Students to learn about sacredness of married love

Intermountain Catholic

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SANDY — Jason and Crystalina Evert have spoken about the virtue of chastity all over the world to more than 1 million youth. On Oct. 24 and 25,  students in Utah will have the opportunity to see  Jason Evert during  assemblies at the three Utah Catholic high schools. Parents and other adults are invited to an Oct. 24 event for all at Blessed Sacrament Parish.

In his presentation, titled “Love or Lust?”, Evert will reveal the “compelling vision of God’s plan for human sexuality and present an uplifting case for practicing the virtue of chastity,” the seminar description states.

The idea of bringing Evert to Utah started last year when Doug Sherman, the founder and former president of the Immaculate Heart Radio who is now retired, sent an email to Sharon Jackson, pastoral associate of Blessed Sacrament Parish. The parish has hosted nationally known speakers in the past, including Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers in 2016 and Patrick Madrid in 2015.

For Jackson, Evert  was no stranger. She had heard his podcast on the Internet, and her children had assisted at his presentations at National Catholic Youth Conferences.

“They went for years and years. They had several speakers there shaping them and helping keep them Catholic; and Jason and his wife Crystalina were particularly instrumental in [shaping] our youngest daughter,” said Jackson, who requested and received permission from the pastor, Fr. Sam Dinsdale, to bring Evert to Blessed Sacrament Parish.

In particular, she hopes to reach youth who do not attend Catholic high schools, she said, adding that it is recommended that children younger than 7th grade attend the presentation with their parents.

Evert will address issues that teens struggle with, such as sexual pressure, pornography and modesty.

Evert presents the concepts of chastity and keeping sex for marriage in a way that youth have not heard it before, Jackson said.

“Jason has a common-sense way of saying, ‘Why would you do this when it is such a valuable and sacred thing?’ When they get into risky situations, some of the things that they heard at the presentation might come back and they can say, ‘This is something that I don’t want to be doing,’” Jackson said.

In his presentation, Evert encourages teens to maintain their purity or begin again if they have made mistakes in the past.

“He really knows how to reach the youth, particularly in this theme of chastity, which is so needed today,” Jackson said.

Any and all youth 7th grade and older can attend the free event on Wednesday Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish. For information, contact Sharon Jackson, ssjackzz73@gmail.com.

WHAT: Jason Evert presentation: “Love or Lust?”

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Blessed Sacrament Church, 9800 South, 1700 East, Sandy

For youth in grades 7 through 12; younger children should attend with their parents. Free and open to the public.