Elder Ronald A. Rasband Returns for Nine-Day Apostolic Ministry

“The Lord has great plans in store for the Church in the Philippines.” Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared to members of the Philippines Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints when he first visited in 2018. Seven years later, the Filipino Saints saw Elder Rasband’s words being fulfilled during his Philippine ministry last February 21–March 1.

During his nine-day visit, Elder Rasband reached out to thousands of Church members in Iloilo, Cebu, Legazpi, Metro Manila, and Urdaneta, DATELINE PHILIPPINES reminding them of the glorious things the Lord is blessing His Church with in this part of the world. Among those glorious blessings was the Apostle’s dedication of the BYU– Pathway Worldwide Global Education Center (GEC), a landmark Church - sponsored facility which will help further educational and employment opportunities for Filipinos seeking a better life.

Elder Rasband was accompanied by members of the Philippines Area presidency and their wives, namely: Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr. and Sister Marie Revillo; Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong and Sister Carol Wong; and Elder Michael B. Strong and Sister Cristin Strong. Area Seventies were also on hand to assist and speak during their visit.

Iloilo (February 21–22)

“You are the Lord’s elect, not just to sit on your membership but to expand and grow it, in your family, community, and calling,” Visha Marie Gialolo shares what Elder Rasband reminded Church members listening to the Apostle in person and via livestream at the Iloilo and Bacolod Combined Leadership Council Conference held in Iloilo City.

“This reminds me that as members of the Lord’s Church, we are called to do the Lord’s work in the very place where we are called in. We can contribute starting in our family, our community and in the very ward we are called in,” adds Sister Gialolo, who serves as a Young Women president.

Leaders from different stakes and districts across Panay and Negros islands were taught by the Lord’s Apostle, who introduced three Christlike statements that President Russell M. Nelson would have Church members live and apply: (1) I love you, (2) I thank you, and (3) I need you. “These words, filled with divine meaning, are not just his own but an extension of the love of our dear prophet,” noted the communications council of Bago Stake.

“Sometimes we tend to barter our testimonies for little things ... and our standards are forgotten,” mused Lunabelle Jessa Talidano, who serves as a Relief Society president in Molo 2nd Ward, Iloilo Stake. “But as Elder Rasband said,” she felt reassured, “we should ‘be not troubled’, for discipleship means standing in holy places in this perilous day.”

Cebu (February 23–25)

A momentous event for the Church occurred on February 23 when Elder Rasband dedicated the BYU-Pathway Worldwide GEC housed at the Lahug Stake meetinghouse within the Cebu Philippines Temple Complex. Joining Elder Rasband at the event was Brother Matt Eyring, Vice President for Advancement at BYU–Pathway Worldwide.

The center will serve as a hub for students enrolled in BYU–Pathway Worldwide, an online higher education institution sponsored by the Church. Moreover, the center is the first of its kind in Asia and one of only four operating worldwide.

“We ask a special blessing on the students who will come here to learn and grow,” Elder Rasband implored in his dedicatory prayer, “to become more self-reliant, and to prepare to accomplish the responsibilities and challenges they will face in their lives.”

Students happily showed the Apostle the different features of the facility, which includes career preparation stations, interview practice rooms, remote workstations, English language classrooms, and collaborative study spaces.

“How grateful we are that faithful students in the Philippines can receive an advanced education because of these centers,” Elder Rasband expressed online later. “This center will not only bless BYU-Pathway Worldwide students—but also their families and the broader community.”

Seventeen-year-old attendee Haydin Valerie Porlage of Kamputhaw Ward, Cebu City Stake is one of the Latter-day Saint beneficiaries of BYU- Pathway Worldwide GEC. “I see the importance of education in our lives,” she emphasizes, “and how it helps us to manage our intellectual and spiritual skills.”

In addition to the dedication, Elder Rasband also attended sacrament meeting with members of Apas Ward, met with missionaries from the Philippines Cebu and Philippines Cebu East missions, and visited the Cebu City Philippines Temple.

Legazpi (February 26)

Elder Rasband spoke on the importance of being faithful to the gospel to over 800 Church members from Legazpi Stake, Ligao District, and Tabaco District at the Legazpi Stake Center. John Noel Dorosan was touched as he listened to the story of Elder Rasband’s Danish forebears who sailed to faraway Utah to gather to Zion and be sealed as a family.

“The wife was asked if they would go back to Denmark because her husband had died during the voyage but she said it would be unwise,” Brother Dorosan recounts. “The goal is to be sealed and they will continue to achieve it despite their loss, so they did, and now their posterity is enjoying the fruits of their faith. Elder Rasband encouraged us to think about the generations that will follow.”

To prepare for the devotional, the Loneza family utilized the Meet the Apostle feature of the Gospel Library app during family home evening. After having a fun activity learning about modern-day apostles, “we asked our sons Lou Fredrich and Lourd Frincerich to show us an apostle they knew,” Sister Marisol Loneza describes, “and they browsed through the computer screen and pointed to Elder Rasband’s picture.”

Sadly, Marisol had to be hospitalized on the day of the devotional due to breathing problems, and her husband Rico had to leave their children with relatives. But, still desiring to hear the words of the Lord’s representative, Sister Loneza watched the livestream of the devotional using her smartphone—and from her hospital bed.

“His words were a great comfort to me and my husband,” Sister Loneza states, “and I felt I was healed as his message sank into my heart.” As Elder Rasband restated the three things the Lord would want His children to feel (I love you, I thank you, and I need you), Sister Loneza felt an affirming, transforming power: “Truly, the message of the Lord has power to heal a wounded soul.”

Metro Manila (February 27–28)

Full-time missionaries listened intently to Elder Rasband during a devotional at the Philippines Missionary Training Center (MTC) on February 27. “You are exactly where the Lord wants you to go,” the Apostle told the young men and women gathered, and stressed that “every soul is important to God.”

Before receiving his call to serve in the Philippines Urdaneta Mission, Elder Empleo would wonder if it was really his time to serve. But because of Elder Rasband’s message, he now understands that “Heavenly Father comprehends everything and knows that this is the time where I can become the missionary He wants me to be.”

For Sister Roberto of the Philippines Cavite Mission, “Elder Rasband’s message was a big help for me and all of the missionaries. His message can remind us of our purpose as missionaries, which is to invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel.”

The following day, February 28, Elder Rasband presided over a donation handover at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel for contributions generated from the #LightTheWorld Giving Machines installed in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. He was joined by several Latter-day Saint celebrities and influencers, namely, Eric and Rona Tai, Jairus Aquino, Janella Renner, and Nevin Garceniego, the 2024 The Voice Kids Philippines Grand Champion.

Elder Rasband helped turn over symbolic checks to representatives from eight charity partners: UNICEF Philippines, Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, Ateneo de Davao University, Feed the Children Philippines, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, H.E.R.O. Foundation, Caritas Manila, and Cebu Caritas.

“I had the distinct impression that this is why we’re doing all that we do,” a misty-eyed Elder Rasband intimated as he addressed the invited guests. “We do this for the benefit and blessing of the rising generation, throughout the Philippines and throughout the world.”

Urdaneta (February 28–March 1)

In 2018, Elder Rasband and his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, visited a future temple site in northern Luzon, of which he felt inspired to declare: “The Lord will provide opportunities for more temples and greater access for members of the Church.” Today, the Urdaneta Philippines Temple stands on that hallowed site.

Returning to Urdaneta, Elder Rasband presided over a Priesthood Leadership Conference at the Urdaneta Stake Center on March 1, for leaders from the Urdaneta and Cauayan Coordinating Councils. “We are grateful for his inspired counsel,” one of the participants expressed. “The words strengthened our resolve to serve with love and diligence.”

Priesthood and organization leaders from Burgos Branch led by their branch president, Vincent Mark Jerusalem, traveled all the way from Isabela province for the rare opportunity to learn from an Apostle. “It was a spiritually enriching experience as we received valuable training,” the branch leaders recalled on a post in the branch’s social media account.

“He Cares About Each of Us”

Reflecting on his dedication of the BYU-Pathway Worldwide GEC, Elder Rasband pointed to a particular scripture: “The glory of God is intelligence” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:36). This doctrinal principle underscores what the Apostles imparted to the Filipino Saints, namely, that the Lord wants His Children to partake of His glory as they grow in temporal and spiritual knowledge.

“Our Father in Heaven cares about each of us, and He wants us to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and become more like Him,” the Lord’s Apostle concluded.