Akron Ohio Stake News

by Gary Fry, Stake YM President

On the heels of the worldwide youth fireside by President and Sister Nelson, the youth of the Akron Stake participated in our annual youth conference. After learning about doing the work of the gathering of Israel during the fireside, our youth were able to complete the baptisms and confirmations for 970 people in the Columbus Temple on Thursday, June 21, 2018. All of the work completed was for people whose names were submitted by the youth themselves, or from family or ward members that shared names for the youth to take to the temple.

In addition to completing all of the temple work, the youth also participated in several breakout sessions on Thursday including missionary preparation, life skills (cooking, cleaning, etc.), FHE games, family history, communications using today’s technology, and creating a craft centered around remembering an ancestor. Thursday’s activities were topped off with a testimony meeting by the youth.

Following the day in Columbus, the youth traveled to Ashland University, spending the night in the dorms. Friday was spent at the recreation center on campus playing basketball, volleyball, soccer, rock climbing, pool, table tennis, and just hanging out. In the afternoon the youth were able to swim in the pool and also watch the movie Coco which was projected on a large screen while they were swimming. The youth all seemed to have a great time.

We have amazing youth in the stake. If you have not taken the opportunity to do so, I encourage you to ask the youth of your ward what they learned from youth conference and how their testimony has grown from participating in the work of gathering Israel. The Church is true and we have a living prophet on the earth today.