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Think You Don’t Have a Purpose as a Young Adult? Think Again
April 2020

Digital Only: Young Adults

Think You Don’t Have a Purpose as a Young Adult? Think Again

By Cezar Gervacio

Thinking about leading in the Church one day can be daunting, but there are ways you can start leading now.

Young adult walking down the street

In the days preceding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, there shall be “wars, and rumors of wars.

“… Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

“And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:28–30).

In the midst of such turmoil, who will help lead our brothers and sisters, both in and out of the fold, back to our Heavenly Father?

That’s where we come in.

How We Should Lead

We have been called one of the greatest generations of young adults. President Russell M. Nelson describes us as those “whom God trusted enough to send to earth during the most compelling dispensation in the history of this world” (“Stand as True Millennials,” Ensign, Oct. 2016, 24).

So, how can we live up to our capacity to become great leaders in the Lord’s Church? Well, if you look around, you might notice that you’re already a leader in one way or another.

You may lead in a Church calling. As a missionary, you may lead a discussion, be in charge of a proselytizing activity, or be assigned as a zone or sister leader. You can be a leader in your family or among your friends. You can lead your ancestors to salvation through family history work. You might even become a political leader, and you can always lead in whatever occupation you choose.

But the question is, how should we lead? The Savior led through His example. He led with “Come, follow me” rather than “My way is better.” He served, taught, loved, and cared for those around Him. Jesus Christ is the prime example of a leader. And to become a great generation of leaders, we can start by striving to be like the Savior and by doing these small things:

  1. Pray for those who are struggling, who need aid, or who you are responsible for, and seek to know how to help them. Pray for them by name as individuals, even as the Savior ministered “one by one” (3 Nephi 11:15).

  2. Take time to search the scriptures specifically for good examples of leadership, especially from the Savior Himself.

  3. Pray for your ward, stake, and general Church leaders. Pray also for government leaders, that they may be inspired and work in the spirit of peace and unity.

  4. Get to know those around you. Find out about their interests, their families, their studies, and their desires and passions in life (see Ephesians 2:19).

  5. Read your patriarchal blessing and ponder how you can become your best self.

As we do our best to lead in righteousness, we become true disciples and followers of Jesus Christ and qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. As we make and honor sacred covenants, we are entitled to receive the necessary preparation and spiritual armor to go to battle against the adversary.

You Can Start Now

What kind of leader will you be? Or, to quote the Savior, “What manner of [leader] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).

As we near the Second Coming, the Lord will need more righteous leaders who will follow His prophet and enlist in this battle. He needs us. We are in the 11th hour, and we have much to do. We can start preparing to become a great generation of leaders now. It’s never too late to start! If there are things you need to talk to your bishop about, he can help you on the path of repentance. If you need direction on how to improve yourself, start by improving your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ; They can show you where to go from there. You and I are being called now to do the Lord’s work and help our prophet lead the house of Israel to safety, and if we simply try to do our best, we will succeed.