More than 400 youth and 87 young single adults have spent the week at Murdoch University as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ‘Especially for Youth’ [EFY] programme.

 

Many youth travelled from Perth’s local suburbs, and regional Western Australia to attend EFY, with others arriving from Adelaide, Queensland and New Zealand to take part in this wonderful event.

 

Youth participated in many games and activities that promoted teamwork, confidence, leadership and fun. These included dance lessons, morning devotionals, talent shows, cheer contests, dances, testimony meetings and a service project.

 

The service project allowed the youth and councellors to make over 70 blankets for the homeless men, women and children in Perth, who often sleep on the streets with nothing more than newspapers as their bedding. Manna Industries accepted the blankets with great appreciation, thanking the youth for helping those in need.   

 

Throughout EFY, the youth met with, and were taught by influential local heroes, including Bob Herdsman and David Wirrpanda.

 

2009 Biggest Loser winner, Bob Herdsman, shared his experiences with the youth on what it was like being on the show, and instructed them on goal setting, striving to choose the right, and how to make powerful changes in their lives.

 

Having travelled throughout Australia and abroad since the show, sharing his life changing experiences with others, Bob said that it’s always an honour to work with the youth in helping them to follow their dreams. 

 

“Being able to help people through this experience is the real reward for me,” Bob said.

 

“Losing the weight was simply just a bonus.”

 

Former West Coast Eagles superstar, David Wirrpanda, received the ‘John Simpson – Standing for Something Award’ in front of the youth, for his admirable contributions in assisting West Australian youth.

 

After a career full of awards and highlights, Wirrpanda expressed his gratitude to the youth, about what the award meant to him. 

 

“For myself, this would have to be one of the highest accolades I have ever achieved”, he said.

 

 “It’s a real honour to be recognised like this”.

 

The youth were also privileged to receive instruction from Elder Brent Nielson of the seventy, and his wife.

They discussed the courage it took to choose the right, and the many people and resources they can use to help them overcome obstacles throughout their lives.

 

One of the highlights for the youth was when recently sustained member of the Quorum of the Twelve  Apostles, Elder Quentin L Cook stopped by for a surprise visit.

 

He spent time talking to the youth, before opening the time up to them to ask him questions.

 

Elder Cook became notably choked up when one of the youth asked him whether becoming an Apostle was in his Patriarchal Blessing. Elder Cook expressed that he had never been asked that before, and appreciated the question. He told the youth of the importance of keeping their Patriarchal Blessings both sacred and personal. He then spoke briefly of the gospel principles contained in his blessing, and how reading it today could imply he would be an Apostle. He then encouraged the youth that once they received their Patriarchal Blessing, to read it often.  

 

Elder Cook concluded with a powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and the reality of our Heavenly Father and his Son.

 

“I can not have any doubts about the divinity of our Saviour, Jesus Christ” he said.

 

Throughout EFY, many youth spoke about the positive and spiritual impact it had had in their lives.

 

Some of the youth attending EFY were not members of the church, but expressed a great desire to learn more about it, with the hope of being baptised.

 

Others who had not been to church for a while and were struggling with personal issues, found great comfort during the week. The joy and love of the gospel they had so often been taught about, became real. A couple of the young men expressed their solemn desire to come back to church and focus on getting ready to serve a mission. Youth who already had a testimony of the church became solidified in their beliefs of the truthfulness of the gospel.

 

As EFY Perth came to a close, the common statements by the youth became clear;

“I can not wait to come to the next EFY”.

 

At a time where the youth could have been participating in many other activities over their school holiday break, the wonderful experiences and memories they shared with each other at EFY, will forever be etched into their hearts and minds

 

The respect, love and courage they found within themselves and others will also be of great benefit to them throughout their lives.