Thousands of Young Christians gather in Salt Lake City for Faith and Fellowship

The Salt Palace Convention Center pulsed with energy this weekend as thousands of young Christians gathered for a three-day conference blending worship, service, and celebration.

The event, among the largest of its kind in the state, drew participants from across Utah and beyond, filling downtown Salt Lake City with a mix of music, laughter, and moments of quiet devotion. Organizers framed the gathering as both a spiritual retreat and a communal rallying point for a generation navigating faith in uncertain times.

Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé, one of the keynote speakers, reminded attendees that their individual gifts were vital to the mission of the Church. “The Church needs you — not in spite of who you are, but because of who you are,” he said, urging young adults to anchor their lives in discipleship and service.

Other leaders echoed similar themes. Sister Tamara W. Runia of the Young Women General Presidency spoke of Christ’s power to transform suffering into growth, while Elder Brian K. Taylor, Utah Area President, emphasized the eternal worth of every individual. Closing the conference’s keynote addresses, Sister Kristen Oaks — who married President Dallin H. Oaks after three decades of single life — urged attendees to embrace discipleship and allow their “light to attract light.”

The weekend was far from only sermons. Service projects filled the convention center, as young adults assembled hygiene kits, emergency backpacks, birthday boxes, and even handmade wigs for children undergoing medical treatment. In quieter corners, others repurposed plastic bags into mats for those experiencing homelessness.

Evenings brought a different rhythm. Concerts featuring multiplatinum singer-songwriter Andy Grammer and the Christian rock band NEEDTOBREATHE turned the convention center into a stage of dancing, applause, and uplifted voices. Roller skating, dances, and casual meetups kept the crowd buzzing late into the night.

For many, the conference was less about the scale of the event than the personal connections forged. “It’s cool to meet people from everywhere and realize we’re all going through the same struggles,” said Matheus, a participant from Brazil. “It gave me strength to keep going and to deepen my connection with Christ.”

The gathering concludes Sunday evening with a devotional at the Conference Center on Temple Square, where President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will address the young adults.

For the thousands who filled the Salt Palace this weekend, the conference was both a celebration of faith and a reminder — in the words of one speaker — that discipleship is “the most important calling of all.”