The youth is the future and to strengthen the young generation of the Church, Brother Stephen Owen, President of the Young Men General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, met with Church leaders, young men and their parents in Kalibo, Aklan for a training and devotional on 4 December 2019.
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Accompanied by his wife, Sister Jane S. Owen; and Elder Ryan V. Pagaduan, Area Seventy, and wife Sister Cristina Pagaduan, Brother Owen, hosted a focus group discussion to gather insights from the youth themselves on what challenges that the young generation face on a daily basis.
Some of the participants shared that social media and peer pressure are two of the myriads of factors that leave the youth vulnerable to temptation and adversities.
The general Church officer then clarified that smartphones can be powerful tools in ‘gathering Israel’ but cautioned that they can also be used as a tool of the adversary. He admonished the wise use of mobile devices. Brother Owen also advised the local leaders and parents to counsel together to strengthen the youth of the Church and to minister to them.
Furthermore, the Young Men General President encouraged the local leaders to allow the youth to plan and hold regular activities for themselves. He also shared that the young men grow in the mission field because the Church trusts them more than ever before. "We are not program managers but relationship builders," Brother Owen pointed out in reference to the changes in the organizational structure of the Young Men organization and its program.
A father to five children, Brother Owen promised that as leaders and parents help strengthen the young men of the Church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will flourish in the Philippines.
Brother and Sister Owen were in the country to meet with local leaders, parents, and youth in various regions to provide training on how to strengthen the rising generation. In their visit to Kalibo, Latter-day Saint youth, leaders and parents from Roxas Philippines Stakes (Diocese) traveled to Kalibo Stake Center to participate in the training and devotional.