Area Presidency Message
A Call to Care for the Youth of the Church in the Caribbean
President Russell M. Nelson challenged the youth to enlist in the “Lord’s Battalion.” In the Caribbean Area, we want to answer the call. He stated: “My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel. There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing.
“This gathering should mean everything to you.
“This is the mission for which you were sent to earth.”1
This responsibility will require “all hands on deck” by youth, parents, church leaders, and leaders in the community. Elder Ronald A. Rasband stated, “In these perilous times, as our youth are faced with . . . increased adversity, we can learn from others. In the armed forces, particularly in all the navies throughout the world, every seaman understands one phrase that is a clarion call for immediate help, no matter what he is doing or where he is on the ship. The call is ‘All hands on deck.’ Many a battle at sea has been won or lost by the response to this call.
“We—as members of the Church . . .—all need to respond to the call for ‘all hands on deck’ as it pertains to our youth and young single adults. We must all look for opportunities to bless the youth whether or not we are currently closely associated with them.”2
I believe the youth organized in quorums and class presidencies can provide that leadership to grow and care for each other. My youngest son told me that the young people have agency and that they will never grow if we don’t provide them the tools and let them choose for themselves. We need to lead them, guide them, and walk beside them, and then let them find and choose the way. If we trust them, they can do it. Set the course, give them the compass, the tools, and let them figure it out.
There is nothing more important for the youth than to understand doctrine. The challenge is finding creative ways to help them. This is one of the keys. I find that we are teaching it, and we have made it more available and accessible, but we need to establish more ways for the youth to feel the desire to actually listen to and explore the doctrine. They need to feel that the invitation to learn is coming from the Master to them personally. Our Savior invites us to “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.
“I am Jesus Christ” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:23–24).
This scripture seems to establish the pattern: First, listen or allow His words to enter the inner space, heart, mind and hopefully, eventually the soul. Then you will walk in His ways and in His Spirit. And you will have His peace. The answer is clear, but the actual challenge is to help the youth to start this process so that they believe enough to listen once, then twice, and more.
One truth that youth need to understand was eloquently taught by Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “The love of the Father and the Son is freely given but also includes hopes and expectations. . . .
“Because They love you, They do not want to leave you ‘just as you are.’ Because They love you, They want you to have joy and success. Because They love you, They want you to repent because that is the path to happiness. But it is your choice—They honor your agency. You must choose to love Them, serve Them, to keep Their commandments. Then They can more abundantly bless you as well as love you”3.
In this complicated world, the rising generation needs role models, people who will influence them positively. Someone who will give them an investment of time and sacrifice; someone who will love them and be close enough to them so that, when they have challenges, they will reach out to them. They need mentors to help them understand what decisions will help them be more effective in school, in church, and in the workplace. They often ask how they can be better people and how they can do things that are worthwhile They want to be involved in doing something that will make a difference; they want to have experiences, not just activities.
One young woman, Elena Moore, likes it when mentors don’t make decisions for her. In talking about her mother, she said: “She doesn’t control me or force actions upon me. She gently guides me. One very important trait that all mentors should have is the will to listen.” Young people definitely need leaders who can see them for who they are and trust them and guide them.
Perhaps you or others may walk alongside the youth, but the time will come when they must walk their own path and find answers for themselves. As our beloved prophet has powerfully proclaimed: “Take your questions to the Lord and to other faithful sources. Study with the desire to believe. . . . Stop increasing your doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters. Allow the Lord to lead you on your journey of spiritual discovery.”4 I know that the youth need to act and build their own safety net of confidence so that they can make wise decisions and qualify for Heavenly Father’s choicest blessings. I will trust in God; That is my choice. We have already used our agency to make important choices before we came to earth, and we are continuing on the covenant path. We are holding onto the iron rod and walking by faith.
I am a living example of one who was mentored when I was a youth. I feel confident that because of how I was guided, taken by the hand, and helped up when I stumbled, I learned that it was my responsibility “to be strong and of a good courage” (see Joshua 1:18). I have become who I am because someone loved me, trusted in me, and saw my worth and the potential in me, and then communicated that to me so clearly that from that rough material, I became the leader I am today. So many people in my life answered that call for “all hands on deck,” and did their best on my behalf. May we all answer that call.