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Young Adults from Africa West (French Areas) Participate in Devotional with Elder & Sister Andersen
Over 2,030 young adults from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côté d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sénégal, and Togo participated in Elder Neil L. Andersen and Sister Kathy Andersen’s area devotional for French-speaking young adults around the world.
An Apostle of Jesus Christ and his wife brought a familiar message of hope to French-speaking Latter-day Saints around the world on February 21. Elder and Sister Andersen spoke at the first of six area devotionals for young adult Latter-day Saints age 18 to 30. These virtual events were held in February and March. When completed, these devotionals from six Apostles reached Latter-day Saints on every continent.
Elder and Sister Andersen spoke in French. Elder Andersen began with a quote from the Apostle Paul that is recorded in the New Testament: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
“Substance. Evidence. This is what faith is. This is what belief is,” said Elder Andersen, who spoke from a recording studio on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. “It is real. It is part of our inner being. Our spirits long to believe in God and long to have faith in Christ.”
The Apostle then extended six belief-related admonitions:
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Believe in God.
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Believe you are a daughter or son of God and that He knows you personally and loves you completely.
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Believe that you can speak to your Heavenly Father and He will manifest Himself through the power of the Holy Ghost.
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Believe that the kingdom of God is rolling forth across the world and that we each are an important part of preparing for the Second Coming of the Savior.
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Believe that others who you know will embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.
He also quoted passages he wrote about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, a topic that “stirs my soul.” That day “will be breathtaking! The scope and grandeur, the vastness and magnificence, will exceed anything mortal eyes have ever seen or experienced. . . . How will it happen? We do not know. But I testify it will happen—exactly as prophesied.”
Elder Andersen said his time as an Apostle (he was called in April 2009) has been full of unanticipated sacred moments and unspeakable experiences and feelings that have assured him of the reality of Jesus Christ.
“As your friend and fellow disciple, with no motivation except my love and respect for you, I assure you that your faith in Jesus Christ is not in vain,” he said. “You will see Him again. All the world will know He is the Son of God. I have come to know Him and feel His presence. I witness with certainty that He lives, that He is resurrected, and that His love for us is beyond description.”