Elder Gong Meets with the President of Costa Rica

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was received by the President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, on Friday, November 18, at the Presidential Palace of Costa Rica.

Elder Gong and President Chaves discussed the importance of strengthening young Costa Ricans through education and teaching values such as respect, honesty and perseverance. The importance of involving parents, who play a critical role in their children’s development, was also discussed.

Elder Gong thanked President Chaves for his concern with the rising generation and gave him a copy of “For the Strength of Youth,” a guide that helps young people make decisions based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

During the meeting, the president of the republic also expressed his gratitude for the Church’s efforts in supporting a project that will benefit about 2,000 children. In collaboration with the National Children's Hospital, the Church is providing financial assistance to the “Strengthening of the Intensive Care Unit” project.

At the end of the meeting, Elder Gong presented President Chaves with a statuette of Thorvaldsen's Christus and a copy of The Book of Mormon, a book of scripture and witness of Jesus Christ that is sacred to Latter-day Saints.

Also participating in the meeting were Susan Gong, wife of Elder Gong; Elder José A. Teixeira of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife Filomena; Elder Brian K. Taylor, President of the Central America Area; and his wife Jill.

Meeting With Leader of the Legislative Assembly

During another visit, Elder Teixeira met with Rodrigo Arias Sánchez, the president of the legislature in Costa Rica, on Thursday, November 17, at the Legislative Assembly building in San José, Costa Rica.

Elder Teixeira and Arias Sanchez further discussed the importance of religious freedom.  

Elder Teixeira and Arias Sánchez discussed protection of religious freedom and the importance of educating young people. The president of the Legislative Assembly also learned the Church of Jesus Christ’s history in Costa Rica and the humanitarian aid projects the Church is supporting in the country.

Elder Teixeira presented Arias Sánchez with a statuette of the Christus of Thorvaldsen and his gratitude at the conclusion of the meeting.

Costa Rica is home to more than 52,000 Latter-day Saints in nearly 80 congregations. The first missionaries arrived in Costa Rica in 1946. The San José Costa Rica Temple was dedicated in 2000.

These articles were originally published in Spanish:

El élder José A. Teixeira se reúne con Presidente de la Asamblea Legislativa de Costa Rica

El élder Gerrit W. Gong se reunió en una visita oficial con el Presidente de Costa Rica Rodrigo Chaves