Elder and Sister Gilbert’s Comments

Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults

Elder Clark G. Gilbert and Sister Christine Gilbert

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Elder Clark G. Gilbert: Thank you, Elder and Sister Godoy. Earlier this week I told my wife that the Godoys were going to call on us to speak for a minute. And she said, “Well, how many people will be there?” And I said, “Oh, a few thousand people at the Tabernacle, then hundreds of thousands around the world. No pressure.”

How powerfully you have been instructed tonight. Elder and Sister Godoy, thank you for teaching the young adults so well. We are grateful for the many opportunities Christine and I have to learn and engage with young adults all across the Church. Listening to the Godoys this evening has been wonderful. When we grow up, we want to be like the Godoys. It’s clear that they feel the needs and concerns of young adults and that they love you very much.

What is remarkable to me is that their messages were so Christ centered and prophetically grounded. As I have listened to them this evening, it felt like a prophetic echo of the very messages that have been given in other worldwide young adult devotionals from President Nelson, President Oaks, and so many other apostolic leaders. Let’s pause for a moment and reflect on the themes that the Godoys introduced to you tonight:

1. Belonging in Christ and our Covenants

2. Dating

3. Receiving Personal Revelation

4. Patterns of Service

   • The Temple

   • Missions

5. Falling in Love and Marriage

6. The Importance of Attending Institute

Not only have the Godoys shared with you their journey; they have done so in a personal and intimate way. I hope you will see that as an expression of their love and concern for you. They have also shared their message in ways that amplified prophetic counsel and reminded us that we do this all in and through the Savior Jesus Christ.

Sister Christine Gilbert: One of my favorite images from this evening was the picture of the Godoys as a young couple. Mônica looks so optimistic, while Carlos looks a little nervous!

Now contrast that with the picture of the Godoys’ full extended family.

I wonder if the young Carlos and Mônica could have ever imagined those future children, new in-laws, and grandchildren all those years ago. Could they have imagined graduate school, a career, starting and raising a family, Church service, living across the world, and now their calling as visible leaders in the Church? We love Elder and Sister Godoy. We view them as friends and examples of what you can do when you keep covenants, live the gospel, and involve the Lord in your journey. I stand as a witness that when we involve the Lord, He will instruct our desires and magnify our best efforts.

Elder Gilbert: Reflecting on the Godoys’ journey and their pattern of involving the Lord reminded me of a very personal experience I had with Elder Godoy six years ago.

I was then serving as the president of BYU–Pathway Worldwide, and Elder Godoy was then the Area President of the South America Northwest Area, headquartered in Lima, Peru.

Peru is a remarkable area of the Church with over 40 stakes and now two temples. We have thousands of BYU–Pathway students in Peru. That night, very much like this night, we had asked Elder Godoy to speak to the young adults about their educational journey.

Elder Godoy had prepared a talk, but as we sat there on the stand looking at all the students, he became overwhelmed at what we were asking them to do. He became emotional as he thought about these young adults learning English, taking college courses, all while working full-time and studying in a second language. Overcome with emotion, Elder Godoy set aside his prepared remarks, stood up, and declared with boldness: “What we are asking you to do is hard—especially if you are trying to do it on your own. The only way you can do this is to involve the Lord in your learning. Make the Lord your partner, and every good thing will come to you in time.”

Elder Godoy knew then what he might not have fully understood all those years ago when he was still a young adult living in Brazil wearing bell-bottom pants: the only way for you to become who you need to become and to find joy in the journey is to involve the Lord. Tonight, we have seen a witness of that principle. Carlos and Mônica Godoy are living examples of what all of us can do when we put our trust in the Lord and make Him our partner.

We love this couple, and we commend their message to you. Christine and I share our witness that when you involve the Lord in your efforts, He will make miracles happen in your life. We say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.