He gave up a promotion to General for his LDS faith.
In the middle of Paraguay’s military regime, Colonel Luis A. Ramírez was offered one of the highest positions in the nation’s army: promotion to general. But there was a condition.
An LDS colonel in the Paraguayan military was offered a promotion to general, but there was one condition. He would have to abandon his faith. In the 1960s and 70s, Pugguay was controlled by a military government. Luis A. Ramirez rose quickly through the ranks of the army and eventually taught at Pugguay's military academy, training many future officers. But Luis was also a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He openly spoke about his beliefs with students and fellow officers. Some of his students later joined the church. Then came the offer that could change his entire future. Luis was told he could become a general if he would renounce the church and return to Catholicism. A fellow officer asked him, "Why don't you accept becoming a general of the army?" Luis answered, "Why would I want to be the general of the Army of Paraguay when I can be a captain in the Army of God?" And he refused the promotion.
Years later, political tensions in Paraguay led to military searches throughout neighborhoods where foreigners lived. Homes were searched aggressively, furniture overturned, and families intimidated. Because foreign assassins had recently been involved in a political killing, many feared American missionaries would be treated harshly. One morning, armed soldiers arrived at the apartment of two Latter-day Saint missionaries.
The missionaries expected their home to be searched. But when the officer saw them, he smiled. Then he turned to the soldiers beside him and said, "Do you know who these men are?" "They are the Mormons." The officer explained that he had once studied under Colonel Ramirez at the military academy. "He was a great man," he said. "He taught us about his church and always set a good example." Then he told the soldiers, "The Mormons live their religion.
If these young men come to your door, listen to them." The soldiers never searched the apartment. Instead, the missionaries gave them pamphlets about Joseph Smith. They shook hands and peacefully left. Later, the missionaries learned that many other neighboring homes had been aggressively searched that same day. Luis Ramirez probably never knew that that example he set years earlier would one day protect missionaries he had never met.
But that is often how faith works. Integrity outlives position. Conviction outlives power. And quiet examples can bless lives decades later.
