Six Apostles Address Young Adults in Area Devotionals Across the Globe

 
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By Church News staff

Six members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles lead devotionals for Latter-day Saint young adults in different areas across the globe on Sunday, January 9, 2022.

The devotionals featured counsel geared toward members ages 18-30, both married and single.

Messages are available in 32 languages, from Tagalog to Finnish, on YouTube or the Church’s Live Broadcast web page, ChurchofJesusChrist.org/broadcasts.

Following is a short summary of each devotional:

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked and shared answers to three questions: “Why do we need God’s help?” “Does God still help His children?” “How can we tap into the source of God’s divine power?”

Elder Uchtdorf, accompanied by his wife, Sister Harriet R. Uchtdorf, spoke to young adults in the Asia, Asia North, Pacific and Philippines areas. Their messages are available in English, Tagalog, Samoan, Tongan, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, Cambodian, Thai, Mongolian, Indonesian and Fijian.

“God our Heavenly Father, knows each of us personally, is interested in each one of us, and cares about our well-being and progress,” he said. “And Heavenly Father is always there for us. Isn’t that amazing and wonderful?”

Elder Uchtdorf shared that he has seen God’s help many times in his own life.

“Just think of it, the most powerful and capable being in the universe has as His greatest purpose to mentor you, His children, and provide a way for them to one day live with Him in glory throughout eternity,” Elder Uchtdorf said.

Elder Uchtdorf encouraged the young adults to be anchored in the rock of Jesus Christ, know that they are needed and to “trust God that He will guide you.”

Read more in the Church News Elder Uchtdorf answers 3 questions about seeking Heavenly Father’s help

Elder Quentin L. Cook

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The challenge for young adults is to find the time for spiritual growth while acquiring knowledge and skills to provide for themselves and their families, said Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“The choices you will make are the key to your future and your happiness. … I want you to know, and I testify to you, that you will receive guidance from the Lord if you walk in His paths and live His commandments,” he said.

In a devotional broadcast to young adults in the Europe, Europe East, Africa and Middle East areas, Elder Cook outlined five principles to follow as they place faith in Jesus Christ and and seek diligently to acquire skills and knowledge:

1. Understand that there is truly opposition in all things. The choices you make are critical.
2. Strengthen your own testimony as a foundation for all of the choices you make.
3. Seek knowledge diligently, wisely, and with humility.
4. Follow the Prophet’s counsel as you make your choices.
5. Live so the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ can be efficacious in your life.

Emphasizing President Russell M. Nelson’s urgent appeal to gather Israel on both sides of the veil, Elder Cook invited Elder Marcus B. Nash, General Authority Seventy, to share thoughts on the effort to “love, share and invite” and Elder Gary B. Sabin, General Authority Seventy, to talk about temple work.

Elder Cook concluded: “I personally testify of the divinity of the Savior and the reality of His Atonement, and I hope that you will prayerfully consider the significant choices that are before you.”

Read more in the Church News Elder Cook gives 5 principles to help young adults strengthen faith in the Savior

 
Elder D. Todd Christofferson

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Heavenly Father knew young adults today would have the capacity to “succeed in a difficult world and bring others to Christ,” Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in a devotional on Sunday, January 9.

Fear happens, he said. But it doesn’t need to.

“We need not fear because we have a Redeemer,” he said. “If we build upon His rock, nothing can permanently harm us or take away our ultimate happiness.”

Addressing Portuguese-speaking young adults, Elder Christofferson shared what can be learned from the Lord’s repeated admonition to “fear not.”

“Let’s not focus on our troubles and become discouraged, anxious, or fearful,” he said. “Let’s focus on Jesus Christ and His grace to find comfort and courage.”

He also counseled about the benefits of pursuing different types of educational opportunities.

“We need education in the arts and sciences and humanities,” he said. “But we also need men and women who can build the buildings and furnish them, who can lay the roads and fixe the cars and trucks, who can build the computers, cables and fiberoptics, who can make and repair the stoves and refrigerators, grow the food, and catch the fish, who can make our electrical systems and the plumbing work.”

Read more in the Church News Elder Christofferson tells Portuguese-speaking young adults to 'Fear not'

 
Elder Neil L. Andersen

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Elder Neil L. Andersen’s counsel to young adults living in Latin America and Spain focused on the gift of repentance and how one can know he or she has been forgiven.

A member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Andersen was joined in the Sunday, January 9, devotional broadcast by Elder Valeri V. Cordón, a General Authority Seventy, and Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency.

Elder Andersen, Elder Cordón and Sister Aburto focused on five key principles of repentance and forgiveness:

1. Repentance and Coming Unto Christ
2. A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit
3. Honesty
4. The Sacrament
5. Knowing We Are Forgiven

Striving to increase one’s faith leads to behavior changes and repentance, taught Elder Andersen.

“As you do these things, suddenly there is another power: the power of Christ and His Atonement, bringing increasing forgiveness for past sins. You begin feeling His approval, His love and His grace. Then, miraculously, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, you feel the gift of His forgiveness.”

A broken heart and a contrite spirit are two “beloved friends” that are essential to repentance.       

Meanwhile, true repentance cannot be realized without complete honesty. And nothing reinforces and sustains efforts to repent than partaking of the sacrament.

Elder Andersen said some young adults wonder why the memory of past sins remains even after repentance.

“The memory of some forsaken sins may stay with us, but the pain, the sadness, the remorse, the guilt, will go away,” he said. “Even though the Lord promises to remember our sins no more, it is a blessing for us in this life to not completely forget past mistakes so that we never repeat them.”

Read more in the Church News Elder Andersen teaches young adults about 5 anchoring principles

 
Elder Ronald A. Rasband

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Of all the things he could address on Sunday night, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said he had just one piece of advice that covers almost any circumstance people may face and will help them stay true to the Lord.

“Choose to follow God’s living Prophet. He is our watchman on the tower,” said Elder Rasband in a devotional broadcast to young adults in the North America Area.

“Let me say that again,” he repeated. “Choose to follow God’s living Prophet and you will never be distanced from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Elder Rasband spoke from the Tabernacle on Temple Square, along with his wife, Sister Melanie T. Rasband, and Elder Clark G. Gilbert, General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Sister Christine C. Gilbert. The Rasbands’ granddaughter Kylie gave the opening prayer, and their grandson Ammon gave the closing prayer. 

Elder Rasband explained how following the prophet is a pattern to establish in life. He told the young adults that when they hear a living prophet speak, they hear words of revelation.

“I ask you today to align your desires, efforts, activities and personal prayers with the direction given by President Nelson, the prophet of God on the earth today,” said Elder Rasband.

Elder Rasband promised the young adults that as they heed the counsel of the prophet, they will have patience with their situations and their challenges, and they will be blessed.

He spoke about prayerfully seeking his own spiritual witness — and receiving it — when President Nelson became the president of the Church in January 2018. He then asked the young adults to diligently acquire their own confirmation.

“This is the Lord’s Church and He calls his prophets, His watchmen on the tower,” testified Elder Rasband.

Read more in the Church News Elder Rasband speaks to young adults in North America

Elder Dale G. Renlund

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In a devotional broadcast to French-speaking young adults in Canada, France, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the importance of personal revelation.

Elder Renlund, who delivered his address in the language of his listeners, was accompanied by his wife, Sister Ruth Renlund; Elder Alfred Kyungu, a General Authority Seventy; and Sister Lucie Kyungu, who both also provided brief remarks in French.

Elder Renlund began by describing a tool that was vital to him during his career as a cardiologist, or heart specialist: a stethoscope, which helps doctors hear sounds that they otherwise could not hear.

The Apostle offered 14 parallels between the stethoscope and individuals’ experience with the Holy Ghost.

1. A cardiologist needs a stethoscope to hear heart sounds; individuals need revelation to hear God’s voice.

2. Learning to use a stethoscope and learning to receive revelation take work.

3. A stethoscope must be in good shape; to receive revelation, individuals need to be in good spiritual condition, in other words, to be worthy.

4. Whether it be to use a stethoscope or to receive revelation, one must prepare.

5. Recognizing heart sounds using a stethoscope is critical; recognizing the Spirit’s voice is critical to understanding personal revelation.

6. Using a stethoscope and receiving revelation require the elimination of distractions.

7. Using a stethoscope and receiving revelation require proximity.

8. Cardiologists rely on previous findings; revelation forms itself when prior revelation is relied upon.

9. Confidence in your ability to hear sounds with a stethoscope is key; likewise, faith in one’s ability to receive revelation is essential.

10. Cardiologists need to act even when unsure; individuals need to act in faith even when they are not sure they received revelation.

11. When using a stethoscope, be ready for the unexpected; in personal revelation, be open to the unexpected.

12. Using a stethoscope has limitations, revelation comes within the limits God has directed.

13. Cardiologists will not hear sounds that are beyond the limits of hearing, revelation will not be contrary to revealed word.

14. When cardiologists agree on findings, the findings are more certain; when personal revelation is confirmed by several, revelation is more certain.

“Learning to hear Him is the safest way to go through life. Challenges become less daunting when we know we are guided by the Holy Ghost,” Elder Renlund promised.

Read more in the Church News Elder Renlund: 14 parallels between a stethoscope and the Holy Ghost