The Caribbean Saints Welcome Sisters Browning and Dennis

On Friday September 16, 2022, through Sunday, September 18, the people on the island of Jamaica were blessed to hear from Sister J. Anette Dennis, 1st Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, Sister Tracy Y. Browning, 2nd Counselor in the Primary General Presidency and Elder Moisès Villanueva, 2nd Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency.

Young Adult Session – September 16, 2022

When Sister J. Anette Dennis addressed the Young Adults who were seated in the pews of the Jamaica, Spanish Town chapel, she recounted a brief snippet of the movie The Lion King in which young Simba has to learn of his royal nature. Continuing, she reminded the young adults who they are, literal children of God. She shared that our world makes it very hard for us to remember who we are. The world will tell us that we are nothing and that we should just live life without worries. Satan uses this tactic to influence us to forget that we are all Sons and Daughters of a Great King, having been sent to earth for a divine purpose.

Sister Dennis also shared an analogy of the World Cup, that in the final minutes of the game the coach sends in his best player. Likewise, God sends his best army in the latter-days. She said that if you remember who you are, you will remember Whose you are. We are not here to be led by the world but rather are here to lead the world to come to Christ. As we continue to keep our covenants, we are blessed with God’s priesthood power in our homes which will strengthen ourselves and our families.

Following Sister Dennis’ remarks, Sister Tracy Y. Browning spoke and shared an experience where she went ziplining with her family. The experience included the difficulties of climbing up the tall towers. Sister Browning shared that in our lives we will receive constant invitations to climb spiritually which may include everyday things like reading our scriptures and getting down on our knees to pray. God is constantly inviting us to climb and the one step after the other in the climb are very simple gospel practices that we should consistently do.

Sister Browning said that when we keep our covenants, we will be able to navigate through the very real, life challenges that are ahead. As we act on every good impression that we have, over time, certain nuances will appear in that voice, and it will separate itself from other voices and the voice of the Spirit always testifies and affirms that Jesus is the Christ.

The concluding speaker, Elder Moisès Villanueva shared his brief testimony inviting everyone to continue doing those small things like daily scripture study, attending church regularly, renewing our covenants with God, working on our family history, keeping ourselves worthy to attend the temple, praying every day and serving others. Because those are the things that will help to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.

Women’s Devotional – September 17, 2022

Sister J. Anette Dennis, in the women’s devotional humbly and emotionally shared the need to change her previously prepared thoughts because of the spirit that the sisters of Jamaica who attended the meeting emanated. She reminded them that as they receive ordinances and make covenants, they become children of the covenant. She then referenced Russell M. Nelson’s powerful message in 2019 from his talk Spiritual Treasures; “How I yearn for you to understand that the restoration of the priesthood is just as relevant to you as a woman as it is to any man..... Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances has direct access to the power of God.” Sister Dennis then urged all to keep their covenants and receive the blessings that come from God.

Sister Tracy Y. Brown encouraged hope in the process of receiving answers to prayers. Her comments were likened to Nephi’s desire to see the tree of life; “It is not enough to simply see the thing we are requesting or desiring from the Lord, we must want to also understand it and that may take time.” She shared that we can also expect that the lengthy process of pondering is the time when we are being taught by the spirit. The pondering process is meant to help us understand our relationship with Jesus Christ in some specific way. There is no expiration date on when He is finished enlightening our minds and answering our prayers. We must simply continue to search for enlightenment and answers and those answers may not come in a solitary event; the answer(s) may come over many years. God has a vision bigger than us, and we must allow His processes to place Him in the center of our life.

To close the meeting, Elder Moises Villanueva repeated the request from the prophet that “we need your strength, your conversion, your convictions, your ability to lead, your wisdom and your voices. We simply cannot gather Israel without you.”

Primary and Relief Society Leadership training - September 18, 2022

In the combined primary and relief society leadership training Sister Anette Dennis asked the leaders what it was that motivated the Savior, and what it is that should motivate us? The answer is love. Everything that we are commanded to do will help us to learn to love God and to love ourselves, and from that we will be able to love others.

Sister Tracy Y. Browning taught that in a world that has increased confusion about our identity, it is critical to share daily, with all of God’s children the eternal knowledge that they are His children. They need to hear it from those who understand it to be true and have it written in their hearts. Then they will feel the love that the Savior has for them. Feeling that love and knowing who they are will affect every decision they make. They will know their value and because of that knowledge they will be able to lead from strength instead of weakness. They will know that they are a child of God.

Sister Dennis continued that when we know our Identity, we have the desire to make covenants with our Heavenly Father and those covenants allow us the blessings of priesthood power.

Elder Kevin G. Brown of the Seventy was invited to share and testified of the priesthood power he witnesses from his wife as she leads and guides him and their family. This power is intended for all of God’s children not just men.

In closing Sister Browning passionately stated, “The Blessings of being a child of the covenant allows us to see the higher and holier ways of the Lord. Be a covenant people, make that a part of your identity. Want to connect yourself with God in ways that say, I do not want to go through this in any other way but with Jesus Christ at my side. I am yoking myself to Him. I make covenants with Him. I promise Him. Because there is no other companion that I would want. Be a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Elder Moises Villanueva thanked the sisters for their messages and added that we need to remember that the simple things will help us to strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. As he bore his testimony of the restored gospel, he reminded us that we have an opportunity to change ourselves every day. Finally Elder Villanueva then shared President Nelson’s comment that, “Repentance is not an event, it is a process.” Become the best version of you.

Primary and Relief Society Leadership training - September 18, 2022

In the combined primary and relief society leadership training Sister Anette Dennis asked the leaders what it was that motivated the Savior, and what it is that should motivate us? The answer is love. Everything that we are commanded to do will help us to learn to love God and to love ourselves, and from that we will be able to love others.

Sister Tracy Y. Browning taught that in a world that has increased confusion about our identity, it is critical to share daily, with all of God’s children the eternal knowledge that they are His children. They need to hear it from those who understand it to be true and have it written in their hearts. Then they will feel the love that the Savior has for them. Feeling that love and knowing who they are will affect every decision they make. They will know their value and because of that knowledge they will be able to lead from strength instead of weakness. They will know that they are a child of God.

Sister Dennis continued that when we know our Identity, we have the desire to make covenants with our Heavenly Father and those covenants allow us the blessings of priesthood power.