Over four days in late May, Young Men General President Timothy L. Ferns met with more than 500 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints youth and their leaders in three Cambodian cities.
President Ferns emphasized the 2026 youth theme, “Walk with Me,” based on Moses 6:34, reminding youth of their divinity and the importance of choosing their Savior each day.
“We learned that ‘sons and daughters’ translates to ‘princes and princesses of God’ in Khmer. It gives them a deeper understanding of who they are,” President Ferns said. “(Young people) understand who they are and who they are. They have a real desire to walk with the Savior.”
President Ferns’ visit to Cambodia was part of a 10-day mission from May 21 to 31, which also included meetings with young people and members from Singapore and Malaysia.
According to the church’s Singapore Newsroom, President Ferns, accompanied by his wife, Sister Lindsey Ferns, testified of the love of Jesus Christ, answered questions during devotionals, provided direction to parents and youth leaders, served members, and participated in service projects and activities.
Future Missionaries of Singapore
On May 28, President and Mrs. Ferns participated in the Singapore Stake Primary’s Missionaries Around the World activity. The event featured 15 booths showcasing missionary experiences from countries and regions including Russia, Australia, Samoa, Taiwan, and a special booth for the upcoming Singapore temple.
The event was attended by nearly 100 children and featured cultural items, food, and missionary memorabilia on display to help them visualize the Lord’s future missionary life.
As part of the activity, President Ferns spoke at the devotional meeting and encouraged the children to stand up and begin preparing each day for the mission. Adam Tokoala, who was recently baptized, said he raised his hand and promised to read the scriptures.
Adam added that his favorite part of the missionary work was the Taiwan booth. There, we sampled local sweets such as pineapple cake and biked around the cultural hall to learn more about how missionaries commute to Taiwan.
Services in Cambodia
While in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, President and Mrs. Ferns worked with hundreds of Latter-day Saint youth to assemble more than 200 care bags containing personal items for children at the National Center for Infants and Children, an orphanage for infants and children with severe disabilities.
The church also donated three tons of rice to the orphanage, along with other food items.
As the young people delivered their packages, President and Mrs. Ferns and other leaders walked among them, hugging and cuddling some of the young children and babies.
strengthened by devotion
Several young Cambodians felt uplifted as they gathered with other young people to attend a devotional service with President and Mrs. Ferns.
“I feel like I live in Zion, a city full of kindness, love, compassion and mutual support,” said Rebecca Sarin, 17, from Kampong Cham.
Neang Koulo Thor Septrim, 16, from Phnom Penh, said this faith strengthened his testimony and motivated him to serve in the missionary service. He thanked church leaders for their visit. “We can feel their love, strength and spirit,” he said.
President and Mrs. Ferns also participated in youth and young single adult devotions in Singapore and Malaysia. During the meeting, young members were encouraged to ask questions.
Ashwin Pillar, 16, who led the Singapore Stake youth devotional, said, “We were grateful that they wholeheartedly answered our questions and provided insights that opened our eyes and deepened our understanding of the gospel.”
Lee Woo, Young Women president of the Singapore Stake, said the young people were strengthened by spending time with President and Sister Ferns. “I think they will remember this for a long time because there were stories and experiences shared that young people could relate to,” she said.
Sibu Malaysia district president Anthony Lau said their devotion was “one of the most important events of the year” because of the unique opportunity for the church’s lay leaders to serve directly.
