As with any conference talk, we don’t do the subject, the speaker, ourselves, or the Lord justice by just reading a snippet of it! Do yourself a favor and set aside time to read or view the complete powerful sermon below:
Elder Dieter Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference:
Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Youth
Put your trust in Jesus Christ. He will lead you the right way. He is your strength.
In preparing for this message today, I have felt strong promptings to address the young women and young men. I am also speaking to those who used to be young, even to those who can’t really remember it anymore. And I speak to all who love our young people and want them to succeed in life. For the rising generation, I have a message especially for you from our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Savior’s Message to You
My dear young friends, if the Savior were here right now, what would He say to you?
I believe He would start by expressing His deep love for you. He might say it with words, but it would also flow so strongly—just from His presence—that it would be unmistakable, reaching deep into your heart, filling your whole soul! And yet, because we’re all weak and imperfect, some concerns might creep into your mind. You might remember mistakes you’ve made, times you gave in to temptation, things you wish you hadn’t done—or wish you had done better. The Savior would sense that, and I believe He would assure you with words He has spoken in the scriptures: “Fear not.”1 “Doubt not.”2 “Be of good cheer.”3 “Let not your heart be troubled.”4
I don’t think He would make excuses for your mistakes. He wouldn’t minimize them. No, He would ask you to repent—to leave your sins behind, to change, so He can forgive you. He would remind you that 2,000 years ago He took those sins upon Himself so that you could repent. That is part of the plan of happiness gifted to us from our loving Heavenly Father.
Jesus might point out that your covenants with Him—made when you were baptized and renewed each time you partake of the sacrament—give you a special connection with Him. The kind of connection the scriptures describe as being yoked together so that, with His help, you can carry any burden.5 I believe the Savior Jesus Christ would want you to see, feel, and know that He is your strength. That with His help, there are no limits to what you can accomplish. That your potential is limitless. He would want you to see yourself the way He sees you. And that is very different from the way the world sees you.
The Savior would declare, in no uncertain terms, that you are a daughter or son of the Almighty God. Your Heavenly Father is the most glorious being in the universe, full of love, joy, purity, holiness, light, grace, and truth. And one day He wants you to inherit all He has.6 It is the reason why you’re on the earth—to learn, grow, and progress and become everything your Father in Heaven has created you for. To make this possible, He sent Jesus Christ to be your Savior. It’s the purpose behind His great plan of happiness, His Church, His priesthood, the scriptures—all of it. That is your destiny. That is your future. That is your choice! For Elder Uchtdorf’s complete talk, click . . . Jesus is the Strength of Youth.
