Hundreds of young adults 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 on Nov. 11, 2025.
Elder Renlund testified of Jesus Christ, emphasizing that He is the central figure and focus of worship in the Church and that He guides the Church through a living Prophet.
“I am an ordained special witness of the name of Jesus Christ. I know I am not very special, but Jesus Christ, whose Apostle I am, is,” he said. “I testify of His majesty, His mission, His Atonement and His Resurrection. I know, I absolutely know, that He lives.”
The devotional was part of a 10-day ministry that took Elder Renlund to all four countries of the Church’s South America South Area — Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, from Nov. 7 to Nov. 16.
Elder Renlund was accompanied by his wife, Sister Ruth Renlund; Elder Edward Dube, of the Presidency of the Seventy, and his wife, Sister Naume Dube; and at various times and places, members of the Church’s South America South Area presidency, who are all General Authority Seventies, and their wives: Elder Joaquin E. Costa, president, and Sister Renée Costa; Elder Alan R. Walker, first counselor, and Sister Ines Walker; and Elder Eduardo Gavarret, second counselor, and Sister Norma Gavarret.
Young adult devotional
Elder Renlund taught the young adults that one of the most remarkable blessings of the Restoration is God continues to reveal His will through a prophet. He shared his sacred personal experience of participating in the reorganization of the First Presidency, emphasizing the unity and spirit of revelation that accompanied the process of setting apart President Dallin H. Oaks as the 18th President of the Church.
“At that moment, we all felt with certainty that we were doing the Lord’s will,” he said. “When President Holland spoke the words of ordination, I knew with all my heart that I had my hand on the Prophet of God, the man whom Jesus Christ had chosen to lead His Church.”
Elder Renlund invited young adults to seek their own testimonies of the living Prophet through sincere prayer and a willingness to act upon the guidance they receive.
“The President of the Church will always direct us to the Savior,” he said. “His only concern is our spiritual and eternal well-being.”
Health care in Uruguay
On Monday, Nov. 10, Elder Renlund and others visited Manuel Quintela Clinical Hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he witnessed how the Church’s donations over the past 14 years have helped improve health care in the country.
Since 2011, the institution has benefited from specialized equipment and support from the Church, enabling it to conduct over 4,400 advanced medical studies and provide care for thousands of patients.
This collaboration was recognized during Elder Renlund’s visit through an official letter by the Academic Unit of Clinical Neurophysiology expressing gratitude.
Regarding these and other donations made by the Church globally, Elder Renlund said: “These humanitarian funds come from Church members around the world and bless people in individual places. It is inspiring to see how the faith and contributions of Latter-day Saints help improve lives and bring hope.”
At the end of the visit, Elder Renlund presented a copy of the Book of Mormon to Dr. Arturo Villar, the hospital’s general director, who thanked the Church for its support.
Children’s hospital in Argentina
During a visit to Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital in Buenos Aires, Elder Renlund and other Church leaders met with doctors and health care professionals to discuss the Church’s commitment to children’s care and observe donated medical equipment in use.
The Church donated two neonatal ventilators with humidifiers and a surgical microscope to enhance neonatal and pediatric neurosurgery care. The group also toured the cardiology and neonatology units to observe the new equipment’s impact firsthand.
Elder Renlund said the purpose of the Church’s humanitarian aid efforts is to emulate the example of Jesus Christ. The Church collaborates on projects where it can make a meaningful difference and bless lives.
‘We cannot help everyone, but we have identified this place as a place where we can do something," said Elder Renlund, a retired cardiologist.
Celebrating 100 years
Elder Renlund’s Argentina ministry concluded with a broadcast commemorating the centennial of the dedication of South America for the preaching of the gospel. The broadcast originated on Nov. 16 from the same park in Buenos Aires where Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offered the prayer in 1925, according to the Church’s Argentina Newsroom.
During the meeting, an oak tree was planted in tribute to Elder Ballard’s prophecy that likened the Church in South America to “a small acorn growing into a mighty oak.”
Elder Renlund invited attendees to look forward with hope and willingness to plant new seeds of faith. He invited them to become “second-century pioneers,” transforming one oak tree into a forest.
“The Lord has more in mind than just one oak tree; this tree needs to produce more acorns that can be planted,” he said. “There are more lives to touch and more hearts to change. The Savior needs all of us to join Him in His work.”
