President Freeman Says ‘Discipleship Will Be Filled With Adventure'

“Discipleship will be filled with adventure!” promised President Emily Belle Freeman, Young Women General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guam on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

The message, given to a gathering of youth and young single adults, was part of her 11-day ministry in Japan, Micronesia and Guam. President Freeman emphasized the great potential of those who follow the Savior. Quoting from the For the Strength of Youth Guide, she reminded the young men and young women that “Jesus Christ can strengthen and help and comfort you in all areas of your life.”

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In her remarks, President Freeman illustrated answers to three questions:

1. What does it look like to believe?
2. What does it look like to belong?
3. What does it look like to become?

Believing

Citing the Apostle Peter as an example of believing in Christ, she said, “Peter probably saw himself as an ordinary fisherman, but that is not what Jesus Christ saw in him. The Lord saw something more.”

After an unsuccessful night of fishing, Peter overcame fatigue, doubts and fears and reluctantly launched his boat “out into the deep,” as instructed by Jesus. This act of faith was rewarded with the great miracle of his nets being so filled with fish that they burst. Later, Peter walked on water with the Savior. Eventually, his faith grew to great heights, and he bore powerful testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ to his friends.

“Peter knew what it was like to believe in Jesus Christ, to belong in his kingdom and to become his best self,” said President Freeman. “There will come a day when Jesus will say to you, ‘Launch out into the deep.’ We too will be asked by the Savior to exercise faith despite our doubts and fears.”

President Freeman emphasized the power of “believing big” and cited attending early-morning seminary and serving missions as examples.

Speaking to the many full-time missionaries in attendance, she acknowledged that some days, “launching out into the deep” may take extra courage, especially when we labor diligently as Peter did, but nothing seems to be happening. “In spite of hardship, you keep waking up at 6:30, reading your scriptures and putting on your ties or dresses,” noted President Freeman, “because you want to encounter Christ.”

President Freeman recounted the story of David and Goliath as an example of “believing big.” Using the talents and skills the Lord had blessed the boy David with, he could do what no other Israelite had the courage or faith to do — slay the heavily armed giant Goliath with a shepherd’s sling and a stone.

“How did David get this kind of belief?” asked President Freeman. “He did exactly what Heavenly Father has told us to do from the beginning of time.” 

Belonging

In answering the question, “What does it look like to belong?” President Freeman told the parable from the Book of Luke in the New Testament of the man who planned a great supper to which he invited guests. Those who received the initial invitations made excuses and did not come. So, the host of the dinner, who symbolizes God, sent his servant out to bring “the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind” to the feast and to go out into “the highways and hedges and compel [people] to come in, that my house may be filled” (see Luke 14).

President Freeman explained that we are the servants who are called by our Heavenly Father to go out and invite others to enjoy the happiness available in the Church of Jesus Christ. She quoted Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who said, “This is the Church of Joy. That’s the Church we belong to.”

President Freeman added, “This is the Church of Jesus Christ, who invites us on adventures! This is the Church where people come to find belonging, a place that they can come to find people who will welcome them and show them that they belong.”

Becoming

To answer the question, “What does it look like to become?” President Freeman taught extensively from the For the Strength of Youth Guide.

When the For the Strength of Youth Guide booklet was first introduced, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles promised that it “was going to change our lives.” The inspired booklet will help the Church’s youth “live in a high and holier way,” she explained. She challenged the youth to reflect and ask themselves if the booklet has helped them encounter Christ in a way they haven’t before. “That’s what I like to think about every time I look at this book,” she said.

President Freeman noted how the Savior’s ministry started with an invitation from one fisherman, but now the gospel message is “filling up the whole world, and we get to be part of that amazing adventure.”

After the devotional, Lillie Martin, a young woman from the Santa Rita congregation, was impressed by President Freeman’s teachings on belonging. “It doesn’t really matter if everybody else kind of pushes you aside,” she said. “Jesus has a place for you. It’s wonderful!”

“I liked the emphasis on seeing faith in Christ as an adventure,” said Reid Fillmore of the Yigo congregation. “Faith is not just believing. It’s going out and doing!”

From Guam, President Freeman traveled to the islands of Pohnpei and Chuuk in the western Pacific to meet with youth and young adults, attend a seminary class, and minister to families and individuals. She also traveled by boat to the small islands of Romanum and Tonoas, where she met with Latter-day Saints and friends of the faith.