In Mexico, Elder Stevenson Invites Young Adults to Become Disciples of Jesus Christ

During his recent ministry in Mexico in February 2026, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with youth, young adults and full‑time missionaries, urging them to becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

Elder Stevenson — accompanied by his wife, Lesa, Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Presidency of the Seventy, and members of the Mexico Area Presidency — devoted his messages to strengthening discipleship among the rising generation and reinforcing the spiritual foundation of missionary work.

“Walk With Me”: Counsel to Youth in Mexico City

Speaking to nearly 500 youth from stakes in northwest Mexico City on February 15, Elder Stevenson asked what this year’s youth theme, “Walk with Me,” means to them. One young woman replied, “For me, it means that my Heavenly Father will always be with me and will never leave me.”

Elder Stevenson taught that this generation carries the scriptures in their pockets at all times, yet must choose to use them.

“I believe the Lord desires that we walk with Him every day. Perhaps spending a little less time on social media and a little more time in the scriptures, at least 10 minutes each day,” he said.

Elder Stevenson invited the youth to strengthen friendships, support their families and live as disciples of Jesus Christ in their homes.

“As you walk with Him, you will be on the path that leads to peace and joy,” Elder Stevenson said. 

He blessed them with power to remain on the covenant path and “overcome temptation and rise above life’s challenges.”

Sister Lesa Stevenson briefly encouraged the youth to make scripture study a daily habit. “Read the scriptures every day — even if it is just one verse,” she said.

A Call to Lifelong Discipleship in Mérida and Campeche

On February 18, before more than a thousand youth and parents in southeastern Mexico, Elder Stevenson pointed to the accelerating work of the Lord.

“It is an incredible time to be alive and to belong to the Church,” he said. “We have more than 85,000 missionaries in the world. There are 3,000 missionaries from Mexico, and soon there will be 5,000.”

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Elder Stevenson testified that missionary preparation begins with discipleship long before mission service.

“Walking with God and becoming lifelong disciples is the most important preparation that can take place in your lives,” he said. Remaining on the covenant path, holding a temple recommend, and studying the Book of Mormon are foundational, he taught. Patriarchal blessings, weekly sacrament meeting attendance, and temple worship all help prepare youth for missionary service.

“Every day of my life since I served as a missionary, at some point during the day, I have thought about my missionary service,” he said. “I exhort you to stay on the path of lifelong discipleship of Jesus Christ and to serve a full‑time mission.”

Elder Nash invited youth to understand their divine identity. Citing the Book of Mormon, he reminded them, “Ye are the children of the prophets … and of the covenant.” He added, “It is your sacred duty to go and bless all the nations of the earth.”

Strengthening Missionaries Across Mexico

In two combined meetings in Mérida and Monterrey on February 20, Elder Stevenson addressed almost 500 missionaries, teaching that love for the people they serve binds missionaries to their area of service in deep, lasting ways.

Sharing his testimony, he emphasized that missionary assignments are made through revelation. “The Lord — who knows everything about you — is the One who brought you here,” he said.

Reviewing key doctrine from Preach My Gospel, he reaffirmed the centrality of the Book of Mormon in teaching the restored gospel. “The Book of Mormon is the tangible evidence of what we teach and allows us to share our testimony of Jesus Christ,” he said. 

In a devotional with more than 700 missionaries at the Mexico City Missionary Training Center on February 15, Elder Stevenson centered his message on the spiritual power that accompanies sincere testimony.

When missionaries testify of the Restoration, the Book of Mormon, and the Savior’s Atonement, he said, the Spirit “cannot be contained.”

He testified that these are historic days for the Lord’s work, noting that the previous year saw remarkable growth and increased baptisms worldwide.

He concluded by blessing the missionaries so that this period of service becomes one they “treasure forever.”

Visit to Humanitarian Partners

During their time in Mexico, Sister Stevenson also visited Cáritas Monterrey, a Catholic humanitarian organization and food bank supported by the Church. She joined local leaders in assisting with food‑packaging tasks as part of ongoing efforts to address food insecurity in northern Mexico.

They were welcomed by Antonio Vázquez, director of Cáritas Monterrey, and Blanca Castillo, director of the Food Bank, who expressed their gratitude for the support the Church has provided in multiple projects that have benefited more than 200,000 people each year. 

Through various divisions, Cáritas Monterrey offers medicine, shelter, health services, disaster relief and other forms of aid. Its food bank is part of the Mexican Food Bank Network (BAMX), one of the organizations with which the Church collaborates continuously on initiatives to combat food insecurity among vulnerable populations. Also present during the visit was Mariana Valtierra, national social investment coordinator for the BAMX network.