Approximately two thousand young people, ages 18-30, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently were in Brisbane for a five-day national convention entitled, Unite’09.  Coming from all states and territories of Australia, they participated in a number of projects to make various parts of the city of Brisbane a little more attractive. 

 

After an inspiring message on “serving others as Christ did” from senior Latter-day Saint leader Elder Terry Vinson, they cleaned up graffiti at Manly Beach, trimmed shrubs and cleared weeds from graves at Dutton Park Cemetery, and thanked the University of Queensland, their host, by sprucing up their campus.

 

Courtleigh Holder from Perth, helping in the Manly Beach graffiti clean-up said, “I really hadn’t felt the festive spirit until I gave to others. I am now excited to have that feeling again while I’m serving here.”

 

Visitors to the cemetery were impressed as they saw the young Latter-day Saint volunteers raking leaves, trimming branches and cleaning headstones.  According to Debbie Gardner, who witnessed the service project, “it must have been heart-warming for those paying tribute to their passed-on loved ones, to see the large group of young and energetic people making a difference to the appearance of the cemetery.”

 

Charlton Martin, attending the convention from Auckland, New Zealand, felt that it was a very worthwhile opportunity to be a part of the large clean-up crew to “make coming to the cemetery more pleasurable for families.”

 

Those who were assigned to provide service at the university campus were equally pleased to “shine” in their brightly coloured yellow “Mormon Helping Hands” vests.  For them it was a very rewarding way to spend New Year’s Day. 

 

Michal Stubbs of Brisbane summed up the feeling of many when he said, “I am glad that this activity was the first thing I did in the New Year!”

 

Andrew Mildenhall of Sydney also enjoyed other parts of the five-day Mormon Young Single Adult convention.   “I liked the ball the best, with all of the floor shows and the live band.”

 

Also from Sydney but with a different favourite was Kali Birks who liked “the workshops and fireside on Sunday the best.” That could be because of the encouragement given by Church leaders at the convention to know their Saviour, be aware of their individual gifts, put on the whole armour of God, and remember who they are.

 

Whether it was the open arms of friendship, the helping hands of service, or the various gestures of kindness that were extended this convention, the single adults left Brisbane a little cleaner and betterthan how they found it.  And they, collectively and individually, were also shining a little brighter when they said their farewells.