“We have been reminded that each of us is a beloved child of God. Please remember that fact,” said Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the first Friend to Friend event for members of the global faith’s Primary program that premiered on Saturday, February 20.
“If you never forget that one pure truth, you can face any problem with faith and courage,” said President Nelson.
The event was organized by the Primary organization that supports the home by providing gospel instruction and activities for children ages 3 to 11.
The three originating events, produced in English, Spanish and Portuguese, include native-speaking hosts from each age group and are now available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, YouTube and the BYUtv app.
On March 13, 2021, the event will be translated from English and available for viewing in Cantonese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Cebuano and Tagalog.
President Nelson and other leaders of the global faith joined efforts as part of the 40-minute program that invited children to participate in arts and crafts, singalongs, and messages to help them learn more about Jesus Christ.
In addition to customized content, children from the same age group hosted the event.
“Come with us,” said 7-year-old co-host Brianna Villsnil from Salt Lake City, Utah. “We’re going to learn more about prayer by drawing together!”
During the English program, Villsnil and 10-year-old Payson Inkley from Centerville, Utah, interacted with Friend to Friend’s virtual audience by walking them through the different rooms of the colorful 360-degree rotating set.
They also modeled how to work on simple Christ-centered art activities from home and welcomed special guests, including members of the Primary general presidency.
“First of all, I want you all to know how much your Heavenly Father loves you. You are so special to him. And each of you has the power to make a difference,” said Sister Joy D. Jones of the Primary general presidency in her message for children.
The program will also be available in shorter segments that children, parents and Church leaders can use to aid their at-home gospel study.
As part of the event’s core message, President Jones encouraged children to find ways to serve as the Savior did and shared examples of Latter-day Saint children who have made a meaningful impact on their communities.
“I want to mention Shiloh from the Philippines. He reaches out to new friends to help everyone feel included,” she said. “Eleanor from the United States helped her neighbors after a hurricane.”
Children also listened to a message from President Nelson. The global faith leader emphasized their important role in making a positive impact wherever they are.
“So, what are some of the ‘small and simple things’ you can do to make a big difference in the world?” asked President Nelson. “You can help someone in need. You can learn the teachings of Jesus Christ and abide by them. You can share what you know about the Savior. You can keep His commandments.”
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited an animated version of his younger self to share a personal story that took place in Brazil, his home country, many years ago.
The cartoon character described a time when Elder Soares purchased something. While on his way home, he realized the store owner had given him too much change in return. Upon noticing this, the animation explained that although at first he felt the urge to keep the money, the young Ulisses decided to go back and let the store owner know what happened.
“Choosing the right during this moment gave me the strength to make many, many other correct choices and keep my promises to my Heavenly Father,” he shared. “Boys and girls around the world … prepare yourself for a good life. Heavenly Father will give you all the blessings you need.”
The Friend to Friend program also showed Latter-day Saint children from around the world, including American Samoa, Norway and Ghana.
To further tailor the program to a global audience, Elder Soares, a native Portuguese speaker, spoke in Spanish, and Sister Lisa L. Harkness, first counselor of the Primary general presidency, delivered a message in Portuguese, a language that she learned in preparation for the event.
Since the pandemic and because of safety precautions associated with COVID-19, many Church members around the world have experienced canceled or limited in-person worship opportunities, including Latter-day Saint children.
“We’re in a situation where children could invite their friends and invite other family members [to watch the event] whether they’re members of our church or not,” said Sister Harkness. “It was intended to be a unifying force for families and for neighborhoods.”
The program will also be available in shorter segments that children, parents and Church leaders can use to aid their at-home gospel study.
