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Prayer
Dedicating the Lands of South America to the Preaching of the Gospel
By Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Council of the Twelve Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

On December 25, 1925, at 7 o'clock a. m., in a Grove of Weeping Willow Trees, near the bank of El Rio De La Plata, in the Park 3 De Febrero, Buenos Aires, Agentina, South America. Present were also Elders Rulon S. Wells and Rey L. Pratt of the First Council of Seventy.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. In the name of Jesus Christ, thy well beloved Son, we, thy servants, approach thee on this beautiful Christmas morning in this secluded spot, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America; in a land far distant from our mountain home, but in a country which thou hast called a part of the land of Zion.

We are very thankful for our safe arrival, after a voyage of twenty-one days on the seas, without a moment's sickness. We do acknowledge that thou didst temper the elements for our good, and that thy protecting care has been over us in our travels, both on the land and on the sea. And for health and strength to labor for thee and thy cause.

We are grateful that we have been chosen by thy servant, President Heber J. Grant, to come to this great land of South America, to unlock the door for the preaching of the gospel to all the peoples of the South American nations; to search out the blood of Israel that has been sifted among the Gentile nations, many of whom, influenced by the spirit of gathering, have assembled in this land.

Put thy Spirit into their hearts, that they may receive us, as true messengers sent of God, for their salvation. Help us to labor for them with the same spirit in us that he had who loved men so that he died for them, that we may effectually "call, persuade and invite" men to come unto Christ. We thank thee for the few who have received us, and for those we had the joy of taking into the waters of baptism in this land. May they be the first fruits of a glorious harvest.

We pray that we may have the opportunity to present to the people, the message which thou hast sent us to deliver, namely: That angels, sent by thee, have visited the earth in this dispensation, bringing to man again the everlasting gospel. That John the Baptist did visit the Prophet Joseph Smith, upon whom he conferred the authority to baptize. That Peter, James and John did ordain him an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and endow him with the keys of the holy Priesthood, with authority to baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost, and to organize the Church of Jesus Christ again in the earth. That Moroni, thine ancient prophet of the Americans, did visit Joseph Smith, and delivered into his hands the plates containing a history of the early inhabitants of this land; and by thy power Joseph Smith did translate the characters on the plates, from which he obtained the Book of Mormon. And that he was visited by thee and thy beloved Son, who committed into Joseph's hands a great and new Gospel Dispensation for all flesh. We are thankful that we are the bearers of these glad tidings to the peoples of the South American nations.