Youth Receive Strength and Inspiration from Young Men General President

You know who you are, and why you are here. You are a child of God, and you have an eternal destiny.

This is the inspiring message youth in the Philippines Area received from President Steven J. Lund, Young Men General President, during his seven-day visit to the country last July 16–22.

Accompanied by his wife, Sister Kalleen Lund, President Lund interacted with Young Men and Young Women who participated in For Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences from the following stakes and districts: Kalibo, Roxas (Capiz), and Antique (July 19); Bacoor and Imus (July 20); and Camiling and Paniqui (July 21). He and Sister Lund also held a devotional with missionaries of the Philippines Iloilo Mission on July 18.

Focusing on the 2023 Youth Theme “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13), President and Sister Lund joined with the youth in reciting—and more importantly, discussing—the Young Men and Young Women themes, listened to them share their challenges and concerns, gave support and encouragement to youth leaders, and yes, had fun with the youth during various FSY activities.

The Lunds were joined in various venues by members of the Philippines Area presidency and their spouses: Elder Steven R. Bangerter, area president, and Sister Susann A. Bangerter; Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, first counselor, and Sister Bon Kyong Koo Choi; Elder Carlos G. Revillo, second counselor, and Sister Marie Revillo. They also met with local and regional Church leaders.

JULY 19 – KALIBO, ROXAS (CAPIZ), AND ANTIQUE

“This is a mighty army that is moving forward, gathering strength day by day and hour by hour, against all of the headwinds and all of the challenges of the world,” President Lund told youth from Kalibo Stake, Roxas Capiz Stake, and Antique District during the FSY conference held at Punta Villa Resort in Iloilo City. “You are a part of that mighty army that Heavenly Father is building,” he then affirmed to the participants.

“I felt blessed when I heard those words Elder Lund spoke,” shared Kurt Brigham Villanueva, who serves as priests quorum presidency assistant in Kalibo 2nd Ward. “He woke up my mind to know that as a priesthood holder, I must stand up and help in the gathering of Israel, and it inspires me more to make myself worthy to serve the Lord.”

When the youth recited the Young Men/Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women themes with President and Sister Lund, Sister Jewel Koztelijk Soriano, a Young Women class president from Hamtic Branch began pondering its meaning. “With the help of President Lund I came to understand why the theme was made,” Sister Jewel recalled, repeating what the worldwide youth leader stressed: “We memorize the theme because the world is changing our identity.”

Earlier, the Lunds held a devotional with the missionaries of the Philippines Iloilo Mission. “We are all part of many blessings and miracles,” Sister Lund told the missionaries, pointing out that Church members have the gift of healing, not just physical healing but also that of “giving hope to others.”

For his part, President Lund emphasized that because “we are beloved sons and daughter of God,” it gives us the reassurance that “we know who we are why are we here.” As such, he then added, missionaries have a great responsibility: “Help others come unto Christ, so they can have joy and happiness.”

Elder Albarico, a full-time missionary, listened intently as President Lund recalled an FSY conference in a country where the Church only had a few members. “It gave me the motivation to understand that everyone is a son and daughter of Heavenly Father,” the missionary reflected, “and that they are also part of this great work even though they are in a Muslim-majority country.”

JULY 20 – BACOOR AND IMUS

After highlighting the statements “I am a beloved son of God” and “I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents” found in the youth themes, President Lund gave a thought-provoking question to the youth of Bacoor Stake and Imus Stake during a devotional at the newly built Tanay FSY Facility in Rizal.

“Why do you think the prophet wants us to mention those words?” he asked, and then followed it up with another question that affirmed more than it inquired: “Isn’t it kind of obvious that we are His children?”

Turning to the Aaronic Priesthood holders, President Lund elaborated: “The prophet has given the Young Men a theme to memorize because we live in a different world than we used to live in, where the philosophies of men that Joseph Smith talked about are trying to convince you that you’re everybody except who you really are.”

President Lund then emphasized to all: “When somebody comes and tells us we’re someone else, we’re somebody else, we know that’s not true. We are God’s children, and then secondly He has a work for us to do. I have an eternal destiny, and that there’s a purpose for this life.”

Elder Lund’s words ignited something in Matthieu Grant Valdez of Imus 3rd Ward: “Nag-motivate po sa akin na mag-serve ng mission” (It motivated me to serve a mission). Asked how he can apply what he learned, he answered, “Ponder more on the gospel,” and share it to everyone, “para po mas ma-strengthen yung faith natin” (so our faith can be strengthened more).

Sister Lund, who recounted that she also attended youth conferences in her teen years, shared her feelings: “I believe one of the reasons why FSY is so important is because this is the closest thing you will get to living a very celestial life. You come here, you set yourself apart from the world, from all the worries of the world … and you make such very good friends who believe just like you do.”

Elize Ungavetti of Imus 2^nd Ward turned emotional after hearing Sister Lund relate an experience where she sought Heavenly Father’s help when she got lost while in a foreign city. “I believe that if we pray to the Lord when we are confused or lost,” she learned from the story, “He will help us, and He will guide us where we should go.”

JULY 21 – CAMILING AND PANIQUI

Sister Lund made participants from Camiling Stake and Paniqui Stake feel at home as they gathered for FSY at Crystal Waves Hotel and Resort in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. “We come to FSY,” she noted, “and we’re surrounded by people who believe just like we do.” And more importantly, “we feel safe, and we feel comfortable, and the Spirit has the opportunity to rest upon us and makes us feel like “this is our true home!”

President Rodel Dolorfino of the Camiling Stake presidency and his wife Sister Juliet Dolorfino are the session directing couple (SDC) for this particular FSY, and both were touched by Sister Lund’s story about her pioneer ancestor, a young woman who pushed a handcart. She would push until she fainted, and her friends would gather and pray for her and she would regain enough strength for her to continue pushing towards the Salt Lake Valley.

“I know the youth were inspired by this story,” Sister Dolorfino feels. “They need friends who will help and pray for them as they strive to live the gospel every day.” President Dolorfino also hoped that the youth would find similar strength during “unexpected moments” that President Lund said they would encounter in life. “The Savior is our pattern so that during unexpected moments, we show our true character,” he noted. “We will face pressing times in our life and it’s an opportunity for us to show Christlike character.”

The Lunds’ messages also made an impact on the youth leaders present. “I am super grateful that President and sister Lund attended our FSY,” beamed Brother Jhan-Jhan Agustin, who served as male coordinator for the event. “We felt the strong love of President Lund for our youth and for the Savior. He is indeed a disciple of Christ.”

GAINING STRENGTH THROUGH CHRIST

In his interactions with the youth, President Lund committed them to memorize the Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women themes: “Those words are so important, aren’t they?”

At every event, he reiterated to the youth the importance of knowing who they are, and avoiding the confusing voices of the world: “The world, the adversary, would like to convince you that you’re somebody other than who you are. Satan would like you to believe that you’re something less than you are. He does not want you to know that you are a child of God.”

And as he closed one talk, President Lund once again put reference to the 2023 Youth Theme by emphasizing the Savior’s strenghtening presence. “He will never leave you,” he summed up, “you may decide it’s too hard, you may choose to walk away from Him, but He will never walk away from you. Even if you walk away, He’ll come with you.”