Young single adults from 5 Utah stakes celebrate the theme ‘Believe, Belong, Become’ in weekend event

9 March 2021, 4:30 PM MST

Two young single adults participate in the service project that took place as part of a two-day event held for young single adults in the North Salt Lake area Feb. 20-21, 2021. Credit: Courtesy Elder Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

By Megan McKellar

Young single adults in the North Salt Lake area recently had the chance to participate in a series of weekend events that featured entertainment, service and devotion.

The theme “Believe, Belong and Become” defined a leadership conference and activities, planned by young adults from five participating stakes.

Several Church leaders also participated in the Feb. 20 and 21 gatherings, including Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Sharon Eubank, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency; Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Evan A. Schmutz, a General Authority Seventy and member of the Utah Area Presidency; and Elder Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, an Area Seventy.

“Throughout this event, the General Authorities were … dressed nice, but not in suits,” said Faith Jackson, a member of the Holladay Utah YSA Stake. “They were telling jokes and laughing along with us. It was really great to see them in a casual atmosphere, which makes it much easier to relate to them.”

Each of the five young single adult stakes also created a video as part of a light-hearted variety show that took place virtually on Feb. 20.

Following the virtual variety show, young adults were invited to drive to different locations to donate a pair of socks, the most highly requested item from local homeless shelters.

As the young adults drove up with their donations, they were greeted in their cars by the participating General Authorities and other local Church leaders, all who were masked and maintained appropriate social distances.

More than 7,000 pairs of socks were donated.

Sister Sharon Eubank greets young adults as they participate in the service project that took place as part of a two-day event held for young single adults in the North Salt Lake area Feb. 20-21, 2021. | Credit: Courtesy Elder Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Sister Marcia Nielson, pose for a picture as part of the service project that took place as part of a two-day event held for young single adults in the North Salt Lake area Feb. 20-21, 2021. | Credit: Courtesy Elder Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Young single adults organize donations for local homeless shelters during the service project that took place as part of a two-day event held for young single adults in the North Salt Lake area Feb. 20-21, 2021. | Credit: Courtesy Elder Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

A sign at the service project that took place as part of a two-day event held for young single adults in the North Salt Lake area Feb. 20-21, 2021. | Credit: Courtesy Elder Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

On Sunday, Feb. 21, Church leaders participated in a question-and-answer session.

At the beginning of the devotional, the recording of Sissel performing “Slow Down” during the 2019 Pioneer Day Concert with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square was played, setting the tone for the meeting.

Jacob Young, a young adult in the Holladay Utah YSA Stake, said that during the devotional and the discussion with Elder Gong, he “felt inspired to take more time to myself to study scriptures and pray, visit the temple, and just forget about worldly things and the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”

Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Sister Marcia Nielson, speak with young adults after a devotional that took place as part of a two-day event held for young single adults in the North Salt Lake area Feb. 20-21, 2021. | Credit: Courtesy Elder Richard Neitzel Holzapfel