The tiny nation of Belize, located on the Yucatan Peninsula of Central America, was dedicated Dec. 7 by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Council of the Twelve.

This dedication and the dedication of Costa Rica on Aug. 22 by Elder Boyd K. Packer complete the dedication of the seven nations in Central America, said Elder Ted E. Brewerton of the Seventy and president of the Central America Area.Elder Brewerton noted, however, that Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then of the Council of the Twelve, dedicated Central America as a whole in 1952.

Belize has a population of more than 200,000 people and is located on the Caribbean coast between Mexico and Guatemala. Its people are a mixture of African, European and Indian descent who speak English and English Creole.

The country, formerly known as British Honduras, was dedicated in the suburb of Burrell Boon, 19 miles west of Belize City. The ceremony took place in a secluded, grassy garden on a farm. Some 36 members were in attendance, including the presidents of Belize's three districts and seven of its eight branches.

A torrential rain fell before and after the services, but during the ceremony the rain slowed to a light rain that sprinkled on the garden and its roses, shrubs, tropical flowers, and palm trees.

In his prayer, Elder Nelson dedicated the land "for the purposes of bringing a rich harvest of choice souls unto thee, our beloved Father." He petitioned that "missionary work may abound' and that local leaders "may be able to inculcate faith among their members, to perfect their lives to the point where they may be able to receive the sacred endowment offered in thy holy temples.

"We pray that thou wilt help us to raise up a generation of obedient and faithful souls who will be worthy of all the blessings that thou has in store for thy faithful sons and daughters."

Elder Nelson also asked that Belize "may become a haven of peace, a sanctuary of faith."

Elder Brewerton spoke at the services. He explained the significance of the dedication. "When a member of the Twelve dedicates a country, the work goes forth with greater haste," he said. "We have noticed dramatic blessings that have come to the [dedicated] nations because of the blessing of the Twelve upon those nations. It is a distinct blessing to have such a thing happen in the marvelous country of Belize, so our work can go forth with greater haste and so each of us will have an increased ability to achieve the mission of this, the Church of Jesus Christ."

Later that evening, 289 members gathered for dedication rites for the new Belize City meetinghouse. At the meetinghouse, the Belizian flag waved atop a new flagpole. A choir and congregation stood beneath the flag and sang the Belize national anthem.

District Pres. Harold Smith, a Belizian who was baptized in 1981 and called as district president in 1983, referred to the dedication of Belize as he addressed the dedicatory rites for the meetinghouse.

"I feel the events of this day will rest upon all the people of Belize," he said. "I feel that this blessing will eventually touch all the lives and hearts of the people of this country. This marks the beginning of something new for us - the strengthening of faith and of testimonies."

Missionary work in Belize was begun May 5, 1980, when Pres. Samuel Flores and Elder Robert Henke of the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission arrived in the country. The first meeting was held May 11. Today, Belize has 1,300 members in three districts and seven branches.

In Costa Rica, the dedication ceremonies took place in a secluded, elevated site about 10 miles north of the capital city of San Jose. The meeting was held in conjunction with a regional conference in San Jose that was attended by 5,200 members.

In attendance were Elder Packer of the Council of the Twelve; Elder J. Richard Clarke of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Brewerton; Elder Enrique Falabella, regional representative; and Pres. Thomas G. Hendricks of the Costa Rica San Jose Mission. The presidencies of the country's four stakes also attended the ceremony.

In his prayer, Elder Packer mentioned that "as we dedicate this land, we invoke thy protection upon it; it is a peaceful land . . . surrounded by countries where there are unrest and difficulties. We pray that thou wilt protect this land from such difficulties."

He asked the Lord's blessing upon "fathers and mothers, upon their children and upon the grandparents. As the generations move through this beautiful land receiving a mortal body, being tested in mortality, accepting the gospel, receiving the ordinances and then moving forward into the portals of eternity, we invoke thy blessings upon that process that the Church will be here, that the gospel can be carried across this land up in the mountains, in these valleys, from the coast near the ocean to the highest peak of these beautiful mountains.

"We are grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the fullness of it which comes to us through the Book of Mormon. We sense that we stand where the ancients once stood, those who knew thee and knew thy gospel."

Today, Costa Rica has 13,000 members in four stakes and 60 wards and branches. Missionary work began in Costa Rica Sept. 12, 1946, when Mexican Mission Pres. Arwell L. Pierce visited Costa Rica. H. Clark Fails, a member living in Costa Rica at the time, helped the missionaries establish the Church.

Elder Robert B. Miller and David A. Lingard served in Costa Rica from 1946 until the revolution of 1948. Elder Lingard completed his three-year mission in 1949 by returning to Costa Rica and continuing the effort.