Bonao, Dominican Republic – On March 28th groups of YSA began gathering in Bonao Dominican Republic to begin a three-day conference. It was planned, organized and executed by YSA members from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was scheduled to coincide with the Holy Week break.
The conference’s main objective was to provide a spiritual connection to the principles of Think Celestial as taught by church President Russell M. Nelson. It gave these young adults an opportunity to meet others of their faith in a comfortable and neutral environment. There were sports and recreation activities, games, and service projects. Focused workshops offered instruction on mental and emotional health, social media habits, careful budgeting, and how to be a better professional at work.
The conference was attended by members of the Church, as well as groups from other faiths. These interactions provided opportunities for interfaith dialogue, in a non-threatening way.
Elder Valeri Cordon, General Authority Seventy and a member of the Caribbean Area Presidency provided sound counsel on the principles of being disciples of Jesus Christ, and how to incorporate those principles in our daily lives. Orlando Castano, Area Seventy in the Dominican Republic emphasized the importance of setting priorities and following patterns in life highlighting Jesus Christ as the top priority.
The young people left the conference with a renewed sense of their worth before God and with the certainty that their experiences over the three days will help them make better decisions in their daily lives.