November 3, 2025, 4:25 PM MST
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently met with 13 other ordained Apostles, each of whom fasted and prayed fervently for the Lord’s guidance in organizing a new First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
During that “very sacred experience,” Elder Andersen said he and everyone in attendance received a “powerful and unforgettable” spiritual testimony that President Dallin H. Oaks would be a prophet of the Lord.
“I solemnly and humbly testify that (President Oaks) is the Lord’s prophet on earth,” Elder Andersen said. “He knows the voice of the Lord. He leads us to the truth and leads us to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Elder Andersen shared this testimony during a devotional for youth ages 18 to 35 that aired in the Americas on Sunday, November 2.
He and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, hosted the event “Prophets and the Temple Point Us to Jesus Christ” on October 18, 2025, on the grounds of the Washington, D.C. Temple.
Rebroadcasts will be available to viewers in other parts of the world and additional languages on November 9th. Rebroadcasts will also be available on-demand on the church’s YouTube channel and then available for viewing in the Gospel Library and for two weeks at broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Prophet and Temple Witness
During the devotion, Elder Andersen told the young adults that President Oaks fully holds the keys of God’s priesthood and has the authority to exercise them.
Elder Andersen noted the Savior’s words to the ancient apostle Peter recorded in Matthew 16:19. “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
As recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 21:5, the Lord said of the Prophet Joseph Smith, “You will receive his words with all patience and faith, as if they had come from my mouth.”
“These words also apply to our prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks,” Elder Andersen said. “Think about it: President Oaks has been a divinely called witness for 41 years as a special witness of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Elder Andersen shared a compilation of President Oaks’ teachings over the years and testified that in a world of confusion, confusion, and distraction, prophets and temples lead people to the Savior.
“As the world crumbles from its spiritual anchorage, the Lord will send the power of reparation to you, His disciples,” Elder Andersen said. “Two of the greatest costly blessings to the righteous are the teachings of the prophets and the gift of the house of the Lord.”
Sister Andersen shared her experience growing up in Florida, when the nearest temple was 3,300 miles away in Salt Lake City, Utah, and added her testimony of the power of the temple.
So when, at the age of 12, she and her family learned that the Washington, D.C., Temple would be built “just 900 miles away,” she and her family felt great excitement and joy.
Sister Andersen said she vividly remembers the Sunday the bishop met with all the parents in the ward and asked each family to make a large donation toward the construction of the Washington, D.C. temple. She said her family was determined to do what was necessary to contribute to what was asked of them.
For that reason, “this temple has a very special place in my heart and family,” Sister Andersen said.
Truth, Family, and Revelation
In addition to sharing President Oaks’ testimony, Elder Andersen spoke on three topics relevant to youth. Marriage, family, children. And a revelation.
During the devotional, he shared a series of short videos documenting conversations he had with multiple young people about these topics, in which he solicited their ideas and testimonies.
Regarding the first theme, defending the truth, Elder Andersen said President Oaks was always unafraid to speak the truth in love.
“I admire his courage,” Elder Andersen said. “He always gives kind and thoughtful speeches, but he’s honest in telling us what’s right.”
Regarding the second theme, marriage, family, and children, Elder Andersen said members of the Church were “very moved” by President Oaks’ speech in October 2025 general conference that spoke “with great power” about families and children.
“Our relationship with God and the purpose of earthly life are explained in terms of the family. … It is critical that Latter-day Saints never lose sight of the purpose of marriage and the value of children. That is the future we aspire to.”
Regarding the third theme, revelation, Elder Andersen said this is a principle that President Oaks has not only spoken, but lived.
He shared a video clip of President Oaks from 1992, describing an experience he had while driving Church members home after a late meeting in Chicago. When he returned to his car, a young man pointed a gun at him and demanded money.
President Oaks said he immediately felt confident that he could take the gun away from the young man and a strong feeling that if he did, the gun would go off and kill him.
Instead, following the guidance of the Spirit, President Oaks began preaching to young people about their choices. The young man was stopped and ran away.
“I testify of President Dallin H. Oaks,” Elder Andersen concluded. “He prepared and refined in the fire of adversity, renewing body and mind to guide us in this time and to speak in the name of God.
“I testify that this temple and all the holy temples of the Lord before us are full of power, peace, comfort, and revelation.…This is a wonderful time to be alive, a time to look forward to and prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.”
After the devotion, Elder Andersen posted a video on his YouTube channel in which he spoke with the youth who participated in the devotion on the grounds of the Washington, D.C. Temple.
At various locations on the temple grounds, various groups spoke with Elder Andersen and answered questions about the three themes of his devotion.
“Sometimes the Lord speaks to us in a voice that just says, ‘Hold on, this is what you have to go through, and we’ll talk again soon,'” Elder Andersen said.
He then told a group of young people that even the Savior sometimes expressed His desire to feel a greater sense of Heavenly Father’s presence, and that individuals sometimes need similar experiences to build faith.
Worldwide Young Adult Devotionals
On May 4, Relief Society general president Camille N. Johnson encouraged young adults to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ through righteous stewardship. From her Salt Lake tabernacle, she spoke at length about the Savior’s three New Testament parables found in Matthew 25.
“These are the times we live in,” she said. “We must keep the lamp of conversion burning bright, let our light shine, use and develop our talents, and care for those in need. That means having charity, the pure love of Christ.”
Speaking at BYU’s Marriott Center on February 2, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged his audience to trust in Heavenly Father’s “grand design” for their lives. “You may not realize it until much later, but when you look back, you will see that the Lord never abandoned you, even though He left you to make many decisions for yourself,” he said.
He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, who shared her own experiences with forced life decisions and testified to the profound impact young adults can have on each other and the world.
On November 3, 2024, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke from the BYU-Idaho campus about the potential impact of artificial intelligence, the importance of moral agency, and the importance of righteous work. “When we are wise, love God, serve our brothers and sisters, and preserve and exercise our moral agency with the Holy Spirit as our guide, we can avoid deception and prosper spiritually in the difficult and blessed times we live in.”
Elder Bednar was joined by his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, who taught about how the Savior uplifts and strengthens individuals and walks with them through challenges. “For some reason I cannot fully understand or understand, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ empowers us and helps us do difficult things.”
