More than 1,100 young adults from various countries came together in Calgary, Alberta, for the Think Celestial 2025 Canada Young Single Adult (YSA) Conference August 1-4, 2025. Attendees enjoyed social activities, service opportunities and inspiring messages from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
During the conference, Bryce Williams, communication specialist in the Calgary Alberta YSA Stake, had the chance to speak with Church leaders one-on-one. One question he posed to them was, “What is the one takeaway you want the YSAs to have from this conference?” The responses from the leaders focused on providing the attendees with a sense of hope and strength.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Hope and Strength
Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counsellor in the Young Women General Presidency, expressed her desire for the young single adults to “really feel the fire of the Holy Ghost teaching them something, or confirming something, or bearing witness of the truth of the Gospel, and the truth that God loves them.”
Elder James E. Evanson, General Authority Seventy and counsellor in the Canada Area Presidency, emphasized to the attendees, “You are not alone.” His wife, Jody Evanson, added, “Jesus Christ is the answer to all their questions, hopes, fears and dreams. They are known to Him in a very personal way.”
Area Seventy for Calgary and Lethbridge, Elder Douglas Atwood, and his wife, Rachel, shared their hope that each YSA would understand Heavenly Father’s love for them and the importance of following the covenant path to reach a celestial home.
Conference Activities
The conference included a variety of activities aimed at strengthening friendships and faith, such as assembling hygiene kits for the Calgary Salvation Army and a family history linking labs event. Recreational activities included rafting on the Bow River, downhill carting, bowling, laser tag, sailing on the Glenmore Reservoir, paintball, yoga, art classes and self-defense.
Sunday Services
A highlight of the conference was a large sacrament meeting with 1,400 attendees, presided over by new Canada Areas President Elder Vern P. Stanfill. Breakout sessions were held following the meeting, covering topics like mental wellness, the power of standing in holy places and dealing with unanswered questions.
During the Sunday evening devotional gathering, Sister Muñoz Spannaus spoke about the power of thinking celestial and the pivotal role of the Holy Ghost in daily life. She emphasized, “with the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, His influence will give us comfort, will give us direction, will warn us from danger, will teach us, will give us testimony of the Father and the Son.”
Temple and Family History Work
On the final day of the conference, the YSAs had exclusive access to the Calgary Alberta Temple for temple and family history work. More than 50 YSA temple workers assisted in performing 1,500 temple ordinances with attendees. Austin Larocque, one of the YSA temple workers, shared, “This past week was incredible. Seeing the glowing faces of those similar in age to me, working together to serve in the temple, made my heart swell with joy.”
“You Are Not Alone”
In his closing remarks, Elder Evanson encouraged the YSAs to hold onto their conference experiences: “When you feel yourself in some of those low-valley moments, just remember the experiences you’ve had this weekend, and hold them dear to you. Jesus Christ lives, and He loves you.” This message of hope and strength resonated throughout the conference, leaving attendees feeling supported and empowered as they returned home.