LYON, France — Hundreds of young adults in Lisbon, Portugal, and Lyon, France, participated in two question-and-answer sessions with Elder Ulisses Soares recently during his ministry visit to both countries.
Elder Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles answered questions and shared his testimony of the Savior in both cities. Also speaking were Sister Rosana Soares; Elder Carl B. Cook of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Sister Lynette Cook; Bishop L. Todd Budge, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric; and his wife, Sister Lori Budge.
Before answering questions in Lisbon, Elder Soares told the audience that they represent the future of the Church.
“There’s never been a time like this with nobility like you,” he said. “[Heavenly Father] reserved you to come on earth at this time because of your talents, your gifts and your abilities to handle the current circumstances of the world.”
While he spoke in English during the missionary meeting in Lisbon, Elder Soares happily talked to the young adults in Portuguese. In Lyon, he was able to use the French he previously had used with great fluidity while serving in Africa.
“I don’t always get an assignment where I can speak in my native tongue,” he said in Lisbon.
Present in both Lisbon and Lyon, Bishop Budge didn’t make the trip to Kazakhstan. He traveled to Rome, Italy, to announce a $32 million donation from the Church to the World Food Programme.
Build faith to overcome challenges
Sister Soares read from John 3:16 with the young adults in both cities.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” the verse says.
Sister Soares said that this verse doesn’t single out any group of individuals as being excluded from God’s love or the benefits of the Savior’s Atonement. Likewise, she said, “you should love all, not just those like you.”
Prior to beginning each question-and-answer session, Elder and Sister Soares each mentioned President Russell M. Nelson’s counsel from April 2021 general conference that receiving answers to challenges requires an increase in faith.
“Your mountains will vary, and yet the answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith,” President Nelson said.
After sharing that quote in Lisbon, Sister Soares told missionaries of the Lord, “We may weaken or lose our faith in Him, but He never loses faith in us.”
Finding balance
Young adults in both Lisbon and Lyon asked about balancing everything they have going on in life. Elder Soares responded immediately in Lisbon with a smile in his face, “Welcome to the club,” before giving the counsel to seek for help from Heavenly Father in establishing priorities and finding balance in everything in life.
“Finding balance in life requires the Lord’s guidance,” he said.
Elder Alan T. Phillips, an Area Seventy and the second counselor in the Europe North Area, said in that same meeting that he understands the feeling that life can seem too short to accomplish so many tasks.
“It can feel like a test that must be completed before the buzzer goes off,” he said. But then he counseled those with the concern that they aren’t moving fast enough or accomplishing enough to remember “you are eternal.”
He reminded the audience of their eternal nature and the ability to progress beyond this life’s short time constraints.
Latter-day challenges
A few questions in both cities also involved the topics of getting married, having children, and caring for the earth in the latter days and the challenges this poses.
Bishop Budge talked about the responsibilities members of the Church have in caring for the earth as an integral part of the Creation and as the testing ground for all who will live here. He also talked about the recent $32 million donation from the Church to the World Food Programme “to help end poverty.”
“We should be generous in sharing with those in need,” he said.
Elder Soares added to Bishop Budge’s comments that the Church works with and encourages contributions of other organizations to this type of endeavor to alleviate suffering around the world.
“Coming closer to the Savior is the answer,” Elder Soares said.
In Lyon, Elder Soares invited President Roland Léporé, president of the France Lyon Mission, to give his counsel on this question. President Léporé told the young adults to stay focused on God’s directions.
“Satan is well aware that decisions determine destiny, so he distracts you from good decisions,” he said.
Spiritual experiences
In Lisbon, one question the panel faced was about how to have daily sacred experiences.
Sister Soares encouraged the young adults to schedule regular times in their days to pray and listen for the inspiration of the Holy Ghost as it provides guidance and answers.
“Sacred experiences do not happen by chance or mistake,” she said.
He said he had spoken with those world religious leaders about the price paid to find true hope.
“In the depths of human suffering, we find our common springs of hope,” he said in Kazakhstan.
To the young adults he added, “Suffering is the price paid to become more empathetic. … God will test your faith because your promise is eternal, but He invited you to come to Him to receive His blessings.”
Closing the 12-day trip with the young adult devotional in Lyon, Elder Soares asked the audience to find truth and trust the Lord.
“Turn your hearts to the Savior to know the truth and be an example of Him to the world,” he said. “As you promote His light, you will be a better believer.”
