August 22, 2025, 7:05pm MDT
PROVO, Utah — A new generation is needed to help bring others together in the fold of the Savior’s Gospel, said Brother David J. Wonderli, the first counselor for the young male general during BYU Education Week.
“Generation Z and current Generation Alpha are blessed with the talent they need to navigate these times and fulfill their great responsibility of bringing together Israel,” he said.
Speaking to an audience gathered at the Marriott Center on the Brigham Young University campus on Friday, August 22nd, he encouraged parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, advisors and friends as examples of young people.
“May you always be ready to welcome them in the healing tents of the Savior’s Church,” he said.
The Wonderli brothers were maintained as the first counselors of the Young Men presidency at the general conference in April 2025. He began serving in his new role on August 1st.
Israeli gathering
Brother Wanderly pointed to President Russell M. Nelson’s prophetic adviser to young people in his 2018 global prayer that he was sent to Earth at this exact time to gather Israel.
President Nelson said:
The Wonderli brothers said that today’s youth were given “the talent needed for a real gathering.”
Young people today “have slow judgment and can love quickly. They are sensitive to exclusive rhetoric. It’s natural for them to invite, include, and love. These are their superpowers,” he said.
Brother Wunderli shared a video of the young man’s global Instagram page. In the short video, the young man tells how he felt invited and welcomed to the seminary by his friend. A few months after attending seminary every morning, he was baptized, and two of his brothers were soon baptized.
“Internationally, many of our youth in rapidly growing regions are first-generation members,” he said. “They aim their examples to leaders and companions. They are used to the gospel of Jesus Christ, but their faith is strong.”
He said he and his wife, Sister Diane Robbins Wonderli, had recently observed young people at Tahitian temples waiting for their turn to carry out the baptism ordinance.
“Youth recognize the need to feel the spiritual power manifested in the ordinance,” he said. “They are talented to gain a deeper understanding of the reality of the redemption and healing power of Christ’s atoning sacrifice.”
Brother Wonderli said that young people are actively seeking Jesus Christ, but “they need leaders and mentors who strengthen those gifts and talents, guide them, engage with them, love them, and row them in the boats and sit with them.”
Armed for difficult times
The Wonderli brothers said young people need to be armed for “more difficult times.”
“This rising generation is at the forefront of today’s great battles. Satan’s evil designs are pushed against them at a speed that is difficult to understand,” he said.
Yet young people are trying to arm themselves.
“They line up at 5am in temples around the world, they enter and dress with high power. They are registered in seminary in record numbers. Young men are moving forward in priesthood offices at an unprecedented higher rate. Young women are actively participating in churches at a record level.
Young people today sanctify themselves as “pursuing darkness from them,” finding light in the Bible, seminary, service, and their friendship.
“They have the ability to understand who Jesus is today and feel his love,” he said. “They arm themselves with his light and his spirit.”
The Wonderli brothers said they are confident that this upward generation is equipped.
“Today’s rising generation is armed with temples. Seminary, ‘Come and follow me,’ digital resources, and repeatedly prophetic advisers were made specifically for them.
He invited a new generation of people to help the new generation members feel they belonged, put on God’s armor and, most importantly, referring to Jesus Christ.
“They are striving and they need us all to stand with them,” Brother Wanderi said.
He said he doesn’t need to take official calls as a leader or advisor to love and encourage young people.
“We can learn each of their names and learn their interests. We can say their names every Sunday when we see them and say hello,” he said. “We can notice them, encourage them, and help them turn their eyes to Jesus Christ for healing.”
