Young adults from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port-Vila, Vanuatu took part in a three-day conference last weekend (9-11 December).
As part of the conference, the young people assembed 1,000 hygiene kits to be used by people in Vanuatu or Solomon Islands in the event of a cyclone or other disaster.
The theme of the conference was: "A sure foundation."
Local Latter-day Saint leader, Norton Atkins, explained that the activities organized during the three day event aimed to remind the young people to base their lives on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
"The central message of this conference," Atkins said, "is to remind our young single adults that it is expedient for them to build their lives upon the teachings and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in order for them to be able to withstand the challenges and adversities of life, especially during these times of social and spiritual turmoils."
The theme of the conference was based on a scriptural passages in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Helaman 5:12):
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall".
The conference started on the afternoon of Friday, December 9th, with enrollment followed by a dance.
On Saturday morning 10 December, the young people attended a series of workshops at the Port-Vila LDS Chapel.
The first workshop emphasized the importance of education and self-reliance.
The second workshop focussed on the importance of individuals fortifying their faith in Jesus Christ in order to be able to endure and withstand all the adversities and challenges in life.
After sharing lunch together on Saturday, they took part in a service project at the Port-Vila Nambatu Chapel, assembling hygiene kits.
- Vanuatu
- Vanuatu Emergency Kits Dec 2016
- Vanuatu YSA Service Emergency Packs December 2016
- Young Adults Conference Vanuatu 9-11 December 2016
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According to Elder and Sister Sackley, a Welfare missionary couple from the United States, "the hygiene kits are ready to be distributed anywhere in Vanuatu or in the Solomon islands in case of emergency."
"We have entered the cyclone season in Vanuatu," Sister Sackley said. "And those hygiene kits are very helpful for the victims of man made or natural hazards.
"The kits consist of towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, clothes donated by Latter-day Saints, and other items of basic necessity."
She explained that preparedness for emergencies or natural disasters is very important and that by involving young adults of the Church in that service project, they are sensitizing them to the importance of preparedness.
She added that by involving them in this service project, they know that they contributed in preparing emergency kits that would help their neighbour when they will be in a time of need.
The conference culminated with a devotional held at the Port-Vila Nambatu Latter-day Saint chapel on the evening of Sunday 11 December 2016.
During the meeting, young people shared their feelings about the conference, saying they were inspired and challenged by the uplifting workshops held on Saturday morning.
In his closing remarks, the Port-Vila Stake President, Yvon Basil, said that all in attendance were encouraged and blessed by the testimonies of the young Latter-day Saints.
"Young single adults, you are a very special," he said.
"You will be the future leaders of the Church, and I have been reassured during this conference. I know that the future of the Church will be in good hands."
He called on the young adults "to continue strengthening their testimonies by focussing their faith in Christ and not to listen to all the noises and distractions of the world."
In his counsel, President Basil urged the young people not to be afraid to take important decisions that would have a positive impact on their temporal and spiritual growth.
"Words without action is death," he said. "You need to exercise your faith in Jesus Christ. You need to put the principles of the Gospel of Jesus in action in your respective lives. It takes faith for one to decide to commit himself or herself to serve a full time mission, to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and extend the Kingdom of God on earth."
He added, "It also takes faith for one to take the decision to further his or her education or to choose to get married to his or her eternal companion in a Holy Temple of God.
"These are some of the decisions that you will have to take in your lives. You need to build your lives on a sure foundation which is the Lord Jesus Christ. You need to focus on the Saviour. Do not listen to the voices or distractions of the world. As long as you keep your eyes and ears single to the glory of God and focussed on Christ, you will never go wrong, you will endure to the end."
Newsroom contributor: Jean Baptiste Calo