Youth of India Serve and are Strengthened

On May 25 over four hundred youth belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered near Hyderabad and assembled 4,000 stationary kits for students in four area government schools.  Many students in these schools lack even the most basic supplies essential for academic success, as their parents do not have the means to provide them.  The kits were distributed to students at the Lingampallym, West Marredpally, and Kapra Primary schools as well as the Zilla Parishad High School as students returned to classes last month.

The service activity was part of a week-long For the Strength of Youth (FSY) Conference that drew young Latter-day Saints from all over India.  Other activities included dances, variety shows and workshops dealing with topics such as the importance of education, daring to stand alone and the appropriate use of social media. 

The highlight of the conference was a question and answer session with Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, the Senior Leadership of the Church.  As one participant commented, “I never thought I would meet an apostle but I met him.  He gave us a chance to ask questions for which we needed answers.” 

The combination of fun, service, and spiritual uplift created an event the youth of India will long remember.  One young participant described her experience this way,  “FSY has been the best thing that has happened in my life. I have learned to be strong and have faith.  I have received peace in my life.  FSY has really give me hope and made me a better person.  Whenever I think about FSY it makes me cry happy tears.”