Involve Youths in Nation Building, Church Urges Political Leaders

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The General Authority and President of the Africa West Area Presidency, The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, Elder Gifford Nielsen, has urged political leaders to  evolve policies that would encourage youths’ active involvement in nation building.

Nielson, accompanied by his wife, Sister Wendy, stated this yesterday during  the Strengthening Families Conference organised by the Church in Abuja.

He also stressed the need to formulate policies that support marriage, parenthood and family life.

The cleric said this was necessary because policies that support marriage, parenthood and family life would make it possible for all Africans to reap the benefits of a generation of youths.

He added that the answer to the world’s problems remained a family based on godly principles.

Nielsen said Africa was home to the world’s largest youth population, with about 60 per cent of the continent’s people being below 25 years of age.

He said: “This is what we call the rising generation. We love them and we have so much faith and hope for them.

“With the right tools, education, resources and encouragement, these young people can represent what a better Africa can look right in the future.

“The greatest gift we can give them is a stable and loving family. Strong families are the key to a flourishing society as we have heard many times today and lead to better outcomes for parenting, children and communities.

“For our political leaders that are listening in or in attendance, policies that support marriage, parenthood and family life will make it possible for all Africans to reap the benefits of a generation of youths.”

He said the Church loved children and pledged to  give them every opportunity to succeed.

He, however, said for this to happen, it would require loving and responsible parenting with the husband and wife who keep the right order of their priorities and recognise their own duties.

Nielsen further encouraged participants not to be intimidated by those who teach against traditional marriages and traditional families.

He said: “We need to use this forum, this wonderful strengthening families conference to build and find the right language, reasoning and forms of witness that can help us reach the hearts of the people throughout Africa.

“May we continue to teach and to testify our traditional marriages with enthusiasm and with courage. May God bless us all in this important effort as we express our deep love and appreciation to all of you.

On her part, Sister Nielsen emphasised the importance of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints on family and marriage.

“We believe that marriages last forever and that families are united throughout eternity. Our ability to reach a foremost of joy in this life and to achieve exultation in the life to come, is inextricably linked to our marriage covenant and the development of God-centred family,” she added.