Young Filipino Latter-day Saints Join Interfaith Friends for Virtual Peace Camp

The first virtual peace camp in celebration of the 2021 World Interfaith Harmony Week was held on 7 February 2021. Hundreds of young adults from different interfaith groups participated in the event organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in partnership with Religions for Peace Philippines and UniHarmony Partners Manila. The virtual gathering featured activities and messages centered on the theme “Living the Spirit of Harmony and Solidarity Amidst COVID-19 and a Wounded World”.

The event was hosted by Kristianna Bance, a youth representative from the Religions for Peace Philippines, and Jaymee Albos, a young adult from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Various activities were facilitated by volunteers from different religious groups and organizations.

Professor Pablito Baybado from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Institute of Religion, opened the camp by sharing the story of the event's inception from almost a decade ago, starting in 2013. Of this virtual peace camp’s objective, he said that the goal was to give the platform to young people.

He said, “The hope for us to heal the world is to give young people the platform, the resources, and the time to show us the direction.”

Addressing the attendees of differing faiths, he said that the opportunity to interact with friends of other faiths is about respecting the otherness of the other.

Following the message that Professor Baybado gave, the hosts, with the help of multiple facilitators held icebreaker activities and games in smaller breakout groups to allow the attendees of the camp to interact amongst themselves and find out more about other faiths and build new bridges of friendships.

The young attendees of the event were able to interact with each other and play games with an attached discussion facilitated by the hosts after each game to strengthen reflection and learning.

For his closing remarks, Elder Steven R. Bangerter of the Philippines Area Presidency shared his experience working as a lawyer to represent churches and faith-based organizations. He recounted the many opportunities he had been given to build relationships of trust and friendship with members and leaders of other faiths. He was delighted to address not only the members of the Church who were in attendance but also friends from other faiths.

He said, “I’m proud of you, gathering together, unafraid. I came to learn that what unites us is greater than what divides us.” Elder Bangerter also shared a personal story of how in his time working at a hospital run by a Roman Catholic congregation, a Catholic priest who was ill, invited him to a Bible study. This experience greatly touched him and encouraged him to learn about other faiths, pushing him to eventually choose his later career path as a lawyer.

He also shared the story of his friendship with Professor Baybado, telling the youth in attendance that interfaith friendships built on harmony and mutual understanding can be some of the most fulfilling friendships one can have. Speaking about the event and the unique opportunity it provided, he said, “I’m so proud of you for joining together in a spirit of harmony. Today is a manifestation of what unites us.”

In closing, Elder Bangerter stressed the importance of the youth who were in attendance, assuring them of the importance of their role and their identity. He said, “You are the rising generation, and you are my generation’s hope for the future.”