Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, first counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, spoke about trusting in the Lord through birthright and covenants in BYU’s Marriott Center during the Women's Conference kickoff event on April 30.
The evening took a dramatic and memorable turn when Wilcox surprised the audience by inviting Broadway star Donny Osmond onstage to perform and testify of Christ.
Wilcox’s message centered on God’s love and trust for His birthright children and the role Latter-day Saints play in gathering Israel.
Referencing President Russell M. Nelson’s 2018 invitation to gather Israel, Wilcox reminded attendees that this is “the most important thing happening on the earth today.”
Wilcox emphasized that this responsibility is heightened because of the additional temporal and spiritual privileges given to those with the birthright.
“We’re talking about the extra portion you have temporally and spiritually, and that you have been given so that you can care for your brothers and sisters,” Wilcox said.
He connected this concept to the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors—a symbol not of favoritism, but of birthright.
“President Nelson clarified that the birthright went to Joseph. That’s why he was given the coat of many colors,” Wilcox said. “It was a symbol of covenant and a sacred symbol of birthright.”
Bringing the story to life, Wilcox invited members of the Osmond family to the stage to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
“How many of you have ever heard of the coat of many colors?” Wilcox asked, while the crowd erupted in excitement. “Wouldn’t it be so cool if the person who played Joseph in the musical were here right now?”
At that moment, Donny Osmond stepped onstage wearing the coat from his role in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Osmond connected his role to the responsibility of gathering Israel, emphasizing his covenants and trust in the Lord.
“While researching the role of Joseph, I realized that God gave us a promise,” Osmond said. “If we endure those personal gifts, endure to the end and stay on the covenant path, the Lord will bless us.”
Following his testimony, Osmond led the crowd in the popular song from the musical, "Any Dream Will Do."
One attendee from the crowd was especially touched by Osmond’s appearance. Vanessa Fitzgibbon, a translator for Church News, emphasized how important the musical was to her conversion.
“I joined the church partly because of being introduced to Donny Osmond,” Fitzgibbon said. “We had a little fan club in Brazil because we loved him and his faith.”
She added that she had never seen Osmond bear his testimony before, and the experience deeply strengthened her own.
Andrea Hardy, who traveled from Illinois for the conference, said the event made her wish she could share it with her family.
“I was wonderful and amazing,” Hardy said. “It made me wish all my youth were here with me.”
Through storytelling, symbolism and song, the evening inspired women to embrace their birthright and take part in the gathering of Israel.