An article in the paper... "Mormon Times". Check out the last paragraph!

Strengthing the church, youths in Sweden

Author: Kristine Frederickson : LDS World See all from this author
Source: For Mormon Times
02 January 2011

Although Sweden is an increasingly secular nation, with few Christians to be found among the rising generation, it is quite nice to be reminded that in this beautiful country there are strong, devoted Latter-day Saints. I sat down recently with Jennifer, a third generation LDS Church member and BYU student from Borås, a town in southern Sweden, to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there.

Typical of many European Saints, the members are quite spread out — the stake center is one hour away — and official church buildings are at a premium. Recently Jennifer's Mormon ward began meeting in a school as decisions are being made about whether to restore the old church building they have used for some time. There are about 120 members in her ward, and some drive one hour to attend church although most are within 30 minutes of the building.

Jennifer attended a high school with 1,600 students. She, her sister and one young man are the only LDS youths in their school. The drinking age in Sweden is 18, and drinking and partying are part of the lifestyle, as is sexual immorality. Most of Jennifer's friends believe in fate but not in God. Lots of them are scared of and do not believe in marriage because their parents divorced. If they plan to have children — one, maybe two — it will be later in life after they have traveled and seen the world.

As she explained, "They really don't believe in much of anything." While the Plan of Salvation is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Jennifer's friends don't want to talk much about life, its purpose or death — especially death because for them it is a scary, fearful topic. So how do LDS youths remain strong and adhere to gospel standards?

Two things stood out as Jennifer and I talked. The first was, of course, personal testimony and living the principles of the gospel. Jennifer works on her testimony and spoke freely of spiritual experiences, miracles in her life and answers to prayers. She is both active and involved at church. This is characteristic of active members in Sweden. Jennifer had her first calling in the church at age 16 when she began leading music. Her cousin began teaching priesthood lessons when he was 17.

She lives the standards of the church and has good friends who respect her, "I accept them for who they are and expect them to accept me for not drinking and doing what they do." She is not pushy about the church, but she is proud of her faith: "If someone asks me what did you do this weekend, I say, I went to church." This is often surprising to her acquaintances and leads to some discussion about the church. "If they stop asking questions, I stop. I don't want to force it."

Jennifer has been told, "I have light in my eyes." She remembered one time that she was at a party when three of her friends were drinking, and they confided to her that "they respected her for not drinking and wish that they had never started."

Another important factor in keeping her testimony strong is attending activities with other young people in the church. There are many youth and single adult activities. Every summer there are four- to five-day youth conferences that sometimes involve up to 21 different countries. Especially For Youth conferences and girls camp are eagerly anticipated events. Holidays provide opportunities for getting together. Regular young women and young men activities and sporting events are held for youths. Jennifer and her friends love the activities: "We all want to be there. The testimony meetings are super strong and they strengthen you. Those on the edge (of activity), after the testimony meetings, are totally changed."

Jennifer explained, "I am always super happy when I return, and friends (who aren't members of the church) see that, and they see you value these things and that you are having fun." It is uplifting and comforting for youths in the church to join with others who share common beliefs, to hear and bear testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jennifer also acknowledged, "It's hard (at times), you have to be strong." She described four friends who became inactive, but over time three felt the loss and came back to the church and "two are readying for missions."

Jennifer proudly announced that there are about 9,000 members in Sweden, one mission, four stakes, and 43 to 45 wards and branches. She spoke with joy of four baptisms within a two-month period and four full-time missionaries serving from her ward. The church is not only alive and well in Sweden, but it is in good hands. It is also populated with faithful, devoted youths with firm testimonies who treasure the myriad blessings that membership in Christ's church provide and who will prove able strong leaders in the near future.