Lessons from a Young Adult Life
Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Introduction
Elder Carlos A. Godoy: Thank you for being here with us today in this beautiful and historical place. It is an honor to be here with you today. Thank you for joining us from the four corners of the world. We love to be with the young adults. You have an essential role in the Church, and you are living a crucial moment in your life. Your decisions today will impact your future immensely. So this evening we hope to add something helpful to the many great messages already received in other devotionals.
I am glad to have as companions Brother Chad Webb and his wife, Kristi, and Elder Clark Gilbert and his wife, Christine. Thanks for joining us today.
I am also excited to have Mônica accompany me in this devotional. We will use a team-teaching approach, and I hope you like it.
As part of our message, we will share a short animated video made by the Church about our young versions. Mônica and I were about your age.
Through this video, we hope to teach you some principles that could be applied to your life right now. It is a five-minute video in which you will see different moments of our life. Please pay close attention and try to identify those principles that you believe could relate to you. We will come back later to talk about some of them. OK?
[video]
I was not looking for gospel or church at all. I was 16 years old, and a friend of my older brother came to my home to invite our younger sisters to a church activity because he thought that my brother and myself were not church material. And when we got to the church, they were playing a really simple activity, and they were so engaged in that play and laughing. And I thought, “Why are they so happy?”
So two days later, I was receiving the missionary lessons in the chapel because my family was not really interested to have those. I was happy with the gospel. I knew it was true, enough to be willing to be baptized even without my parents. But it was hard to fit in.
I was without friends, and so I was there for a while in the back of the chapel—watching, listening, and going home. You can do this for a while, but if you don’t have friends, even if you know it’s true, it’s hard, especially if you have friends outside calling you back.
I went to the church one Sunday, kind of one more time, and they were filling out applications. And I asked, “What is this?”
“It’s a youth conference,” they said. “You should go.”
I said, “OK, I want to try it.” Later at the youth conference, all of these youth were playing, singing, and dancing, and suddenly a voice in the speaker said, “Let’s offer the opening prayer.”
All those noisy people, but suddenly they were reverent. And for me it was, “What? What is happening here?” How can this group of youth be so noisy and in the next second so reverent because of a prayer? So, wow, they are different. I want to be like them. For me, it was the Lord again sending a message: “Carlos, don’t give up. This is your place.”
The next day, I was walking around and one girl was there playing flute by herself. When I saw that girl, I said, “Wow!” And my heart started to beat faster. And I wanted to talk to her. And she was so natural and friendly. And she started to talk with me like I was a normal person. And she became my friend, my only one. And through her, I was able to meet other friends.
After this youth conference, I decided I’m going to keep going. My family moved to the other part of the city. I went to the chapel near to my home, and guess who was there—Mônica! That was her ward. And at the end of the meeting, a sister came to me and said, “Are you a member of the Church?”
I was used to that question. I said, “Yes, I think I am; of course I am.”
She said, “Oh, you should attend the seminary.”
And I thought, you know, from where I came from, seminary was to become a priest, a father.
So I said, “No, no, you know, I want to get married and have children.”
And she said, “No, seminary is for the youth, you know; it’s to learn about the gospel. We don’t have many youth in our ward. It’s just three, actually: Adriana Weber, Carlos Arthur Lencini, and Mônica Brandão.
And I thought, “Wow. Well, I don’t know what it is, but I want to be there.”
And every morning I was receiving that good word of God. And that gave me the understanding of who I was, the strength to keep fighting and keep my conversion process going.
And then I was assigned as a home teaching companion to the Young Men president. And even though I didn’t know much about the gospel, he was always giving me assignments to teach. He trusted me, I think, more than I trusted myself those days.
And something also interesting—he was the father of Mônica. And by the way, that angel girl Mônica that I mentioned that was there to help me—she later became my wife. After we both served missions, we got married in the temple, and now she’s a mother of four children and a grandmother of seven grandchildren. She’s still an angel in my life.
If you look around, I have no doubt that you’re going to be able to find those in need of angels’ help. The Lord needs you. So when you see yourself in the mirror, don’t forget: inside of you there is a beautiful spirit that is a son or daughter of Heavenly Father with all those attributes and potential inside of you.
[end video]
Elder Godoy: I miss that hair. OK. Now we’re going to address some of those topics. And loneliness is the first one.
You Are Not Alone!
Sister Mônica Godoy: Here, I believe, is an excellent moment to stop and discuss what happened. Carlos, young version, was feeling alone and discouraged.
Maybe some of you have also felt alone and forgotten, as happened here. It is not easy to feel we are invisible or don’t have much value. For those in a similar situation, please don’t let this feeling overwhelm you. You are not alone. Maybe others are not interacting with you or not embracing you as you would like. It is a sad situation. But remember, you are not alone, because the Savior has always been there for you. He knows you, He knows what is going on in your life, He loves you, and He is at your reach whenever you need. Please, don’t give up on trying to belong. He will send angels to help you.
Elder Godoy: Now, a message to all of us nearby those feeling alone or forgotten. We are supposed to be those angels. Please look around and look beyond your normal friends’ circle. They are out there, have been there, and maybe you haven’t noticed them. You have been so busy with your life, with good friends and companions, that you haven’t seen those hoping to feel loved and accepted. But they are there looking for friendship, hoping to belong. They are probably at the back of the chapel or at the corners of the classrooms. Most likely, they will not be wearing a white shirt and tie or a beautiful Sunday dress. But they are doing their best to fit in. Please give them a chance. They need your smile, your handshake, and your friendship. Here is a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball about it:
“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.”
OK. Dating. Falling in love.
Falling in Love
Sister Godoy: OK, here is another good point to talk about: the moment you fell in love with me.
Elder Godoy: I knew you would pick that one.
Sister Godoy: Of course! It was a beautiful moment, and there is a lesson here to share. Some of you will fall in love and easily recognize the love of your life. It will be love at first sight.
Elder Godoy: I think that was my case. Look at my face.
Sister Godoy: But for me it was different.
Elder Godoy: I know.
Sister Godoy: We should not expect to find our eternal companion the same way others do. For some, it will be clear and strong. For others, it could take more time, effort, and patience. It will become more evident as you keep investing in the relationship. Don’t give up quickly because you didn’t have a strong impression initially. Experience teaches us that some great marriages started in a small way, little by little, date by date.
Elder Godoy: Mônica is right. For us, at least, it was that way. I was touched deep in my heart as soon as I saw her. For me, it was like I saw a pillar of light. She, on the other hand, didn’t feel anything special initially. It took me a few months of hard work until she realized I could be a good option. We first became good friends, and after many dates, she finally recognized that she was falling in love with that “handsome” young man. More or less.
This experience teaches us another principle: the way we receive revelation. The process of finding the one is similar to the process of receiving revelation.
I like the teaching of Elder Bednar about revelation. He uses the example of two experiences most of us have had with light to teach about it.
He mentions the experience when “we entered a dark room and turned on a light switch. … In an instant a bright flood of illumination filled the room and caused the darkness to disappear. … A light turned on in a dark room is like receiving a message from God quickly … and all at once.” That was the case with my feelings about Mônica.
The other experience is when “we watched night turn into morning. … In contrast to turning on a light in a dark room, the light from the rising sun did not immediately burst forth. [Instead], gradually and steadily the intensity of the light increased, and … eventually, the sun did dawn over the skyline. …
“The gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God ‘line upon line, precept upon precept’ (2 Nephi 28:30).” That was Mônica’s case in discovering that I was the right person for her. It took a little longer.
Elder Bednar concludes, “Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation.”
Sister Godoy: The same can be said about receiving spiritual confirmation about our eternal companions. Most frequently, it will come in small increments as we meet people and spend time together.
Spiritual Strength
Elder Godoy: Let me take that one. As you saw in the video, attending seminary was a critical decision for me. Although the original reason for attending was a beautiful girl and not the gospel lessons, it profoundly impacted my conversion and spiritual journey.
Because of those daily doses of gospel teachings, I was able to strengthen my testimony and resist temptations throughout my day. It helped me to understand that I was a child of God and that He has a plan for me in this life.
Sister Godoy: The same principle applies to institute. It was also part of our dating days. I hope you are taking advantage of this great resource. There, you will find not just the gospel truth but also true friends. Look what President Nelson has said about institute:
Video: “My dear brothers and sisters, I love you. I think about you and pray for you often. You are living in an age unlike any other. You are at the age where you are making crucial decisions—decisions that will affect the rest of your mortal and eternal life. Making these decisions may seem overwhelming or even frightening at times. But it is also exciting because we are living in a momentous time.
“May I invite you to do something that will help you in a way few other things can? Attend institute! I have now watched my children, grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren attend institute. Attending institute has been life-changing for them.
“Institute has helped them, and will help you, to deepen your conversion to Jesus Christ. Attending institute will help you to feel more of Heavenly Father’s great love for you. Institute will offer you inspiring instructors, faithful friends, and a feeling of belonging. It will help you to see why living the gospel leads to never-ending happiness. Attending institute will help you to live the gospel and to feel more joy—right now.
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If you want to know the truth about who you really are, attend institute.
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If you want to know the purpose of life, attend institute.
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If you want to stay on the covenant path, attend institute.
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If you want to learn how to let God prevail in your life, attend institute.
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If you want to be a peacemaker, attend institute.
“I promise you these blessings and express my love for you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Elder Godoy: While we are still in this spiritual strength chapter, let me talk about my experience with home teaching.
As you saw in the animated video, I was assigned to serve even when I didn’t have much to offer. Serving made me feel valued. It prepared me to help others and, as a consequence, strengthened my own testimony. One of the best ways to enhance someone’s testimony is by sharing it. I hope you are actively engaged in service opportunities. It could be ministering, family history, temple service, or any other Church assignment where you forget about yourself and help others. It will bless you, strengthen you, and protect you.
I like the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants that emphasizes this principle:
“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”
And by the way, like I said in the video, I liked that home teaching companion I had so much that I married his daughter. He became my father-in-law. He is Mônica’s father. I was very active in my home teaching assignments. Every month I was there in his home to do home teaching.
Sister Godoy: One blessing this generation has that we didn’t is temples nearby. The only one in Brazil in our younger days was in São Paulo, very far away from us. At that time, the young adults went to the temple when they were leaving to serve a mission or to get married. Fortunately, President Nelson has now emphasized the importance of receiving your endowments independently of mission or marriage. It is more about preparation than anything else. I hope you will take this into consideration.
Attending the house of the Lord frequently also brings blessings. In the temple, we receive lessons to help us overcome the world. I loved what President Nelson said about the temple at the last conference:
Video: “Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit. Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!”
Elder Godoy: Thank you, President Nelson, for your teachings. We love you very much. OK, next topic: serving a mission.
Serving a Mission
Sister Godoy: OK, time to talk about missions. Six months after Carlos left for his mission, I left for mine.
Elder Godoy: What a coincidence.
Sister Godoy: It was not a coincidence. We both wanted to serve the Lord, and we both wanted a future together. So we saw our missions as a good way to please the Savior and at the same time prepare ourselves for our married life. We knew it would also bring the blessings we needed to a future young married couple.
Elder Godoy: Our missions undoubtedly brought blessings to our lives. Because of our missions, our testimony of the Savior was strengthened, our knowledge of the gospel increased, and the communication and leadership skills learned there helped us in our careers. But more than anything else, we felt good to be able to fulfill the missions the Lord expected from us.
Sister Godoy: But I have a question for you. What about those who cannot go or don’t finish their mission for various reasons? Can they still have hope for a bright future?
Elder Godoy: Of course they can! A loving Heavenly Father will always be there for them. We should not judge those with different mission experiences or no mission experience at all. After all, although serving a mission can be a crucial learning experience in our lives and is a priesthood responsibility for young men, it is not a gospel ordinance, so nobody will be penalized in their progress in this life or lose blessings in eternity because of it.
Sister Godoy: I am glad I had the chance to serve, and I recommend it to all. But as we know, young women are welcomed and much needed, but serving is optional.
Elder Godoy: I am also grateful for my mission experience. I believe that I returned from those two years more prepared for life. And with a better haircut.
Sister Godoy: Talking about returning from missions, what about addressing marriage now?
Elder Godoy: OK. Let’s face the topic.
Raising a Family
Sister Godoy: Here we are, two returned missionaries with much love, many plans, and no money.
Elder Godoy: Yep! I remember.
Sister Godoy: Looking back now, I realize how nice it was to start our married life as we did and achieve our educational, professional, and temporal goals together. We did it together, and those experiences and challenges made us even closer to each other.
Elder Godoy: I remember and I agree. Those years of building our lives and achieving our goals became treasured memories for us. It does not mean that it is wrong to start a marriage life well established financially. We just want to share a message with those of you waiting to advance in your relationship until you have all you need. You need the basics, each other, and the Lord on your side—everything else you can achieve together, which will strengthen your marriage. And I’m looking for some right here in the audience.
Sister Godoy: Changing the picture but not changing the subject—another comment about marriage life: when you, the young adults, see us, the established couples and families, you may think it was always this way, that everything always looks good and life has been easy for us. Maybe it is for some, but not for most.
Elder Godoy: It was not for us, at least.
Sister Godoy: Marriage life is a learning experience that hopefully gets better as we progress. The love has existed since the beginning, but getting along on a daily basis is built step by step. We need to adjust to each other, laugh and cry here and there; children will bring joy and headaches, illness will visit us occasionally, and money could be short sometimes. But you know what? This is how life was supposed to be.
Elder Godoy: But one thing is sure. If we bring the gospel of Jesus Christ into this equation, married life will be much easier and more joyful.
Sister Godoy: So, second question. What about those who will not have the chance to get married in this life? Do you have any words for them?
Elder Godoy: I do. I like the counsel of President Hinckley to the sisters that I believe can be applied for everyone. Let us see what he said:
Video: “Some of you, unfortunately, will never marry in this life. That turns out to be the case sometimes. If that happens, do not spend your life grieving over it. The world still needs your talents. It needs your contribution. The Church needs your faith. It needs your strong, helping hand. Life is never a failure until we call it such. There are so many who need your helping hands, your loving smile, your tender thoughtfulness. I see so many capable, attractive, wonderful women whom romance has passed by. I do not understand it, but I know that in the plan of the Almighty, the eternal plan which we call God’s plan of happiness, there will be opportunity and reward for all who seek them.”
Elder Godoy: A scripture that expresses the same promises is found in Mosiah 2:41.
“And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”
In summary, the message is, using the words of Elder Bednar, you just need to be a good girl or a good boy, keep the commandments, and the Lord will take care of everything. In the end, all the blessings will be granted to the faithful.
Môni, do you have any concluding comments?
Sister Godoy: Yes. I’d like to conclude with my testimony.
I know that we are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus is the Christ and He lives. I know that this life is the time to prepare to meet God. I know that He leads us and prepares the way. We are not alone. I know that the temple is the house of the Lord on earth. There is a place where we can receive knowledge and inspiration in our lives. I know we have a prophet in our day, and he teaches us and guides us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Elder Godoy: Thank you very much. I love teaching with you. And I love you.
What about the Gilberts? Any comments or any teachings to this beautiful audience?