GREENVILLE, N.C.
More than 1,200 Latter-day Saint teenagers from North and South Carolina gathered July 20-23 on the campus of East Carolina University for a 10-stake youth conference. Activities included a food drive, team building activities, dances, musical performances and a variety of classes. Speakers included Brother Arian Ochoa of the Young Men General Presidency and M. Keith Giddens, Area Seventy over North and South Carolina.
This year, the multi-stake conference included youth from stakes in Charlotte, Gastonia, Asheville, Hickory, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point and Kinston, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Elder Giddens stated that this was the largest gathering of youth to date in the South. More than 1,500 attended including youth and adult leaders.
The theme of the conference "One, But Not Alone" is based on the New Testament scripture "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5).
When Becca Rollings of the Kinston Stake first heard the theme "One But Not Alone" she thought it meant we aren't alone because Jesus is with us. But, now she also knows it means that you might be the one Mormon in your school or in your circle of friends but you are not alone at all. "There are so many strong LDS youth." Becca, who recently graduated from high school, was one of six Mormons in her high school of 1,300. She plans to keep in contact with new friends through Facebook and texting. She knows those friendships will strengthen her when she attends East Carolina University this September.
McKenna Thompson from Asheville said, "Sometimes at school I feel like I'm the only one, the only Mormon. But at the conference we can interact with other youth just like us." Many youth commented that it wasn't until coming to the conference that they realized there were so many Mormon youth living in the Carolinas.
The youth felt strengthened by gathering together with others their age who share the same standards. "It was awesome to just look around and see every seat in the auditorium filled and feel the strength of us as a group," said Ashley Wheatley of the Gastonia stake. "Together we are amazing."
Alex Walker of the Columbia South Carolina Stake was one of many in attendance who said the conference provided an opportunity to strengthen friendships and to bring like-minded youth together. "Being a teenager it's a battle to identify who you are and who you want to be and to have this many teenagers with similar goals and values helps you realize you're one but not alone." Then he laughed and said, "See how I got that in there?"
As one of three LDS students in his high school, Dillon Hiatt, Winston-Salem North Carolina Stake, was happy to know there were so many LDS youth in the area.
Nicolas Kleeburg of the High Point North Carolina Stake, was also impressed by the sheer number of youth who attended. But it was the focus on inner strength that made the most impact on him. "I'm sure almost everybody will leave with a strengthened testimony of Heavenly Father. You can feel the Spirit at youth conference. Everyone seems so happy and determined to live the gospel," he said.
Bianca Olivas of Charlotte North Carolina Central Stake, who attened youth conference for the first time, said her testimony and knowledge of Jesus Christ grew over the four days. "I feel closer to the Savior than before," she commented Her friend, Angie Servano, agreed that she felt closer to Jesus.
The four-day conference included guest speakers Thurl Bailey, Troy Dunn and Elizabeth Craig, and musical performers Jon Schmidt, Greg Simpson, Jericho Road, and The Fading Point.
Although each class was as unique as the presenter, the overall message was the same: through their faith each Latter-day Saint youth has the ability to remain true and faithful to the covenants made at baptism. Trials, big and small, can be overcome by obedience to the commandments and faith in the blessings Heavenly Father has promised. The youth learned to use spiritual tools to overcome temptations; one of those tools was to surround themselves with people of similar beliefs and standards.
Brandon Carter of the Columbia South Carolina Stake enjoyed the conference and the speakers, especially Thurl Bailey. "I like hearing conversion stories and his was a great one. He has a great testimony," he said. Brandon said he enjoys hearing members' conversion stories because they know what it's like not to have the gospel. Through their testimonies he feels he's a little more converted today than he was yesterday.
Trey Cipriano, also from Columbia, liked hearing the stories of people who are in the spotlight and seeing how they are still down to earth. "They can be popular and famous yet still live their religion and values," he said.
The "piano guy," Jon Schmidt was the favorite of 14-year-old Josh Peters from Greensboro. "He's great at what he does and he's really funny. But he works an important message into his performance."
Many of the performers served missions so Josh now wonders where he'll serve his mission. He has two brothers serving missions right now; one in Las Vegas and one in Madagascar.
Jessica Davidson of the Asheville North Carolina Stake especially enjoyed the music and speakers who set the mood for spirituality. She loved pianist Jon Schmidt and the way he shared his testimony of Christ through his music and by sharing experiences and stories from his life. She also said Elizabeth Craig, former Miss Utah, helped her realize some things she needed to change in her life.
One comment in particular from Elizabeth Craig gave Kira John of the Gastonia North Carolina Stake the desire to serve others. "Sister Craig told us that the devil does not care if you think everything of yourself or if you think nothing of yourself. He just cares that you're thinking of yourself."
Forgetting your own problems and reaching out to others through service was a recurring theme of the conference.
Danica Walker of the Hickory North Carolina Stake was surprised and impressed by how many well-known musicians and speakers were at the conference. Like Jessica and Kira, she appreciated the comments of Elizabeth Craig. "She told us if you lose yourself in serving others you'll like yourself more. That's sounds exactly like something Jesus said in the New Testament."
For many the messages shared at youth conference will change their lives for the better. For others it solidified decisions made and strengthened their testimonies. For Price Langirik the four-days have strengthened his desire to serve a mission.
He and a and cousin, Paul Baxter, along with their family came from the Marshall Islands to Winston-Salem three years ago. Born and raised in the Church, they called their grandmother a Mormon pioneer in the Marshall Islands. In fact, Price was named after the missionary who baptized his father. Price said coming to youth conference has solidified his decision to serve a mission and he will submit his papers before turning 19 in November. As the buses left East Carolina University on Saturday morning 1,200 LDS youth knew they were not alone.
