I always enjoy any time I can spend in Central America. It's refreshing to my faith to see the faith of members, to hear experiences and stories.

Costa Rica, economically and many other ways, has always been kind of a shining light in Central America. The rising generation is coming along, as we saw with countrywide youth conference.

Guatemala has for a long time been the base of operations for the Church in Central America. It's probably where we see the most vibrant growth.

The Church began in Panama with the construction of the Panama Canal. There were a number, at least, of members of the Church who came with the U.S. military, and that's where the Church foundations began. It's still a beginning church in the sense that it is a small percentage of the population, but one that has some maturity, perhaps beyond its years.

The profile of the Church in Central America is rising. They're becoming more aware of our presence and activities, which is positive. It's important that in visits like this they come to see that members of this Church are full and contributing and solid citizens.

There are about as many from Central America serving full-time missions as there are from other places serving in Central America. So that work has certainly matured. This generation of returning missionaries, as they form their families and grow, is going to be a tremendous source of strength.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] I really believe in the gift of tongues when I'm speaking Spanish under the influence of the Spirit. [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] I feel so happy because I was able to shake his hand and give him a hug. The meeting was so deep, so marvelous that I received answers to many of my questions. [SPEAKING SPANISH] I felt the Spirit so strongly when I heard his voice. It's the first time I had heard an Apostle of the Lord face to face. [SINGING IN SPANISH] We're amongst a believing people here, and it's amazing when they begin to read and to grasp the Book of Mormon and what it can do. Many, many of the people we're talking to and meeting with are the descendants of Lehi. The Book of Mormon has particular relevance to them because it's more personal. These are their ancestors. It becomes a vital scripture in their lives and a source of real conversion. Most of them face pretty hard lives and have to work hard physically for their subsistence. I know of members who have faced the worst kinds of circumstances, and yet as they go through that, they don't seem to be weakened, only strengthened. They have a feeling of greater closeness to God, not estrangement. They understand that the Spirit has been with them, that it's guided them, that it's given them peace when others would be at wit's end and unable even to think.

So they don't feel abandoned by the Lord in times of hardship, but rather borne up and sustained.

It impresses me more and more everywhere I go that everyone is known to Him and that He is our Father, that He is real, and that His love is infinite and can reach at the same time to all of His children.