See What Elder Cook Talked About with the President of Argentina

Elder Quentin L. Cook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met Argentine President Javier Milei on August 20, 2025, at the country’s presidential palace.

The meeting at the Casa Rosada occurred while Elder Cook, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was in Argentina for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s centennial celebration of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in South America

“The meeting with the president was marvelous,” said Elder Cook. “We were quite frank with him that we felt like we have been given a wonderful gift in this country as a result of its dedication a century ago.”

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In 1925, Elder Melvin J. Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, traveled to Buenos Aires, and in a prayer asked God to open South America for the preaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

These meetings with country leaders, Elder Cook explained, are part of the blessing Elder Ballard asked for.

“I love the fact that in the dedicatory prayer, Elder Melvin J. Ballard had a whole paragraph blessing the heads of state and that there would be relationships with them and that they would bless the people,” Elder Cook said. “And so even from the initial prayer of dedication of all of South America, he was recognizing the significance of leaders of the nation.”

Elder Cook also told President Milei that the Choir was in his country to say, “Thank you.”

“This is a small token and a way of saying, ‘Thank you for all that this country has done for the Church and its people and those who are of our faith,’” the Apostle said.

Elder Cook was accompanied by South America South Area President Elder Joaquin E. Costa, Tabernacle Choir President Michael O. Leavitt, and Church Hosting Director Gordon H. Smith.

“Among all of our meetings, the meeting with President Milei was a standout,” Brother Smith said. “It was important to the Church because when you meet with the chief executive of a nation, it sends a message to the entire government that you count, that you're included, that you matter.”

Elder Cook emphasized the Church’s commitment to building respectful relationships with government and religious leaders.

“We sustain leaders, and we want to have relationships with them, and we want to understand some of their objectives,” he said. “There are opportunities, particularly on the humanitarian side of things, where we can work together. Doing good in the world is something we do because we love the Savior and follow Him. We haven’t become a humanitarian organization disconnected from our mission, which is to follow and live the commandments of Jesus Christ.”