Published on October 11, 2025
In August 2025, a singular and profoundly belief travel was undertaken by 155 Latter-day Saints from Quillabamba, Peru, who traveled a grueling 15 hours to sojourn nan Arequipa Peru Temple. The travel was not only astir reaching a ineffable destination but was besides a profound testament to nan enduring powerfulness of faith, dedication, and nan bequest of missionary activity that has shaped their lives. For galore successful nan group, this was a life-changing experience, 1 that marked nan culmination of years of prayer, planning, and unwavering belief successful nan teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This visit would fortify their belief resoluteness and deepen their relationship to their religion successful a measurement that would past a lifetime.
The Missionary’s Return
This travel was peculiarly meaningful for Elder Milo LeBaron, who had antecedently served successful Quillabamba successful 1978. At that time, nan area was a ngo section successful request of outreach, and Elder LeBaron played a pivotal domiciled successful introducing nan gospel to nan area. During his service, he and different missionaries helped found nan religion successful Quillabamba, which, astatine nan time, had nary organized congregation.
Elder LeBaron returned to Quillabamba successful 2025, now pinch his wife, Sister Julie LeBaron, arsenic portion of their elder ngo assignment. Their return to nan municipality was not only a belief homecoming but besides a chance to bespeak connected nan maturation that had taken spot complete nan decades. From those humble beginnings, Quillabamba now has 3 thriving congregations. What had erstwhile been a ngo section pinch fewer members had blossomed into a organization of faith-filled individuals, pinch nan gospel now profoundly embedded successful nan hearts of its residents.
Organizing nan Journey
The thought for nan travel to nan Arequipa Peru Temple was sparked erstwhile Elder and Sister LeBaron realized nan value of nan temple successful nan lives of nan members they had served. The LeBarons knew that galore of nan members successful Quillabamba had not yet had nan opportunity to be nan temple, and they felt that a travel to nan Arequipa Peru Temple would beryllium a transformative acquisition for nan congregation. The temple sojourn would let nan members to solidify their covenants, execute baptisms for nan dead, and participate successful different ineffable ordinances that are cardinal to their faith.
Initially, nan LeBarons expected a humble group to return portion successful nan journey. However, arsenic connection dispersed astir nan opportunity to sojourn nan temple, nan consequence was overwhelming. The religious successful Quillabamba embraced nan opportunity pinch unfastened hearts, and by nan clip nan travel was organized, a group of 155 members had committed to nan agelong and challenging trip. The travel was meticulously planned, pinch classes connected temple mentation held to guarantee that everyone was fresh to participate successful nan ineffable ordinances of nan temple.
The Long Journey to nan Temple
The 15-hour travel was not without its challenges. The members traveled by autobus done Peru’s mountainous terrain, enduring agelong hours of winding roads, steep climbs, and unpredictable weather. Despite these challenges, nan group remained enthusiastic and focused connected nan goal—reaching nan Arequipa Peru Temple, a ineffable tract that galore had dreamed of visiting but ne'er had nan chance to until now.
Throughout nan journey, nan members remained agreed successful their religion and anticipation. The acquisition of walking together successful specified a ample group created a heavy consciousness of camaraderie and belief solidarity. They were not simply walking to a beingness destination; they were embarking connected a visit that would people a pivotal infinitesimal successful their belief journey.
Conclusion
The travel of 155 Latter-day Saints from Quillabamba to nan Arequipa Peru Temple gives america an awakening and powerful reminder of nan enduring spot of religion and nan lasting effect of missionary work. Elder and Sister LeBaron’s efforts to facilitate nan temple travel person near an indelible people connected nan lives of nan members, and nan belief fruits of that travel will proceed to carnivore witnesser for years to come. As nan members of Quillabamba return to their regular lives, they transportation pinch them nan ray of nan gospel and nan blessings of nan temple, pinch their hearts afloat of gratitude for nan religion that has brought them to this momentous occasion.