Singer with autism talks about her performance at the youth concert in August

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This story appears here with kind permission of TheChurchNews.com. It is not intended for use by any other media.

By Mary Richards, News from the Church

Loud noises, bright lights and lots of people represent a sensory challenge for João Daniel, who has autism. All of these things are part of singing on stage in front of large groups.

Daniel has discovered that he can handle stimuli well at the moment, but that dealing with them can be overwhelming for him.

The singer from Conselheiro Lafaiete in Minas Gerais, Brazil, has found things that help him – because he firmly believes that it is worth passing on his singing to others through performances.

At concerts, Daniel wears in-ear headphones to reduce outside noise and to be able to concentrate more on his voice. Backstage, he wears earmuffs before going on stage. He also familiarizes himself with the stage and the lights to prepare for what is to come.

“I always pray before I go on stage. I also ask everyone involved in the production of the event to pray for me. And I feel the impact of everyone’s prayers for me when I perform,” Daniel said.

Daniel – who is gaining popularity in Brazil – is one of several singers featured in the upcoming global broadcast, “Festival: A Youth Concert.” Youth will recognize many of the singers from the church’s youth music albums and “Strive to Be” on YouTube.

The program, which will be available starting August 5, is aimed at the emerging generation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to strengthen discipleship of Jesus Christ through music. A playlist of the songs will be available in early July.

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The recording took place on June 5 and 6 at the Red Butte Amphitheater in Salt Lake City. Daniel said he loved meeting the other singers, hearing their voices, getting to know their personalities and interacting with them. He also felt a connection with the venue management, band members and audience because “music seems to connect us in a very special way.”

Daniel found it exciting to see the audience singing the songs loudly: “It seemed like we were all connected in worship of Heavenly Father and in reflection on the gospel.”

Congregations and stakes are invited to watch the program together as part of an event planned and led locally by young people. It is intended to be a celebration.

For Daniel, faith-filled concerts like this one, featuring songs about Jesus Christ, are an opportunity to serve, share his talents and make a profession of faith. “Afterwards, I’m usually exhausted and overstimulated, but I feel like it’s worth performing and that the Lord is giving me the strength to deal with the irritation issues,” he said.

A worldwide church and a worldwide concert

Except for Daniel from Brazil, the other singers come from various countries, including the USA, Canada, France, South Africa, the Philippines and Mexico.

Songs will be sung in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish. In a previous Church News article about the event, Young Men general president Steven J. Lund noted that the songs are ones that youth can listen to again and again. And Young Women general president Emily Belle Freeman is hopeful that the concert will reach youth around the world.

The songs are based on the 2024 youth theme – “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ” – as found in 3 Nephi 5:13.

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Naxi Martinez, 21, from Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, sings two songs in Spanish and three in English during the concert.

She is happy to be a part of it because she said her dream or goal has always been to make music “exactly for that, for God.”

Music has always influenced her life and helped her feel closer to God and Jesus Christ and know that she has their love.

When asked what she thought the teenagers and young singles would take away from the concert, she replied: “That we are children of God and that his love for us is enormous.”

Martinez testified that she knows that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and that God not only loves her but also knows her as a person.

“He knows what I’ve been through and that I’m going to go through more, but I know he’s with me,” Martinez said.

Daniel said it was wonderful to be able to sing in Portuguese at the festival.

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What: “Festival: A Youth Concert”

Why: Strengthening the discipleship of Jesus Christ through music

When: Available for download on Monday, August 5, 2024. Interested parties can participate worldwide on Saturday, August 10, or on a date of their choice.

Where: broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, the Gospel Stream app, the Strive to Be YouTube channel, and the Gospel Library’s Youth Music section.

How: Young people should be involved in planning an event where the concert will be shown.

Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.