During a recent visit to Samoa, in every gathering, Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi, a member of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sister Andrea Spannaus, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, were greeted with exuberant singing.
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Student, Joseph Purcell, welcomes guests and conducts the devotional at Vaiola High School in Samoa on Monday, 18 September 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Jaggi was accompanied by his wife, Sister Amy Jaggi, and Sister Spannaus was accompanied by her husband, Brother Alin Spannaus.
Over the past weekend, devotionals were held at Sauniatu Primary School, Church College Pesega and Vaiola College. Students received their visitors with many songs including, “I can do all things” and “I am a child of God.”
A devotional was also held on the island of Savaii at the Church’s Sagone Stake Centre. More than 1,200 people, including youth and their families, attended.
Youth and children conducted all the devotionals, gave talks, and led the music. They did so with confidence and grace.
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Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi shares the importance of helping our children to become faithful followers of Jesus Christ, Samoa, 18 September 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.In a meeting with over one thousand Church leaders, Elder Jaggi counselled, “We must employ the voice of our youth. Their voice matters.”
He continued: “We tend to call more and more seasoned people into significant callings. We need to give youth the opportunity to serve in significant callings. Young adults are more and more involved. It is the way of the future.”
Sister Spannaus encouraged leaders and parents to teach the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ with love.
She said, “We want our children to become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ, firm in their testimonies of Him to help strengthen them when they have challenges.”
Sister Spannaus said parents and leaders need to help children and teens understand that joy comes through the process of repentance and to “be beside them, helping them” when they are struggling.
“We don’t teach the ways of Jesus Christ to youth so that they won’t sin. They will sin. We all sin. Our responsibility is to love them, teach them His truths, that they need to pray to Heavenly Father for the help of the Holy Ghost in their own repentance process. Repentance is a personal process, and we need to respect this.”
The visitor's last meeting was with the students at Church College Vaiola. The students sang the 2023 Youth Theme song, “I can do all things.”
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Sister Andrea Spannaus holds a drawing as young Samoan girl shares how she will follow Jesus Christ, 18 September 2023.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Sister Spannaus invited youth to share how the words of the song strengthens them.
Boarding student, Trinity, 15, said that it is hard for her to be away from her mother and family. She cries at night because she misses her mother.
She said that the youth theme song and the scripture help her to be strong. “I remember teachings from my mother, to have faith in Christ and always trust in Him. Then I learned the scripture, ‘I can do all things in Christ, which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13), and I stored it in my mind and every time I struggle, I remember. I feel happy and strong and that I’ll never give up.”
