Elder Renlund Serves Members in South America – Church News

On November 11, 2025, hundreds of young people gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to hear inspiring messages from Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Renlund testified of Jesus Christ, emphasizing that Jesus is the central figure of the church and the focus of worship, and that he guides the church through his living prophets.

“I am a special witness appointed in the name of Jesus Christ. I know I am not special, but Jesus Christ, of whom I am an apostle, is special,” he said. “I testify of His majesty, His mission, His redemption, and His resurrection. I know, absolutely know, that He lives.”

The devotional was part of Elder Renlund’s 10-day mission from Nov. 7 to Nov. 16, when he visited all four countries in the Church’s South America region: Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Elder Renlund was accompanied by his wife, Sister Ruth Renlund. Elder Edward Dube and his wife, Sister Naume Dube, of the Presidency of the Seventy. and at various times and places, members of the South America South Area Presidency of the Church and their wives, President Elder Joaquin E. Costa and Sister Renee Costa. First Counselor Elder Alan R. Walker and Sister Inez Walker. Elder Eduardo Gavaretto and Sister Norma Gavaretto, second counselors;

Young Adult Devotion

Elder Renlund taught the youth that one of the most notable blessings of the Restoration is that God continues to reveal His will through His prophets. The Pope shared his sacred personal experience participating in the reorganization of the First Presidency and emphasized the spirit of unity and revelation that accompanied the process of appointing President Dallin H. Oaks as the 18th President of the Church.

“At that moment, I knew we were all doing the Lord’s will,” he said. “When President Holland spoke the words of ordination, I knew in my heart that I was reaching out to a prophet of God, someone whom Jesus Christ had chosen to lead the church.”

Elder Renlund encouraged young adults to seek their own testimonies of living prophets through heartfelt prayer and a willingness to act on the guidance they receive.

“The President of the Church will always lead us to the Savior,” he said. “His only concern is our spiritual and eternal well-being.”

Uruguay medical care

On Monday, Nov. 10, Elder Renlund and others visited the Manuel Quintela Clinical Hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay, to see how the Church’s donations over the past 14 years have helped improve health care in the country.

Since 2011, the facility has benefited from specialized equipment and support from the Church, allowing it to conduct more than 4,400 advanced medical studies and provide care to thousands of patients.

This collaboration was acknowledged during Elder Renlund’s visit through an official letter of gratitude from the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology.

Elder Renlund said of these and other gifts the Church has made around the world, “These humanitarian funds come from members of the Church around the world, blessing people in each place. It is inspiring to see how the faith and giving of Latter-day Saints is helping to improve lives and bring hope.”

At the end of the visit, Elder Renlund presented a copy of the Book of Mormon to the hospital’s general president, Dr. Arturo Villar, who thanked the church for its support.

children’s hospital in argentina

During a visit to the Ricardo Gutierrez Children’s Hospital in Buenos Aires, Elder Renlund and other Church leaders met with doctors and medical professionals, discussed the Church’s commitment to child care, and observed the use of donated medical equipment.

The church donated two neonatal ventilators with humidifiers and a surgical microscope to enhance neonatal and pediatric neurosurgical care. The group also toured the cardiology and neonatology wards to see first-hand the impact of the new equipment.

Elder Renlund said the purpose of the Church’s humanitarian work is to follow the example of Jesus Christ. The Church collaborates on projects that can bring about meaningful change and bless lives.

“We can’t help everyone, but we recognized this place as a place where we could do something,” said Elder Renlund, a retired cardiologist.

celebrate 100th anniversary

Elder Renlund’s mission to Argentina concluded with a broadcast commemorating the 100th anniversary of his dedication to evangelization in South America. The broadcast was made Nov. 16 from the same park in Buenos Aires where Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles prayed in 1925, according to the church’s Argentina Newsroom.

During the meeting, an oak tree was planted in honor of Elder Ballard’s prophecy, which compared the church in South America to “a small acorn growing into a great oak tree.”

Elder Renlund called on participants to sow new seeds of faith with hope and motivation. He invited them to be the “pioneers of the second century” and turned an oak tree into a forest.

“The Lord has more in mind than an oak tree. This tree needs to produce more acorns to be planted,” he said. “There are more lives to be touched and more hearts to be changed. The Savior needs all of us to be a part of His work.”