Speaking to young adults from Newcastle to Novosibirsk and from Copenhagen to Cape Town, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland began his message by clarifying that his purpose was not to “recruit” them to attend institute.
“You don’t exist so institute can become a successful Church program,” said Elder Holland. “No, it’s the other way around. Institute exists so you can become a successful Latter-day Saint.”
Rather than inviting them to “take institute,” Elder Holland invites us the young adults to allow institute to “take” us so we can be closer to God and to His words in the scriptures.
In the panel discussion of the devotion was Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé, Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon, and Brother Chad H. Webb, administrator of Seminaries and Institutes.
Elder Holland closed the panel discussion by reminding young adults of his love for them. This regional devotional was “an effort for the Church to say how much it loves you, and we love you and the officers of the Church love you,” he said.
The restored gospel of Jesus Christ “isn’t a fairytale. This is God’s very truth. …
“I know He has won the victory, and I want to be on His side. I want to be on the winning team. And I know that He will stand in these last days as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and that this will be His true Church.”
