News Release

Elder Nattress Speaks to Over a Thousand Youth in American Samoa

Over one thousand young people filled the Pago Pago Central Stake Center to capacity on Sunday evening, 7 November, to listen to visiting Church leader, Elder K. Brett Nattress.

Elder Nattress is the First Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Faapito Auapa’au, Area Seventy, also spoke at the youth devotional.

The young people came from congregations all over the island in the five stakes in American Samoa.

Elder Nattress said, “President Nelson has provided prophetic counsel to the world during these tumultuous times. We need to have faith in Jesus Christ. And, we must always remember our identity as sons and daughters of God, and our divinely appointed purpose.”

He continued: “The youth at the devotional provided such inspiring insights. They are the future of the Church. It is a great blessing to counsel with and to learn from them. Their faith in Jesus Christ is strong and their future is bright.”

One of the leaders attending the event said, “They kept these young people totally captivated for over an hour and a half, teaching them gospel principles through the teachings of Church President Russell M. Nelson and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.”

Young-men-help-Elder-K.-Brett-Nattress-with-a-teaching-moment-at-a-youth-devotional-in-American-Samoa.--November-2021DOWNLOAD

One young man from the Malaeimi Ward said that he learned that "the road to God's Kingdom is through the Holy Temple."

A young woman from the Pago Pago West Stake said, "By being prayerful and feeling the Lord's spirit, I can be touched to know that Jesus is always there for me."

It was a highly interactive program, as Elder Nattress walked throughout the hall to hear the responses from the youth as he asked them questions about how they are putting the Savior in the center of their lives.

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