YSA Conference: Stand In Holy Places

This morning we had an early start and made our way across town to the Phnom Penh North Stake to help with the YSA Conference 2015. This is really a big event here, with participants traveling from all over Cambodia to attend. They arrived in buses, vans, or autos, as well as on motos and bicycles, and probably some even came in Tuk Tuks. It is amazing how dressed up many of them were! They definitely looked like they planned on this being a major social event!

As everyone arrived they were welcomed with a sandwich for breakfast, then divided into groups. Everyone had received colored lanyards yesterday, so today the colors indicated the groups they would meet with for the workshops. Our lanyards were Yellow. We were amazed with how many were excited that their yellow lanyard put us on their team. Even with dividing into four groups, the rooms were very full. The chapel and the cultural hall were about the right size for each group, but the other two rooms were not quite big enough for the groups. Even with that, they were amazing at their participation.

The four workshops were: Preparing and Going To The Temple led by President and Sister Moon; Dating led by Sister VanBrocklin (one of the senior sisters); Self Reliance/PEF/CES led by the Sameth, Phanna and Sophorn; and Patriarchal Blessings led by President Heng Sokom, a counselor in the South Stake Presidency.


Following the workshops the entire group gathered into the chapel and cultural hall together for a testimony meeting and devotional. Elder Wisit Khanakham, our Area Seventy, was the keynote speaker. (He is from Thailand). He told these young adults that they need to modify their culture to embrace the culture of the Gospel. Modesty in dress and planning and preparing for the temple are important elements. One of the Asian cultural things he told them they need to change is the expensive wedding and dowery traditions. Their traditions need to include planning for the expense of the temple in their wedding plans. He told his own story, how he was a son of a farmer, but his wife was from the upper class. He was brave enough to tell her father he loved her and ask if he could marry her. They planned a very simple wedding, and spent only about $3,000. He encouraged the group to move forward towards marriage and to be wise in not having an expensive event. Instead of having the moment that would cost a lot of money, they should focus on the temple and the eternal priorities.

As the conference concluded everyone gathered outside for a very large group picture, then ate lunch before leaving for their homes. We opted for lunch at Mike's Burgers with two other Senior couples. After errands we made it home. It really was a wonderful day!