Elder Ronald A. Rasband Dedicates Mendoza Argentina Temple

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Mendoza Argentina Temple on Sunday, September 22, 2024.

Elder Rasband expressed deep gratitude and love when addressing Church members and friends in the region. It is wonderful to be here with you," he said, highlighting the warmth and fellowship of Latter-day Saints in Argentina.

He also shared a personal message from President Russell M. Nelson, mentioning that he had met with the prophet the week before. During their conversation, Elder Rasband asked President Nelson what message he wanted to convey to the members in Mendoza.

The response was simple and heartfelt: "Tell them how much I love them." This message of love from the Church President resonated with the Saints in Argentina.

In addition, Elder Rasband emphasized the spiritual significance of the Mendoza Temple dedication, noting that "the most important thing in the entire Church will be happening here in Mendoza, Argentina."

Under the direction of President Nelson and as a representative of Jesus Christ, Elder Rasband expressed how honored he felt to participate in the dedication. He thanked all in attendance for their efforts in building the Church and reiterated his gratitude for being part of such a meaningful event for members and friends of the Church in Argentina.

The Apostle was accompanied by his wife, Melanie; Elder Kevin R. Duncan, General Authority Seventy and Executive Director of the Temple Department; and Elder Joaquin E. Costa, General Authority Seventy and President of the South America South Area, along with his wife, Renée.

It is the fourth temple in the country and the 197th temple of the Church worldwide. The ceremony was broadcast to all Church members within the temple district.

Elder Rasband spoke about the importance of preparing to attend the temple. He emphasized the value of learning from leaders, parents and friends who have already had temple experiences, saying, "Information precedes revelation. [Prepare] if you want to have a basic understanding of what you're going to experience in the temple, so that when you get there, you won’t be so shocked or surprised, but rather inspired and uplifted by what you learn, hear and see."

Elder Joaquín E. Costa also highlighted the importance of remembering the covenants made in the temple, noting that more information is available now than ever before. "The covenants you make there are found in the General Handbook, and you can review and remember them," he stated.

For those who do not live near a temple, Elder Costa offered a suggestion. He said, "If you don't have a temple nearby, a beautiful exercise is to find a quiet place and remember the covenants you made in the temple. You will have a heavenly experience."

Elder Rasband also shared a deeply personal experience about his father-in-law, Blaine, who, near the end of his life, made sure to renew his temple recommend before passing away. He emotionally recalled his father-in-law's words: "I invited the bishop to come so he could interview me for my temple recommend because I want to go to the Lord with a current recommend."

For Elder Rasband, having a valid temple recommend is not merely a routine act but a reflection of personal readiness and commitment to God. "We should always be at the bishop’s door for the next recommend because we never know what’s going to happen in our lives," he said.

Latter-day Saints consider each temple a house of the Lord and the most sacred place of worship on earth. Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies such as marriages, which unite families forever, and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity to be baptized while living.