Ricardo Amarante and Maria Angela Amarante Gomes are siblings whose family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1970. Ricardo was drawn to the church’s emphasis on eternal families while Maria liked that the church had the name of Christ and she sought to follow Christ. Ricardo’s wife, Déa’s family were baptized when she was a child. Her father took longer to join due to his challenges in keeping the church’s Word of Wisdom. Déa felt that her time as a youth in the church was impactful to her membership, especially her participation in seminary.
While Maria worked for decades for the Civil Police Department, Ricardo served in the miliarty. Déa went to college and worked as a stay-at-home mother. Ricardo and Déa have several children. Maria also has several children and has been navigating life as a widow.
Ricardo, Maria, and Déa have each served extensively at home with their families and in church callings over the years. Maria has held several callings in the Primary and was even one of Déa’s young women leaders when Déa was a young woman and Maria was a young adult.
Maria has also served in the Relief Society and as a seminary teacher. Ricardo has also served in many different callings, from being a primary teacher, bishop, stake presidency callings and currently, as one of only five temple sealers in the Rio de Janeiro area.
