During July 2009, more than 160 youths and young adults gathered for a day of friendship, workshops, dancing and testimonies at the first youth conference ever held in Ethiopia.

Because the four branches are not organized into a district, many members were not aware that there were other branches and church members in Ethiopia. Part of the conference's purpose was to allow them to interact with their peers while being spiritually uplifted.

Wondwossen Amanuel, 23, who was submitting his missionary papers to become the first missionary from the Awasa Branch, said, "It gives you encouragement when you gather together and do such activities. Our branch is small, but there we felt like we were in the herd -- and it's like family."



Participants proudly wore CTR rings and T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Steady and Sure," the conference theme.

Two months of concerted efforts by missionaries, branch presidents and the charitable organization Hope Arising brought together pioneering Saints from the four widespread branches to the chapel complex in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The participants traveled by bus up to five hours to attend the conference, and more than half of them were nonmembers and investigators. Two were baptized in the following weeks.

"When (the youths) realize that there are other young people with their hopes, dreams, problems and concerns, they have more confidence. They know they are not alone, and this gives them strength," said Elder Brad Wilkes, a full-time missionary who, with his wife, Sister Karen Wilkes, helped organize the conference.

Read the news release at lds.org