Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited and spoke to church members on Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16 in Lethbridge, Alberta. He was accompanied by Elder William R. Walker of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Vern P. Stanfill, North America Central Area Seventy. They met with local church leaders on Saturday and also spoke to more than 2,500 youth from 11 stakes that night.
With so many stakes in the area, the brethren decided to focus their efforts on the youth in a fireside that was broadcast to several buildings and filled many chapels to capacity. Elder Holland answered questions the youth had previously prepared. Sister Janice Jubber and Bishop Vernon M. Jubber of Victoria Park YSA Ward were in attendance since leaders and their wives were invited along with the youth. “It was amazing, it was incredible, it was beautiful,” Sister Jubber recalls.
On Sunday, Elder Holland and Elder Stanfill also conducted a meeting in the Cardston Alberta Stake while Elder Walker presided in the Raymond Alberta Stake.
Bishop and Sister Jubber both remember Elder Holland’s comments to a question regarding what he would do differently if he could go back to age twelve. They said that Elder Holland stressed how the decisions youth make between twelve and twenty-two years of age will make all the difference in their future decisions. Bishop Jubber said that some of the youth were quite amazed at Elder Holland’s forthrightness in speaking to the issues. He told the young men that they need to go on missions in order to lay the groundwork for their future lives.
Sister Jubber said, “Elder Holland told the youth that what he was saying was truth, and that they should go home and write it down. He told them to give God a chance and to stay close to Him.”
Bishop Jubber also said that the youth were very attentive to Elder Holland’s instructions and his comments were very motivating. “It was a wonderful experience to have an apostle here.”