Three South American countries, where the Church is in its infancy, and a West Indies republic, were dedicated Feb. 22-27 for the preaching of the gospel by Elder M. Russell Ballard.

Elder Ballard of the Council of the Twelve dedicated the small countries of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, all on the northern coast of South America. He also dedicated the republic of Trinidad and Tobago, a two-island nation in the West Indies Mission, lying off the coast of Venezuela.In the dedicatory services, Elder Ballard was accompanied by Elder Charles Didier of the First Quorum of the Seventy and president of the South America North Area.

"We are moving along carefully and slowly," said Elder Ballard, noting that the Church has been established in each of the countries less than two years.

"In those dedicatory prayers, a blessing was asked upon the government leaders of the lands. The members were promised that they would grow steadily to have stakes and wards presided over by local people, and that the work of the Lord would prosper," said Elder Ballard.

"They were promised that missionaries would rise up from those countries to serve in other countries; that this would be the beginning of a great work in those lands."

Elder Ballard praised the "heroic work of missionary couples" who pioneered in establishing the Church in those lands.

He noted that South America was dedicated Dec. 25, 1925, by his grandfather, Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Council of the Twelve.

"It was a real thrill to consider that I would dedicate these countries 65 years later," said Elder Ballard. "It was a tender moment - a very warm and beautiful experience."

Trinidad and Tobago

The dedicatory services for Trinidad and Tobago were held on a warm but cloudy day on Feb. 22 at a proposed meetinghouse site in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

In attendance were local members and investigators, and all the full-time missionaries on the islands, which totaled 108 people. Also attending were Pres. A. Dean Jeffs of the West Indies Mission, and Frank H. Talley, regional representative.

"Just before the dedicatory prayer, some threatening clouds were ready to burst with rain, but the intervention of the Lord permitted us to continue without any problems," said Elder Ballard. "Five minutes later the rain began and was quite heavy."

After the dedicatory services were completed, a missionary meeting was held.

Trinidad, one of the islands visited by Columbus, is about the size of Delaware but with twice the population. The republic, which is called "Trinidad and Tobago," became independent from Great Britain in 1962. About a third of its population are of African descent, a third of East Indian, and the rest are of mixed ancestry.

Guyana

Guyana was dedicated on Friday, Feb. 23. The dedicatory services were held in the carport at the home of a local member, accompanied by missionary couples Carvel G. and Lois N. Jackson and Joseph W. and Florence B. Allen. About 45 members attended.

The weather was beautiful and warm, and as the meeting was concluded, residents of the city prepared to celebrate the annual carnival holiday in Georgetown, said Elder Ballard.

Most of the population is literate, but the average income is low. The Church has a branch in Georgetown.

Guyana is an English-speaking republic about the size of Idaho with about the same number of people. About half of the people are East Indians, whose ancestors were brought from India to work on large tropical plantations. Most of the rest of the people are of African descent, with a few Indians, Chinese and Europeans.

Suriname

Suriname was dedicated Saturday, Feb. 24 in the city of Paramaribo, in the garden of the home where Elder John M. Limburg and his wife, Beverly, live.

Two other couples also serve in the country, Elders Don W. Rapier and his wife, Lorna; and Elder Hermanus A. Schreuder and his wife, Elsie.

About 85 people, including members and investigators, attended.

In Suriname, members meet in homes in four locations.

The largest is in the city of Lelydorp, which has an average attendance of 25. At that location, a local member, Annie Wouter, had converted the largest room in her farm home to a hall with benches and a pulpit.

"A big `Welcome' had been written on the blackboard and the doors had been decorated with palm leaves," reported Elder Ballard. After the meeting, "We left surrounded by the children and members expressing their love."

Suriname is a former colony of the Netherlands that gained its independence in 1975. About the size of Georgia, it has about a half a million people. A third are Eastern Indians, a third Creoles, and a third of African and other ancestry. The British established plantations as early as 1651, but later traded the property to the Dutch for a parcel in North America that later became the state of New York.

French Guiana

French Guiana was dedicated Tuesday Feb. 27, on a hill about five miles from Kourou. The prayer was offered in English by Elder Ballard and translated to French by Elder Didier.

Earlier in the day, a fireside was held in Kourou, attended by some 45 members.

The Church has been in French Guiana for about a year and branches have been established in Cayenne and Kourou. Serving there is a missionary couple, A. Edward and Louise P. Schmidt, who formerly served in the Mascarene Islands.

"All the group rejoiced that they could hear the words of encouragement and and great blessings that were given for their country," said Elder Ballard.

Reflecting on the dedications, he observed that "worshiping in humble circumstances with no chapel was a very special experience," as it was "to see the gospel light shining on the faces of those wonderful members of the Church."

He recalled that he had dedicated Jamaica and Dominican Republic for preaching the gospel in 1979, where now several stakes have been established.

"I re-lived what was going to happen as the gospel starts to touch lives," he said.

French Guiana, an overseas department, or state, of France, is a little smaller than Maine, but has a population of just 75,000. Most of the people are of African or of mixed African and European descent. A former penal colony, the area is developing some industry but relies on agriculture and forest products for most of its income.