Just two weeks after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit southwest Colombia, an Apostle of Jesus Christ and his wife came to mourn with, comfort, and bless the people.
“We want you to know that you’re not alone. Our hearts are with you. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pray for you,” said Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “The restored Church of Jesus Christ is here to help you and support you. We will do all we can to bless you in your afflictions.”
He and his wife, Lesa, spoke to hundreds of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cali, Colombia, on Monday, August 24, 2026. Earlier that day, they visited the under-construction Cali Colombia Temple with Elder Juan Pablo Villar, president of the Church’s South America Northwest Area, and his wife, Carola. The neighborhood surrounding the temple site was significantly affected by the earthquake, though the temple itself was unharmed.
Acknowledging their losses of homes, jobs, and sense of security, the Apostle encouraged the Saints to let these experiences deepen their compassion for others.
He said, “In moments like this, sometimes we ask the question, ‘Why?’ Sometimes the answer is, ‘We don’t know why.’ We know that in mortality, there are trials and tribulations. We know that these experiences we have in life often lead us to a greater sense of compassion for others, a greater sense of knowledge and understanding, a greater sense of Christlike caring and service.”
Visit Church Newsroom to learn more about how the Stevensons ministered in Colombia.
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