Young Single Adults Learn How to Grow ‘Together in Christ’

The 2023 Utah Area YSA Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spanned three weekends and offered many activities, including a concert, dance, 5K sunset run and devotional. Thousands of young single adults, ages 18 to 31, attended to foster new friendships and grow closer to Jesus Christ.

The purpose of the event centered on the theme: “Together in Christ.”

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“As we come together in Christ, we feel a greater sense of belonging. We feel the love of our Heavenly Father more deeply. We receive guidance and direction from the Holy Ghost. Our faith in Jesus Christ is strengthened, and we are reminded that through Him, we can find peace and joy during difficult times and at all times,” said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Concert

The conference kicked off on August 5 with a concert at the Delta Center, featuring One Republic, Jordin Sparks and Jordan Smith. Throughout the event, performances and visual elements helped highlight the theme “Together in Christ.”

‘Together in Christ’: The ‘unprecedented’ concert for young single adults

‘Together in Christ’: The ‘unprecedented’ OneRepublic concert for young single adults

Dance and 5K Fun Run

The following weekend, participants enjoyed a dance and a 5K sunset run.

The dance was held on August 11 at the Mountain American Expo Center. On August 12, YSAs met at the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple — recently dedicated by President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency — for the 5K sunset run.

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Young single adults run toward the temple — literally and figuratively — during ‘Together in Christ’ conference

YSAs run towards temple during ‘Together in Christ’ conference

Conference and Devotional

The YSA Conference concluded on August 19 and 20 with messages from Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

President Johnson’s address at the Salt Palace Convention Center focused on covenants and the Savior.

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“Will you think about when and how the Savior minds the gap for you? Perhaps He minds the gap of uncertainty or loneliness. Maybe He minds the gap in a family relationship. Or He minds the gap when you find yourself standing alone, trying to do the right thing,” said President Johnson.

“What I know is that He minds the gaps for covenant keepers. And that is one of the many reasons I stay faithful to Him, to His gospel and to His Church,” she added.

Seek living water, let Jesus Christ ‘mind the gap,’ President Johnson tells young single adults

Let Jesus Christ ‘mind the gap,’ President Johnson tells YSAs

On August 20 at the BYU Marriott Center, Elder Christofferson continued to carry that message of being together in Christ.

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“To me, ‘Together in Christ’ suggests that our individual commitment and loyalty to Christ quite naturally draw us together,” he said. “Being ‘armed with righteousness’ (1 Nephi 14:14), we want to gather others likewise ‘armed with righteousness’ and invite everyone who will to come together with us in Christ.”

Elder Christofferson then went on to explain what it means to be a righteous person, draw upon the righteousness of God and be protected by righteousness.

“If you are to be ‘armed with righteousness,’ you cannot afford to lay down any of this armor (Ephesians 6:11), even for just a little while.”

Elder Christofferson concludes Utah Area conference sharing how YSAs can be ‘armed with righteousness’

Elder Christofferson concludes Utah Area conference sharing how YSAs can be ‘armed with righteousness’