During a special devotional for young people in Sydney on Sunday 13 March, Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encouraged those in attendance to always remember they are children of God.
The Baulkham Hills chapel was full, including the overflow area, and back into the cultural hall on the night.
He told the young adults in attendance that the Latter-day Saint hymn, “I am a Child of God” is one of his favourite songs.
DOWNLOAD“The words to the song help us identify who we are, and what our eternal worth is. God loves us completely. There is nothing you can do that will make you fall beneath His love for you.”
He shared two things he said we must remember when facing difficult times: "Our identity and our purpose."
He declared: “We are all children of a loving Father in Heaven. This simple yet powerful doctrine can help us rise up to the challenges of our day.’
“Many people in the world don’t know that they have eternal and significant worth—they have a noble birthright.”
He added: "Our purpose is simply to prepare to meet God. The Saviour of all mankind has provided an infinite atonement to redeem us. He implores us each to love and to serve one another. This is the key to happiness. When you are in the service if your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God."
Elder Nattress invited those in attendance to recall their favourite Book of Mormon verse and why.
“How has it helped you during difficult times and trials?” he asked.
He urged the young people to “hold onto scriptures that bring you peace.”
Elder Nattress bore testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. He invited those who did not have a testimony of its truthfulness to follow the counsel of Moroni 10:3-5.
Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Elder Robert H. Simpson, Area Seventy (regional leader), encouraged the youth to stay on the Lord’s side, and they would be happy and blessed.
Sister Jinny Simpson invited those in attendance to use music to invite the Holy Ghost into their lives and homes. She also invited everyone to worship in the temple.