For The Strength of Youth (FSY) Conferences Bring Youth Together Around the  World to Learn and Interact

1400 youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came together in two groups of 700 from December 2-6 and December 9-13, 2024 in Naivasha, Kenya at the Naivasha Girls Secondary School.  FSY Conferences are held every other year in countries across Central Africa drawing hundreds of youth to each session to be taught, inspired, to make new friends and to have fun.   

As do youth at all FSY sessions, youth in Naivasha, Kenya joined daily devotionals, participated in interactive gospel classes, received missionary preparation instruction, learned helpful tools for studying the scriptures, and participated in many activities such as dances, sports competitions, singing, and banner and cheer.  The main purpose of every FSY Session is to help youth strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and to learn to live in accordance with the 2024 church-wide youth theme, and FSY theme, I am a Disciple of Christ (3 Nephi 5:13)

Tyler Gibbs journeyed from Church Headquarters in Utah to be at the Kenya FSY Session.  He participates in creating programs that help youth strengthen their faith in Christ all over the world. While speaking to the youth  in Kenya he said, ”I’m glad you all chose to follow this path of being a disciple of Christ.  I’d love to join you in games and everything you’ll be doing .”

While speaking to FSY participants, journalist Eric Snider from Utah said, “This is my first time here and I’m loving it, ”I translate the youth magazine and write the Gospel Living article. I’m learning from interacting with you all.”

FSY participating youth are split into groups of eight.  Each group has a counselor.  Counsellors provide event direction and also participate in teaching.    One group of eight young men and one group of eight young women combine to form a company.  Two counsellors assigned to each company instructed their company members from Preach My Gospel and about missionary  preparation, family home evenings, and scripture study especially study of the Book of Mormon.

A special treat for the Kenya FSY youth participants was that Elder Johnny and Sister Josephine Badoo travelled from Nairobi to Naivasha to teach them about family history and temple preparation.  Elder Baddoo, an Area Seventy in the Africa Central Area, shared with the youth that he met Sister Baddoo at a Church Youth Conference many years ago.

Laurah Lampampa, a lecturer at Nairobi University, talked about the value of education.  Lilian Odiero , who works for the Church in Seminaries and Institutes,  taught about body types and that God wants us to love ourselves.  Gordon Ondiek, 2^nd Counsellor in Nairobi East Mission taught about missionary service and emphasized the privileges of joining the church at a young age.

On the Sunday after both FSY Kenya Sessions, youth in many wards and branches from throughout Kenya, were given the opportunity to share their experiences from FSY and bear their testimony.  Common themes in Sacrament Meetings was that the young people who had just returned from FSY  had strengthened testimonies of the gospel, a deeper connection to Jesus Christ, and are excited for their next Kenya FSY Sessions – in 2026.