For the Strength of Youth
Sharing the Savior’s Light: Behind the Scenes
April 2024


“Sharing the Savior’s Light: Behind the Scenes,” For the Strength of Youth, Apr. 2024.

Sharing the Savior’s Light: Behind the Scenes

Hear the discipleship stories behind the 2024 Youth Theme music video!

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man filming young man playing guitar

This year’s youth theme music video is all about being a disciple of Christ (see 3 Nephi 5:13). And the youth who participated weren’t just there to act; they were learning what it means to be a disciple too. Here’s how some of them see and share the Savior’s light every day.

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young women; camera filming young man

Jordan, age 18, Germany

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young man

This video was a great opportunity to share the gospel through music. I really love music, and I spent a couple weeks practicing the song “A Disciple of Christ” on guitar. I’d play it, and I just couldn’t stop.

I hope that people watching the video will take the message to heart and strive to be true disciples of Christ. It’s definitely not easy, but you can be a disciple of Christ in the things you do, your actions. That’s what I’ve taken out of this experience—that I should be more Christlike and follow Him.

I have a strong testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He atoned for our sins. I’m very grateful for His Atonement. He has given me the chance to repent, be forgiven, and eventually return to Him and Heavenly Father. It’s the greatest gift God has given us.

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man with film camera; boy’s hand on guitar

Ark, age 16, Finland

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young man

When people watch this video, I hope they remember the love of Jesus Christ and how merciful He is. Being a disciple of Christ is important, especially for youth like us, because it can give us a desire to serve a mission. Serving a mission is a great opportunity to share the light of the Savior in us with other people. We strengthen ourselves and learn in the process.

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houses by a river

Carolina, age 15, Sweden

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young woman

When we started filming, I was like, “What am I even going to do? I can’t act.” But it was such a fun experience. I really felt God’s love during filming. In the video, I play a girl who is having a difficult time but gets help from a new friend.

I have had hard times in real life too. In 2021, I tore my ACL in gymnastics. I was devastated and didn’t know what I was going to do.

I remember sitting in church before my surgery. Someone was speaking, but I wasn’t listening until they said one verse: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). That moment helped me because I knew I needed to pray and get close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so I could receive Their strength.

God is always with you even in difficult times. Sometimes you only need to reach out your hand, and He will take it. Just look for Him.

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man filming young women on a bench

Meleah, age 16, Sweden

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young woman

In the video, I see a girl sitting alone on a bench feeling sad and lonely, and I try to cheer her up. There are many times, especially during your teenage years, where you can feel lonely and feel that no one really understands you.

But God does. He can help you through those times and will send people to help you get through it. He has blessed me with my family and my friends. You just have to trust the good people around you and trust God, because it will turn out fine.

I think an important message of this video is that we need to be brave and be there for each other when we’re going through tough times. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, I want to help the people around me and share the light that I have inside me with them.

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camera filming young women

Patricia, age 11, Sweden

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young woman

It feels good to be part of something greater than me by doing this video. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a very big thing to be. You’re serving God, and that’s everything I want. It’s the best thing I know.

Aatos, age 18, Finland

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young man

It’s been cool to see all the behind-the-scenes stuff in this video, like, “Oh, that’s how you move the camera around.” When it comes to being a disciple of Jesus Christ, President Russell M. Nelson taught us that we need to be peacemakers and make sure our actions are Christlike.1 If you see somebody feeling bad, go help them out. That’s part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

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man filming young man using a phone on his bed

Note

  1. See Russell M. Nelson, “Peacemakers Needed,” Apr. 2023 general conference (Liahona, May 2023, 98–101).