Elder Orlando A. Castaños is Called to Serve

Elder Orlando A. Castaños was introduced to the gospel in 1991 by his brother, Toribio Castaños. Two months after meeting the missionaries, he was baptized, and the course of his life changed forever.

The first change started with continuing to learn the ways of the Savior. This was available in a seminary class that was held every day, at a very difficult six in the morning. He learned in those early mornings that to obtain important things, sacrifice is often required. This experience helped prepare him to serve a full-time mission.

Elder Castanos’ mission call was to the Santiago, Dominican Republic Mission and began on August 4, 1994, in the Guatemala MTC. He received his endowment in the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple where he says, “This ordinance helped me broaden my perspective of eternity and strengthened my faith in the Atonement of the Savior, Jesus Christ. The entire mission experience taught me the Savior’s love and how to share that love with my neighbors.”

The greatest blessing came to Elder Castaños after his mission when he met the young Dareydi Santana, his future wife. They received wonderful sacred promises as they were sealed in the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple on June 7, 2001. The same week they were married, Elder Castaños was called as branch president of the Los Angeles Branch of the San Geronimo Dominican Republic Stake. Two years later the branch became a ward and there he served as the bishop for a year, at which time he was called into the stake presidency. The Church grew rapidly during these years and Elder Castaños was blessed to serve 19 more years in three different stake presidencies. On April 1, 2023, he was called as an Area Seventy in the Caribbean Area.

Elder and Sister Castaños have three beautiful children, Darlenis, Odette, and Orlando Josue who fill their lives with happiness.

Elder Castanos shared his testimony, “I am grateful for every opportunity to serve the Lord and to have the support of a loving wife. I testify that our Heavenly Father loves us and accompanies us in all our responsibilities. I testify of our Savior’s perfect example of love and service and that through the guidance of our latter-day prophet, Russel M. Nelson we know of our great responsibility and privilege to be disciples of Christ.”