Young Single Adult Conference in Kigali, Rwanda Instructs and Inspires

For three days in December 2024, 320 Young Single Adults (YSA’s)  from throughout Rwanda gathered at Juru Park, a four hectare estate at the top of Mount Rebero in Kigali, Rwanda - the very hill where Elder Jeffrey R. Holland dedicated Rwanda for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The beautiful setting provided an uplifting environment for the YSA’s to be spiritually strengthened.  The YSA’s were joined by and instructed by Elder Johnny Baddoo, Area Seventy of the Church in the Africa Central Area; by President and Sister Mavinga, mission leaders of the Rwanda Kigali Mission; by Yves Bizimana, President of the Kigali District; by other Church leaders and employees; by Rwandan Church pioneers, and by Brother Brandon and Sister Erin Hadfield.

Elder Baddoo taught the gathered YSA’s about patriarchal blessings.  He explained that a patriarchal blessing is a specific revelation and counsel to the recipient from Heavenly Father as delivered by a Patriarch.  He urged youth and young single adults to learn about and to be worthy to receive a patriarchal blessing which will enrich and guide their lives.  Currently, there is no Patriarch in Rwanda as there is no stake in the country.  He assured the conference attendees that one day a stake will be established in Rwanda which will soon thereafter include the calling of a Patriarch.

Brother and Sister Hadfield spoke about being worthy to attend the Temple.  They live in Kigali Rwanda which is a great distance from a temple.  The Hadfields emphasized the benefit to Church members throughout the world of being worthy to receive a temple recommend, obtaining and keeping one, even if temples are distant. They encouraged the YSA’s to prepare to attend a temple and to live worthy of qualifying to enter the temple as evidenced by a temple recommend.   With the imminent dedication of the Nairobi, Kenya Temple, Rwandans will be closer than ever to a temple. And when the just announced Kampala, Uganda Temple is completed and dedicated, a temple will be even closer.  For each YSA and for ancestors of the YSA’s, the Temple initiatory, endowment, and sealing of spouses is important and powerful.

During the three day YSA Conference in Rwanda relationships were made or enhanced, important gospel learning took place, and testimonies were strengthened.  It was a marvelous three days that will be long remembered.