More than 1,000 Arkansas teens gathered at the University of Arkansas for a three day multi-stake youth conference July 20-22 hosted by the Springdale Arkansas Stake.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve and former associate dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Business Administration at the University of Arkansas spoke to the youth.
Elder Bednar encouraged the youth to work hard to be good in a world of disintegrating values. He exhorted them to display integrity, modesty and respect.
President H. Aldridge Gillespie, president of the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple, who encouraged the youth to live high moral standards and strengthen their character and spirituality, was among the speakers. Five Arkansas stakes participated in the event: Rogers, Springdale, Ft. Smith, North Little Rock, and Little Rock. The five stake presidents closed the conference Saturday with talks focused on "For the Strength of Youth."
Between campus tours and keynote speeches, conference attendees participated in a service project to clean up a dry creek bed on the university campus. They also tied 230 fleece quilts, which will be donated to needy children across the state. Another 360 quilts were sent back with youth leaders to be finished by youth in local areas and donated to children in need. The 780 yards of material needed for the blankets were donated by a private company.