This article was originally written by Jason Swensen for Church News. The following is an excerpt.
Almost a century has passed since a latter-day Apostle, Elder Melvin J. Ballard, prophesied that South America “is to be a power in the Church.”
Since that time, millions—from Colombia to Argentina and several nations in between—have joined the Church. Temples dot the continent. Hundreds of stakes have been formed.
It’s tempting to say Elder Ballard’s words are fulfilled.
But such a comment would be only a half-truth. The prophecy of South America, according to one of Elder Ballard’s apostolic successors, continues to be fulfilled. Its true power has yet to be realized.
South America “is the setting for one of the leading extended congregations in the Church and will continue to be so,” said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “Much of the present and the future Church growth will focus on all of Latin America.”
Read the full article at churchofjesuschrist.org.
