“There will be a temple in Mongolia.”

I was on assignment in Asia, with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I was conducting an interview with him in the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, when he made the statement, “there will be a temple in Mongolia.” It took my breath away. The nearest Latter-day Saint temple was in Hong Kong, eighteen hundred miles away by air and nearly twenty-one hundred miles by car. It was a long and expensive journey for the Saints in Mongolia.

At this time, the LDS Church in Mongolia was small, but growing. To think that the Church would build a temple in such a far away country from Salt Lake City was practically unimaginable. Yet, Elder Holland had just said it. I could barely believe it.

The restored gospel of Jesus Christ was moving throughout the world like the stone cut out of the mountain without hands prophesied by Daniel, thousands of years ago. I could literally see it. Elder Holland, as an Apostle of Jesus Christ was doing it. I was filming it. Amazing.

The next day, as I was preparing to do more filming in the city, Elder Holland approached me with his typical big friendly smile.

“How are you today, James?”

“A little tired, but great,” I replied.

“Walk with me,” he said.

Hmmm. This was a little unusual. As we walked, he put his arm around my shoulder.

“You realize that it is the prerogative of the First Presidency to announce temples.”

I nodded. He pulled me closer.

“Yesterday, when I said that there would be a temple in Mongolia, I was not announcing a temple in Mongolia.”

I nodded again. We stopped walking.

HE PUT ME IN A HEADLOCK.

“I’ve been in trouble with the First Presidency before and I don’t want to be in trouble with them again.”

I tried to nod, but my head was pressed against his chest and I could barely move.

“Do not use my quote about a temple in Ulaanbaatar.”

He let me go, but put both hands on my shoulders. He smiled. He has such a warm, friendly smile. I smiled back a little disoriented.

“And,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye, “do not tell this story until after the First Presidency has announced a temple in Mongolia.”

On October 1, 2023, during general conference, President Russel M. Nelson, in fulfillment of prophecy, announced that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be building a temple in Ulaanbaatar. I smiled as I thought of my own personal Apostolic headlock preceding the announcement.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died on Saturday, December 27, 2025. He was 85 years-old and served as an Apostle for over 30 years.

I had the privilege to travel the world and rub shoulders, literally, with Elder Holland, while documenting his ministry and the growth of the Church.

I am forever blessed by his goodness and his kindness. For a brief moment, I was pressed against his chest in a friendly headlock and I could hear and feel his heart beating. In retrospect, that moment was far too brief, for his heart no longer beats here in mortality.

Nevertheless, through my association with him in documenting his ministry, I learned, first hand, of the goodness of his magnificent heart and I can still hear and feel his powerful witness and undying love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.