Rivals Unite In LDS Youth Conference

By WESLIE STRATTON

Moapa Valley Progress

Three separate stakes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints combined last weekend to create a successful two-day youth conference in Mesquite. Roughly 650 kids, ages 14-18, from the Logandale, Panaca and Mesquite stakes participated in the event hosted by Mesquite on June 1-2.

The theme of the conference was “Study, Ponder, Apply and Being One.” According to Mesquite Stake Young Women’s President Kris Bingham, the theme was decided by a youth council made up of representatives from each ward. Bingham said that the youth council had decided to base the theme on the last address that the late LDS President Thomas S. Monson gave in the April 2017 General Conference; as well as what current President Russell M. Nelson has been focusing on which is the importance of the Book of Mormon.

“And being one as three stakes coming together was an element as well,” Bingham said.
The conference was made up of various workshops taught by presenters. Each workshop offered opportunities for youth to learn and grow together.
“The youth council came up with a list of names and topics they would like to have covered,” Bingham said about the workshops. “All centered on the Book of Mormon.”

Workshops included “Gaining a Testimony” presented by Caleb Hansen and Laetitia Ray, “History of Joseph Smith” by Don Whipple, “Learning and Teaching from the Book of Mormon” by Dan and Mindi Wright, “Book of Mormon, Social Media and You” by Brogan and Shantell Felshaw, “The Plan of Salvation” by Rob Mathews, and “Women of the Book of Mormon” by Alisha Cooper and Brenda Pendleton.

In addition, the youth got some exercise as they participated in various dance instruction sessions and work service projects.

Youth participant Weston Munns said he learned how to build his faith and beliefs in one workshop.
“I learned different ways (to strengthen my testimony) by reading the scriptures and doing spiritual activities,” he said.

While building testimonies and learning how to better study and apply the scriptures were key goals for the conference, organizers also emphasized building friendships.

Logandale Stake Young Women’s President Alisha Cooper said that the conference was an ideal opportunity for the youth to meet new people.
“They spend a lot of time on the court and on the ballfield but don’t take the time to get to know each other,” she said of the youth.

Cooper said that she was pleased to see the hand of friendship being extended throughout the event.
President Chuck Burt, of the Logandale Stake Presidency pointed out that the conference also had a certain historic significance. The three participating stakes, all together, were once the sum total of the original Moapa Stake which was formed on June 9, 1912 in a special conference held in Overton.
“The spirit behind it all was to bring these three competing regions – with their traditional high school rivalries – together in a spirit of unity and love,” Burt said. “And the youth received it so well! A lot of barriers were brought down and they really enjoyed one another.”

When asked what the highlight of the conference was for him, youth participant Cropper Henrie of Logandale said it was making new friends.
“I’ve met a lot of different people from different stakes that I didn’t know before,” he said.

Another aspect of the conference that made an impression on the youth was the dance instruction. They learned various dance styles including the merengue which required participants to loosen up their body movements as well as dance with a partner.

Logandale 5th Ward memeber Edyn Bennett said that the dancing was her favorite part of the conference. “I learned how to dance better because I didn’t know how to dance before,” she said.
Youth had the opportunity to put their newly honed dance skills to good use on Friday night at a special youth dance held at the Mesquite Stake Center.

“The dance was packed to overflowing,” Cooper said, adding that every single aspect of the conference had exceptional youth participation including a number of service projects performed by the kids.
“There was a physical activity where they helped people with yard work in the heart of Mesquite,” she said. “And there was card-making for hospitalized kids.”

Other projects included fleece blanket tying and a project allowing for the youth to write their testimonies on a card with an accompanying chocolate bar that would later be sent to LDS missionaries to distribute to people in their areas.
“I thought it was a grand success,” Cooper said of the conference. “I feel like we should do this more often.”

Bingham agreed that the event was successful.
“It was so great,” she said. “[Everyone was] forgiving of the little flaws in the schedule and the kids participated. There were no rivalries,” she said. “It all came together”

Burt especially recognized the work of the Mesquite Stake leadership. “They hosted the conference and I think they carried the lion’s share of it,” he said. “They deserve a lot of credit for their efforts in being so hospitable to us. It was all well done and well planned with very few logistical hiccups at all.”