop: Steward of God, Agent of Salvation.
In 2011 Martins was assigned to serve as the president of the Brazil São Paulo North Mission.
External links
- Marcus H. Martins, "Thirty Years After the 'Long Promised Day': Reflections and Expectations", presented at the Orem UtahOrem, UtahOrem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
Institute of ReligionInstitute of ReligionInstitutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, 2008-02-29
- Martins on YouTube, "Dr. M. H. Martins Channel"