Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks to young people at a devotional in Nadi, Fiji on 16 March 2023.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks to young people at a devotional in Nadi, Fiji on 16 March 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Over one thousand young people had the opportunity to engage with and learn from senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when the leaders visited Fiji recently.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles was accompanied by his wife, Rosana Soares; Elder Patrick Kearon of the Presidency of the Seventy was accompanied by his wife, Sister Jennifer Kearon; Elder K. Brett Nattress, the Pacific Area President, was accompanied by his wife, Sister Shawna Nattress; and Elder Taniela B. Wakolo of the Pacific Area Presidency was accompanied by his wife, Sister Anita Wakolo.
Half of the youth and young adults gathered in Nadi, Fiji, with the visiting authorities, while the other half participated remotely in meetinghouses around the island of Viti Levu.
Buses were arranged to make it possible for the young people in the Suva area to make the four-hour drive to the Church’s Nadi meetinghouse to hear the messages of their leaders in person.
Young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji attend a devotional with Elder Ulisses Soares. 16 March 2023.
Young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji attend a devotional with Elder Ulisses Soares. 16 March 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Soares, acknowledging the adversity that many face, encouraged his young friends by saying, “You are never alone. The Lord is with you.”
Elder Ulisses Soares. Nadi, Fiji. 16 March 2023.
Elder Ulisses Soares. Nadi, Fiji. 16 March 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.He continued, “My invitation to you is to see your trials through the eyes of faith and turn your hearts to the Saviour Jesus Christ. Never give up, trust Christ, and allow the Saviour to change your hearts. As you rely upon Him and act in faith on His invitations, I promise you that He will give you the strength you need to deal with your struggles, your weaknesses, and your circumstances, and He will also increase your capacity.”
Elder Soares promised the young people that they will feel a consistent peace and rest in their journey. “The Lord’s healing will come in His time and in His way,” he said.
“I invite you to believe in Him, to give Him space in your heart. Look for the Saviour, focus your life on Him, and seek Him in your every thought.”
He outlined the many gifts that the young people have been given by their Heavenly Father to help them return to Him. Elder Soares stressed that they have the Light of Christ to help them to know right from wrong, they have the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide them, and they have the wonderful gift of agency which gives them the right to choose.
“When you have questions about something you don’t understand,” he said, “exercise your agency and pray, read the scriptures, and be a good example. Use the Light of Christ and listen to the Holy Ghost, and the Lord will bless you with the answers that you are seeking.”
The messages of hope and love from Sister Soares, Elder and Sister Kearon, Elder and Sister Nattress, and Elder and Sister Wakolo also resonated with the youth.
Elder Kearon stressed a “foundational truth” saying, “Heavenly Father’s plan is designed to get you home, not to keep you out. The whole plan - Heavenly Father sending His Son to perform His atoning gift - is designed to get you home. God doesn’t put you through tests and trials to be graded but because the process will change you. The process is to make you better, holier, and higher, and to help you develop.”
He continued, “You will make mistakes. We all do. We have the gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and you have the beauty of repentance and the beauty of change. Don’t be surprised if you feel stressed or overwhelmed… keep the perspective that the plan is designed to get you home and your experiences are to refine you and help you draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We are meant to learn to be joyful even in the face of adversity.”
Young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nadi, Fiji. 16 March 2023.
Young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nadi, Fiji. 16 March 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Eighteen-year-old Clarissa Gounder said after the meeting, “I actually came here without any questions, but I am going home with a lot of answers. I truly believe that the Saviour is always by our side and never forsakes us. He knows us better than we know ourselves.”
Clarissa recently lost her mother. She said that, “Elder Soares reminded me that Christ knows when we cry and when we mourn. He knows our pains that we go through because He is with us every day and loves us. I am grateful for His gospel.”
Elizabeth Benaia, 18, said, “I was inspired by Elder Soares’ talk and especially loved his advice to see our trials with a heart of faith. I will view my trials and obstacles in a more positive perspective. I can learn to thrive with opposition and let my experiences refine me and help know better my Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
Members of the congregation during a special devotional in Nadi, Fiji with Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 16 March 2023.
Members of the congregation during a special devotional in Nadi, Fiji with Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 16 March 2023. © 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Josevata Nawaii, a young man from the Nawaka congregation, related what an honour it was for him to be in a meeting with an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I heard a message from a prophet, and I believe that everything that was shared is true. I am grateful that I was here. I know that no matter what, I can trust the Lord to guide me through.”
Adding to the wonderful spirit of the meeting was a 100-voice youth choir. The combined choir, consisting of young people from around the island, sang three songs: “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” “Teach Me to Walk in the Light,” and a traditional Fijian song of love and farewell titled “Isa Lei.”
