Elder Rasband Dedicates Nicaragua’s First Temple in Managua
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Elder Ronald A. Rasband dedicated the Managua Nicaragua Temple, the country’s first, inviting members to come often and seek Jesus Christ in His house.
On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Managua Nicaragua Temple, the first temple in Nicaragua, Church Newsroom reports. Newsroom calls it the 226th temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide.
A long-awaited day
Hundreds of members attended the dedicatory service in person, and thousands more watched by broadcast in meetinghouses across the country. For generations, Nicaraguan Saints traveled to temples in Guatemala, Mexico, Arizona and even Utah to receive temple ordinances. Now those blessings are available in their own nation.
Elder Rasband was joined by his wife, Melanie; by Elder Mark D. Eddy of the Temple Department Executive Committee and his wife, Annette; and by Elder Ryan K. Olsen of the Central America Area Presidency and his wife, Julie.
Three ways to enrich temple worship
Elder Rasband recalled visiting Nicaragua in 2017 and said he rejoiced to return for the fulfillment of a long-held hope. He taught that everything about the temple points people and families to Jesus Christ, and he invited members to focus on three things:
- Set aside worldly concerns and come prepared to worship, learn by the Spirit and find peace.
- Take part in the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil by finding ancestors' names, bringing them to the temple and helping young people love family history.
- Seek Jesus Christ in His house and draw closer to Him through ordinances and covenants.
He described temple worship as deeply personal, with each person entering, receiving ordinances and making covenants one by one. "Come often to the temple—let its light bless your whole life," he said.
Decades of faith
Elder Olsen honored the perseverance and sacrifice of the Nicaraguan Saints who helped prepare for the day. He traced the Church's history in the country from the first missionaries in the 1950s, and said many visitors to the temple open house expressed a desire to learn more about the gospel.
In the dedicatory service, Elder Rasband expressed gratitude for the Savior and the Restoration and prayed that the spirit of the temple would bring peace to the land and its people.
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