Sister Yee Encourages European Saints to Develop Relationship with God

“The Lord never misses an opportunity to love and bless His children,” said Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who concluded a 10-day ministry to four countries in Northern Europe. 

During her ministry in November, Sister Yee traveled to Finland, Sweden, Denmark and England. 
Sister Yee’s first stop was at a food bank in Helsinki operated by the Church of Finland on Friday, November 1, 2024. The Church of Jesus Christ in Finland donates and coordinates aid for the organization.

Sister Yee was especially touched by Sinikka Backman, the organization’s director. 

“It was special to see her dedication and efforts, 25 years of working in that food pantry to ensure that anybody in need receives food and is treated with kindness and dignity,” she said. 

Backman says their visitors are increasingly immigrants, often older adults, who don’t speak Finnish.

On Sunday, November 3, Sister Yee spoke to Relief Society sisters in Finland’s capital city. Relief Society is one of the largest women’s organizations in the world. Sister Yee shared President Russell M. Nelson’s teachings about God’s special love and mercy for people who have made a covenant (promise) with Him. She invited sisters to deepen their relationships with God and to feel His love.

“Never suppress a generous thought that comes to your heart,” Sister Yee told the Latter-day Saint women gathered for a devotional meeting, referring to a quote from Sister Camilla E. Kimball, wife of President Spencer W. Kimball. 

Those generous thoughts “come from the Lord, especially thoughts that come to sisters’ hearts come from God,” she said. “You are seen, you are known, and you are loved.” 

It has been five years since a member of the Relief Society General Presidency has been to Finland. Finland is home to nearly 5,000 Latter-day Saints in 29 congregations, and a temple is in Helsinki. 

Ministering to the One

During her ministry, Sister Yee also joined with young adults in Sweden to help distribute food to those displaced on the streets of Stockholm on Monday, November 4. 

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“I ended up in a little depot area with a dear sister named Veronika,” she said. “Her head was down, and she was sitting in a wheelchair.” 

Sister Yee continued: “I remember tapping her on the shoulder, and she looked up, and I said, ‘Would you be interested in a meal tonight?’ And she said, ‘Yes, I've been hoping for one. I just didn't know if it would come.’”

While in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sister Yee, an artist, saw Thorvaldsen’s “Christus” statue at the Church of Our Lady. 

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“Sometimes when you're in a physical space with something that has been created physically, it does move you in ways you don't expect, especially when it depicts the Christ,” she reflected. “That was a sweet experience and a hallowed experience.” She also viewed the original paintings of Carl Bloch at Frederiksborg Castle.

Relief Society sisters also gathered for meetings in Copenhagen and Bristol, England. 

“I don’t think of places. I see faces in my mind of dear sisters who want to come closer to Him,” said Sister Yee. 

While in Europe, Sister Yee also spent some time in Scotland, learning more about her family ties to the area.

“I've never been so blessed with so many family connections throughout my service as I have in the last two years,” she said. “He wants to bless us, and our families in our service are not separate, and it was a privilege and a blessing.” 

Finally, she participated in a Light the World event at County Hall in London on Wednesday, November 13, before departing for Church headquarters in Salt Lake City.