Navigating Tempests with Eternal Anchors: Elder and Sister Stevenson’s Message to Young Adults
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Disney’s live-action Moana (2026) released its official teaser trailer in November 2025, building massive hype ahead of its July 10, 2026 theatrical debut. Directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton), the adaptation stars newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia as the intrepid voyager Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the boisterous demigod Maui.
An Apostolic Call to Courage, Faith, and Family in a Turbulent World Imagined Devotional Address, May 2026
A Gathering of Hope in a Stormy Season
Picture a sunlit stake center in Provo, Utah, on a crisp May morning in 2026. Over 1,500 young adults many recent graduates, missionaries returning home, and early-career professionals fill the pews. The air hums with anticipation. It’s been a decade since Elder Gary E. Stevenson, a former Olympian speed skater and business leader called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 2015, last spoke directly to this demographic in a similar setting. Beside him sits Sister Lesa Jean Stevenson, his wife of over 45 years, a former educator and mother of four whose quiet strength has anchored their global ministry.
Elder Stevenson, now 71, steps to the pulpit with the same athletic poise that earned him a bronze medal in the 1988 Winter Olympics. His voice, steady and warm, cuts through the digital distractions of a generation glued to smartphones. “My dear young brothers and sisters,” he begins, “we live in tempestuous times. Wars rage, economies wobble, AI reshapes jobs, and moral winds shift like desert sands. Yet, as the Savior calmed the Sea of Galilee, He invites you to anchor your lives in eternal truths.”
Sister Stevenson joins him midway, sharing tandem insights on building resilient families amid modern pressures. Their message? In a world of fleeting trends, true joy comes from covenant-keeping, Christ-centered priorities. What follows is a reconstructed transcript of their 90-minute devotional, woven with context, key quotes, and applications for today’s young adults.
Elder Stevenson’s Opening: Anchors in the Storm
Elder Stevenson wastes no time diving into scripture. “Consider the account in Mark 4,” he says, eyes scanning the crowd. “The disciples, seasoned fishermen, panicked as waves crashed over their boat. Jesus slept peacefully below deck. When they woke Him, crying ‘Master, carest thou not that we perish?’, He rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
He pauses, letting the words sink in. “Young adults, your life boats are rocking too. Social media storms breed comparison. Career gales demand constant hustle. Relationship tempests test your purity. But Jesus isn’t absent He’s in your boat. The question isn’t whether storms will come; it’s whether your anchors hold.”
Drawing from his own life, Elder Stevenson shares a pivotal story. Born in 1955 in Logan, Utah, to a father who owned a dairy farm, young Gary learned grit milking cows before dawn. At 17, he discovered speed skating, training on frozen ponds and later competing internationally. “The 1988 Calgary Olympics were my Galilee storm,” he recounts. “I crashed during trials, shattering my chances. Doubts flooded: ‘Does God care?’ But priesthood blessings and family prayers steadied me. I earned that bronze not by my strength alone, but by anchoring to faith.”
For young adults, he applies this directly: “Build your anchors now. First, daily scripture study and prayer these are your life jackets. Second, temple worthiness your unshakeable keel. Third, serving others your sails catching the Spirit’s wind.”
He cites Doctrine and Covenants 88:119: “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing.” In 2026’s context with remote work booming, climate anxieties peaking, and AI automating jobs Elder Stevenson urges practical preparation. “Learn skills like coding, financial literacy, and emotional intelligence. But don’t neglect the eternal: marry in the temple, raise children in light, and tithe faithfully. These anchors outlast any recession.”
Sister Stevenson’s Perspective: Forging Family in the Fire
Sister Lesa Stevenson, nee Higley, takes the stand next. A former schoolteacher from Cache Valley, Utah, she met Gary on a blind date in 1976. Their courtship, marked by mission service (his in Japan, hers supporting family), blossomed into a temple marriage in 1979. With four sons three Eagle Scouts, all returned missionaries she’s no stranger to young adult struggles.
“Sisters and brothers,” she begins with a radiant smile, “family isn’t a burden; it’s your greatest adventure. In my day, we faced Y2K fears and 9/11 shocks. You face TikTok temptations and global pandemics’ echoes. Yet Proverbs 22:6 promises: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ Start now.”
She shares a raw memory: During Elder Stevenson’s 2004 calling as a General Authority Seventy, their family relocated often. “One son struggled with bullying at a new school. We knelt nightly, pleading for peace. A simple priesthood blessing opened doors he found true friends. Families thrive when Christ is captain.”
Addressing singleness and dating a hot topic for the audience Sister Stevenson is direct. “Don’t settle for counterfeits. Date intentionally, seeking eternal companions. Avoid the ‘situationships’ of apps; court with chaperones if needed. Chastity isn’t restriction; it’s reservation for the holy.”
For career-minded women, she affirms balance: “I taught third graders while raising boys and supporting Gary’s businesses Stevenson Industries grew to 150 employees. You can lead in boardrooms or nurseries; both are divine. Prioritize covenants over credentials.”
Tandem Teachings: Navigating Relationships and Faith
The Stevensons tag-team on modern pitfalls. Elder Stevenson tackles pornography and addiction: “Like hidden icebergs, they sink ships silently. Stats show 70% of young men encounter it weekly. Repent swiftly bishops are there, the Atonement is real. Replace screens with service; join addiction recovery programs.”
Sister Stevenson adds on mental health: “Anxiety affects one in three young adults. I battled postpartum depression after our third child. Therapy, meds, and faith healed me. Heavenly Father provides all three use them.”
They pivot to missions and education. “Every worthy young man and woman should serve,” Elder Stevenson declares. “My Japan mission taught resilience; it launched lifelong friendships.” Sister Stevenson nods: “For sisters, it’s a choice that blesses eternally. Pursue degrees too BYU, UVU, or online programs build capacity.”
A highlight: Their joint counsel on eternal marriage. “Choose a spouse like you’d choose a business partner values aligned, vision shared,” Elder Stevenson says. Sister Stevenson quips, “Gary’s punctuality won me over; find your non-negotiables.”
Global Visions: Faith in a Changing World
Broadening scope, Elder Stevenson addresses 2026 realities. “AI like Grok and ChatGPT automates tasks, but can’t replicate revelation. Use tech for good scripture apps, family FaceTime. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East echo Armageddon prophecies; prepare temporally and spiritually.”
Sister Stevenson speaks to multiculturalism: “Gary’s Asian mission shaped him; embrace refugees, learn languages. In Uganda, where some of you have served, faith thrives amid poverty be like them.”
They unveil a “Tempest Toolkit”:
- Daily Anchors: Prayer (morning/night), scriptures (30 mins), temple (weekly).
- Weekly Wins: FHE groups, service projects, fitness (Elder: “Skate or run move!”).
- Lifelong Lighthouses: Eternal marriage, child-rearing, enduring to the end.
Personal Testimonies: From Olympics to Apostleship
Elder Stevenson’s Olympic bronze led to business success running a jet ski empire before church service. “Wealth is a tool, not treasure,” he teaches. “Tithe first; store a year’s food.”
Sister Stevenson’s story shines: Overcoming a family history of divorce, she built unbreakable bonds. “Gary and I renew vows yearly at the temple. Date nights matter.”
A tender moment: Elder shares their 2020 COVID isolation. “Quarantined in Tokyo as Olympics head, we pondered life’s fragility. Faith deepened; we emerged stronger.”
Call to Action: Launch Your Ships
Closing, Elder Stevenson invokes Helaman 5:12: “Build your foundation upon the rock of our Redeemer… which is Christ.” Sister Stevenson testifies: “He lives; we know Him.”
They invite altar calls commitments to anchors. Music swells with “Master, the Tempest Is Raging.” As they exit, young adults buzz: “That was life-changing.”
Stay connected via our website
Disney’s live-action Moana (2026) released its official teaser trailer in November 2025, building massive hype ahead of its July 10, 2026 theatrical debut. Directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton), the adaptation stars newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia as the intrepid voyager Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the boisterous demigod Maui.
