Over 700 young adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in Auckland last week for a four day conference centred on the theme: “Live true to the faith.”
The conference began Thursday 5 February and ended Sunday evening 8 February.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The event began with registration and a chance for attendees to donate a can of food to New Zealand charities “Feed the Need” and “Cure Kids.”
On Thursday evening the young adults competed against each other in what one participant called “an explosion of physical games,” taking the occasional time out to shoot “selfies” in the social media corner.
Participants enjoyed a spiritual feast of speakers and workshops. There was also the opportunity to mingle at a ball and show off talents at a variety show where arrays of musical, comedy and dance acts were on display.
The workshops and activities were themed: Be Moved; Be Inspired; Be Filled; Be Changed; Be Prepared; Be Edified; Be Transformed; Be on Task; and Be Entertained.”
Dr Lili De Hoyos Anderson — an expert in marriage, family and human development — was the keynote speaker.
She told the young people, “the world is an attractive and seductive place but if you put yourself in God’s path, you can make wonderful things of your life.”
She encouraged attendees to “move forward with faith and let the miracles happen.”
Elder Kevin W. Pearson, Pacific Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to the young adults in a devotional meeting on Friday morning. He shared the importance of understanding one’s divine heritage and those principles which will help individuals throughout their lives.
Elder Pearson encouraged the young people to: “Be focused, be a learner, exercise agency with real intent, be willing to change and have faith in Jesus Christ.”
A formal dinner and ball with a live band highlighted the Friday evening festivities. Mr Alfred Ngaro MP, and the Hon Peseta Sam Lotu’liga, along with their wives, were in attendance.
Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, a member of the Pacific Area Presidency, was the concluding speaker at the conference.
In his remarks he turned to the book of James in the New Testament. Elder Nielsen invited the young people, after everything they had learned at the conference, to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)
Elder Nielsen shared personal experiences from his career in the (US) National Football League, providing examples of how he faced the challenges that sometimes come with being a professional athlete.
He told the young adults that if they are faithful to the commandments of God, they can find happiness and excel.
According to Lindsay and Tina Dil, conference organizers, it took a year of hard work to plan an event like this.
The aim, Lindsay Dil said, was to “spiritually transform the participants, so those who came would carry a new vision that would help them in their life. We want our young people to be self-reliant — spiritually, temporally and emotionally.”
“The real success will be seeing the transformation.”
Watch a short YouTube video featuring conference participants.