1,200+ young Christians flock to Canada for 2025 YSA Conference

In a rare and sweeping religious gathering that drew young single adults from across Canada, the United States, and beyond, more than 1,200 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in Calgary from August 1–4, 2025, for the first-ever Canada Area Young Single Adult (YSA) Conference under the banner “Think Celestial.”

The four-day event marked a significant milestone for the Church’s Canadian membership, representing a first-of-its-kind initiative by the newly formed Canada Area leadership. Participants engaged in a blend of spiritual instruction, community service, social bonding, and personal growth in what attendees and organizers alike described as both joyful and reverent.

Church leadership was prominently represented throughout the weekend. Elder James Evanson, Second Counselor in the Canada Area Presidency, delivered keynote remarks alongside his wife, Sister Jody Evanson. Also addressing attendees were Elder Douglas Atwood and Elder Robert Mendenhall, both Area Seventies, joined by their spouses Sister Rachel Atwood and Sister Dixie Mendenhall, respectively. Breakout sessions covered a spectrum of spiritual and practical themes, including mental health, revelation, hope, church history, and the power of covenants.

A highlight of the conference came Sunday, when more than 1,400 young adults and local stake members gathered for a landmark sacrament meeting presided over by Elder Vern Stanfill, President of the Canada Area Presidency. The sacred ordinance was administered by a group of 56 young priesthood holders, as testimonies from participants and remarks from Elder Evanson, Sister Andrea Spannaus of the General Young Women Presidency, and Elder Stanfill underscored the solemnity and significance of the occasion.

The conference was not solely defined by religious instruction. Participants engaged in a range of activities—from rafting on the Bow River and sailing the Glenmore Reservoir to yoga sessions, paintball games, and family history “Linking Labs.” A coordinated service project saw attendees assemble 850 hygiene kits for the Salvation Army. Favorable weather—despite earlier forecasts of heavy rain—allowed all events to proceed without disruption, a fact many attendees described as miraculous.

The spiritual crescendo of the event occurred Monday during a specially organized YSA Temple Day at the Calgary Alberta Temple, opened exclusively for conference participants. Over 500 young adults performed more than 1,500 ordinances with the assistance of over 50 YSA ordinance workers, a logistical and spiritual feat that capped the weekend’s activities.

Sister Andrea Spannaus offered the final devotional on Sunday evening, delivering a heartfelt message on the theme “Think Celestial.” Her address resonated deeply with the audience, offering both doctrinal insight and personal encouragement.

As the conference concluded, many participants expressed gratitude for the presence and dedication of Church leaders, the spiritual strength of the meetings, and the sense of unity that emerged from the diverse gathering. Across four days, the message was clear: for this rising generation of Latter-day Saints, thinking celestial is not merely a theme—it’s a way forward.