'Finishers Wanted' in N.C.
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WILMINGTON, N.C.
With a nod to a slogan famously quoted by President Thomas S. Monson, three stakes combined to encourage youth to finish what they start and to endure to the end.
President Monson's June 1989 Ensign message, "Finishers Wanted," became the theme of a tri-stake youth conference held at the University of North Carolina Wilmington from July 23–25. Approximately 250 youth and 75 adults from the Wilmington, Fayetteville and Fayetteville West stakes in North Carolina participated in the conference.
In his message in the Ensign, President Monson wrote of having seen a sign in the window of a prestigious furniture store. The sign read:
"FINISHERS WANTED."
President Monson observed, "In life, as in business, there has always been a need for those persons who could be called finishers. Their ranks are few, their opportunities many, their contributions great."
Preparation for the conference with the "Finishers Wanted" theme began a year in advance, and youth became familiar with the theme through lessons, devotionals and bishop/youth discussions. Youth were encouraged to be finishers of their Eagle Scout, Duty to God and Young Womanhood Recognition awards, as well as to be finishers in their preparations for the temple and their missions.
Nathan Hales, a priest in the Hope Mills 1st Ward of the Fayetteville North Carolina Stake, said he enjoyed the conference because he felt the theme was applicable in daily life.
"I love the theme 'Finishers Wanted' because it shows how we should live our life," he said. "It's just like the promise found in Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, which says that if we endure to the end and finish well, then we will have eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God."
The youth conference began on Thursday with keynote speakers who highlighted the importance of following the promptings of the Holy Ghost and keeping the Church's standards in order to be finishers. The young men and young women also enjoyed outdoor field activities and a dance that evening with a "finishing the race" theme.
On Friday morning, all youth conference participants joined the UNCW landscaping crew to spread hundreds of bales of pine straw across campus, weed the flower beds and plant hundreds of English ivy plugs. One supervisor from the landscaping crew said that the youth accomplished as much in two hours as the crew normally did in a month and a half. A local television station provided news coverage of the event that aired that evening.
Friday afternoon was filled with workshops in which speakers emphasized the need for youth to date appropriately, keep the Word of Wisdom and pray always in order to be finishers. Friday evening was the much-anticipated testimony meeting, which began with the youth conference choir singing a medley of "As Sisters in Zion" and "We'll Bring the World His Truth" and "Carry On."
Many said they felt that the testimony meeting was the highlight of the conference, including Wilmington North Carolina Stake President Reggie Brew.
"I was particularly touched by the depth of some of the testimonies our youth shared at the testimony meeting. Some of them possess very mature faith," he said.
On Saturday morning, almost everyone at the youth conference lined up for a 5K run, where the goal was for all participants to finish. Everyone did finish, and many observers were touched by the youth who went back to help their friends complete the race. Cory Cantey, a priest in the Wilmington 1st Ward said, "It took a lot of faith for some people to finish the race. I don't know if some would have finished if it had not been for the things they had learned during the conference."
President Brew also noted, "As they ran the 5K race, seeing them scattered all around the course, I was reminded that we are all at different places in our 'race of life' and that we all move at a different pace. But as long as we are moving forward, we are progressing. The main thing is that we do move forward and finish our course."
The conference concluded with talks from the three stake presidents, who spoke on the need to finish one's education, finish the goals of a mission and temple marriage, and finish the race of life.
Several youth commented on the life-changing impact of the events and theme of the conference. Mercedes Barr, a Mia Maid from the Wilmington 1st Ward, said, "Youth conference has been the most amazing experience that has happened to me. I felt my testimony grew a lot and there was a sense of unity among the youth. I feel like I can depend on them when I need them."
Reflecting on what he had learned, Lonnie Wallace, a teacher in the Wilmington 1st Ward concluded, "I learned that we all can be finishers as long as we prepare and live worthy of it."
Leaders said that as the youth fulfill this truth, they will be able to quote with the Apostle Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
