Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited the Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 11, 2025.
The Apostle praised the dedication of the medical staff, emphasizing that the doctors, nurses and technicians at the hospital “are dedicated professionals trying to help children and their families live longer and better.”
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Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shakes hands with Dr. Pablo Neira, medical director of Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Elder Joaquín E. Costa, president of the South America South Area, was also present.2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Church donated two neonatal ventilators with humidifiers and a surgical microscope to the hospital to strengthen the care offered by the neonatal and pediatric neurosurgery department. These devices will optimize respiratory treatments for newborns with critical conditions and improve precision during surgeries.
“Sometimes we are asked as a Church, ‘If you can’t help everyone, what do you do?’ I was told once by President Thomas S. Monson that, ‘Just because you can’t help everybody doesn’t mean you can’t help somebody.’ And so, we look in the Church for things that are important to do where we can have an impact,” said Elder Renlund.
The hospital, founded more than 150 years ago, is a leader in pediatrics and medical education, with a network of professionals who care for thousands of children each year.
“The Church is also helping with a remodel [at this hospital] that will make things nicer and a better facility,” Elder Renlund added. “So, yes, we can’t help everybody, but we’ve identified this one as something we can do, where we collaborate with the healthcare professionals to make a difference.”
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Elder Renlund was accompanied at the hospital by his wife, Ruth; Elder Edward Dube of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Naume; and Elder Joaquín E. Costa of the South America South Area Presidency and his wife, Renée.
During the visit, the Church leaders were welcomed by Dr. Pablo Neira, the hospital’s medical director, and Alicia Garré, president of the hospital’s Support Association. Both expressed gratitude to the Church for its generous contributions, which will enhance the quality of care provided to children at this nationally renowned institution.
Elder Renlund said the Church serves quietly, without seeking attention.
“We don’t try to make a big splash,” he said, comparing the approach to Olympic divers who earn higher scores for dives that create a small splash. “If people see our good works, we tell them that we do it because we follow Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ went about doing good, and we follow that example.”
He continued, “We [try] to live the first and second commandments, and when we’re in the service of our fellow beings, we’re in the service of God. So, we go about doing the best we can to help where we can.”
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The Church leaders toured the cardiology and neonatology units, observing the direct impact of the new equipment. The visit also included a meeting with volunteer teams who shared their experiences providing emotional and social support to families.
“As members of the Church, we should always try to live our lives to be a light, and that light that we share is the light of Jesus Christ. So, that’s why we’re here trying to share some of the Savior’s love for these most challenged of Heavenly Father’s children,” said Elder Renlund.
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