Elder Andersen Encourages Saints in Asia to Follow Jesus Christ

Elder Neil L. Andersen testified of Jesus Christ during a recent assignment to Asia. “My experiences as an Apostle of the Lord have given me a witness that Jesus is the Christ, and that He guides His work on this earth through His prophet and through His apostles,” he said.

The member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was in the Church’s Asia North Area to meet with and minister to Latter-day Saints in Korea, Mongolia and Japan.

Korea

“We all need heroes,” Elder Andersen encouraged young adults gathered for conference in Cheonan, South Korea, to follow Jesus Christ and find positive, Christlike role models in their lives.

Download Photo

“We need to identify good role models who are dedicated to serving and following the Savior, heroes who make us want to be better people,” he said. One such role model is Youngjoon Kwon, a Latter-day Saint who recently confirmed as one of the Republic of Korea’s Supreme Court Justices, he said. Church President Russell M. Nelson has been this kind of hero for him, he said.

Elder Andersen was accompanied by his wife, Kathy, and counselors in the Asia North Area Presidency, Elder John A. McCune and Elder J. Kimo Esplin.

“When Elder Andersen spoke of finding role models and following their good examples, that really stood out to me,” said Sister Haeri Oh of Cheonan Ward, Cheongju Stake.

Sister Nagyeong Park of the Nokbeon Ward, Seoul Stake said she “has a renewed desire to be more faithful in attending church and following the Savior.”

Mongolia

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Church in Mongolia, where close to 700 members and friends gathered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for a family-focused devotional with Elder Andersen.

Download Photo

Latter-day Saints in Mongolia are pioneers of the gospel, Elder Andersen said. The Church will continue to grow as  “good and humble people of the earth” there keep the commandments, pay tithing and share the gospel. “Don’t be afraid to tell your friends, ‘I believe in Jesus Christ,’ he said. “When you do, you will feel His love and acceptance.”

Elder Andersen encouraged Church members to prepare themselves for the house of the Lord and said that someday soon they will have a temple in Mongolia.

Japan

More than 500 youth and their parents gathered in Tokyo, Japan, to hear from Elder and Sister Andersen. They were accompanied by Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, and his wife, Carol, and Elder S. Mark Palmer of the Presidency of the Seventy.

Each of the speakers in the devotional spoke about making choices.

The most important choice Saints can make is righteousness, Elder Andersen taught. “Across the world, whether you are rich or poor, educated or not, well known or not, your choices in life are all between choosing good or choosing evil.” If someone has faith in Jesus Christ, repents, is baptized, receives the Holy Ghost, and endures to the end, they can be with Jesus Christ again, he said.

“You are wonderful!”  said Sister Andersen, praising the youth who chose to attend a church devotional on a Friday night. “You believe in Jesus Christ. You keep the commandments. You follow promptings from the Holy Ghost. You have the courage to live your faith.”

Download Photo

Elder Palmer said that choosing to serve a mission is worth any sacrifice. Sister Waddell reminded the youth that when they choose to keep their covenants, they are promised that they will always have His spirit to be with them. Bishop Waddell pointed out that making choices is actually choosing consequences.

Elder Andersen counseled youth not to rely solely on their parents’ testimonies. “Dig down deep to get the gospel in your bones,” he said, suggesting three actions that will increase a conviction of the truthfulness of the gospel.

1. Pray (see Matthew 6:6). “Learning to pray with real intent is essential for your eternal life.”
2. Keep the commandments. “The Spirit will testify that you are doing what is right.”
3. Third, read the Book of Mormon. “Its very existence testifies of the reality of Jesus Christ.”