A century ago, near the University of Idaho, a small stone building was dedicated as the first Institute of Religion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Since then, Institute has expanded to over 2,700 locations worldwide and serves more than 450,000 young single adults. If current projections hold, one million young single adults, both Latter-day Saint and those of other faiths, will be enrolled in the Church of Jesus Christ’s Institute program by the end of its centennial year.
To commemorate this extraordinary anniversary, Elder Patrick Kearon and his wife, Jennifer Kearon, addressed nearly 20,000 young single adults and a worldwide audience of their peers in the Salt Lake City Conference Center last Sunday, February 1st. The Kearons spoke on a variety of topics, ranging from divine love to active discipleship. Their discussion included responses to a series of questions from a panel of YSA Latter-day Saints, a special prophetic promise from President Dallin H. Oaks, and an invitation to “press on in the work of the Lord.” The devotional was accompanied by beautiful arrangements performed by the UVU Institute Choir, encapsulating the Kearons hopeful and stirring messages.
One of the panelist’s questions concerned the all-too-common self-doubts and lackluster confidence many young adults struggle with. Sister Kearon, offering guidance, spoke of two opposing voices, like those of the Shepherd and the Hireling described by the Savior in John 10. One, the voice of our self-doubts, replaces our inner peace with turmoil. It is a voice that does not care about us and seeks only to tear down and destroy. She then spoke of the other voice, the voice of our caring Savior and Shepherd. Such a voice fills our minds with the peace, love, and hope only He can bring. Sister Kearon emphasized that His voice encourages us to have faith and be of good cheer, knowing He has already overcome the world.
Another panelist asked the Kearons how we can better understand the Savior’s atonement. Drawing on the words of the ancient Nephite prophet Alma, Elder Kearon focused his response on the joy that comes knowing Christ already bore our troubles. He emphasized the “wonderful and wondrous” light that Christ’s Atonement offers the sin-scarred soul, yet acknowledged that Christ’s infinite sacrifice may not be fully understandable now. As a new young adult convert, Kearon recounted how he himself struggled to understand the Lord’s Atonement. However, he taught, as we focus our attention on the happiness available to us because of the atonement and allow our soul to unite with the song of redeeming love.
After the panel’s question, a brief recorded message by President Dallin H Oaks was broadcast. The prophet invited all YSA of the Church to enroll in and attend Institute and declared the blessings for doing so. There, in stark contrast to “the noise and confusion” of the world, students will “learn to distinguish truth from error, build [their] relationship with their Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, find direction and discover answers to life’s greatest questions.” For those who make the time to attend Institute consistently, President Oaks promised they would experience “the Savior’s peace, joy, and divine love.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Elder Kearon invited those in attendance to sing “Let us all press on” with rejoicing resound. The large conference space was filled with joyful song as thousands expressed their faith and desire to “do what’s right” through song. Their hopeful cry summarized the devotional’s overall message of covenant confidence, active faith, and redeeming love, a fitting herald of the Institute’s centennial anniversary.
Cover Photo Source: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-and-sister-kearon-invite-young-adults-to-put-faith-in-the-foreground-of-their-lives
