For Latter-day Saint youth ages 11 to 18, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has updated its guidance. The new manual, “For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices,” is founded on the inspiration, agency, and principles of the gospel.
The new “For the Strength of Youth” manual, which was introduced on October 1 during general conference’s opening session, exhorts young people to strengthen their conversion by learning right principles and the benefits of upholding them, as well as to act on any spiritual promptings they experience while studying the manual.
“The best guide you can possibly have for making choices is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the strength of youth.” —Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“The best guide you can possibly have for making choices is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the strength of youth,” taught Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in Saturday morning’s general conference session. “So the purpose of For the Strength of Youth is to point you to Him. It teaches you eternal truths of His restored gospel — truths about who you are, who He is and what you can accomplish with His strength. It teaches you how to make righteous choices based on those eternal truths.”
The guide’s principles are meant to help young people make moral decisions in all facets of their lives. The guide is available for study and sharing by parents, leaders, and youth at home, in Sunday meetings, and at events like camps and youth conferences. Leaders from both Young Men and Young Women are encouraged to consistently promote the guide’s values. It would also be ideal as the subject of a yearly standards-setting event for kids and their parents.
“All year we have studied about trusting in the Lord. This guide gives us a remarkable opportunity to act on what we have learned,” said Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon. “To trust in Him, in His doctrine and in our covenants. To choose to act on that understanding and “lean not” unto the world. And then to experience that extraordinary promise — that we can and will be guided in all that we do (see Proverbs 3:5-6.)”
The Lord’s followers have typically lived among people from varied cultures, attitudes, and worldviews, Young Men General President Steven J. Lund said. So how can we consciously live the distinctive culture of the gospel while yet respecting our neighbors? To “be a light unto the world,” as it is requested of us.
“The ‘For the Strength of Youth’ guide can help as you seek inspiration about how your unique, divinely appointed purposes can best be fulfilled through your life and lifestyle decisions,” he said. “Being known as God’s ‘peculiar people’ is a compliment. It may mean standing out from the crowd as you say through your choices whom it is you follow.”
