The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has redesigned its guide for Latter-day Saint youth ages 11 to 18. The new guide, “For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices,” is based on gospel principles, agency and inspiration.
When earnestly seeking truth eternal, unchanging truth choices become much clearer, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught in the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference.
To help youth learn these truths and make inspired decisions, the Church has prepared a new resource a revised version of “For the Strength of Youth,” Elder Uchtdorf announced during his talk directed to the rising generation.
“The best guide you can possibly have for making choices is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the strength of youth,” he said. “So the purpose of ‘For the Strength of Youth’ is to point you to Him. It teaches you eternal truths of His restored gospel — the truth 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 new guide, subtitled “A Guide for Making Choices,” focuses on gospel principles, agency and inspiration. It is now available digitally in English and 49 additional languages atYouth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and in the Youth section of Gospel Library.
Youth are encouraged to use the principles in the guide to make righteous choices in all aspects of their lives. Parents, leaders and youth are invited to study and share the guide at home, in Sunday meetings, and in activities, including camps and youth conferences. Young Men and Young Women leaders are invited to emphasize the principles found in the guide regularly. It would also be perfect as the focus at an annual standards night for youth and their parents.
What does the new guide ‘For the Strength of Youth’ guide look like?
For over 50 years, “For the Strength of Youth” has been a guide for generations of Latter-day Saint youth, Elder Uchtdorf explained. “It has been updated and refreshed, to better cope with the challenges and temptations of our day.”
Each topic has three parts:
- Eternal truths, or doctrine of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Invitations to act on those truths.
- Promised blessings that the Lord offers those who live by His teachings.
At the end of each topic are questions and answers as well as related scripture references and temple recommendation questions.
Topics include “Jesus Christ will help you,” “Love God, love your neighbor,” “Walk in God’s light,” “Your body is sacred” and “Truth will make you free.”
The topic “Love God, love your neighbor,” for example, explains that God has given His children commandments because He loves them and wants to help them make good choices. Youth are invited to show love for God by keeping His commandments, treat everyone as a child of God and make sure language reflects love of God and others. Promised blessings are a deepened relationship with God and others.
Questions for further study include “Does the Lord expect me to love everyone, even those who treat me badly?” “When and how should I get to know members of the opposite sex?” and “What can I do if my home is not a place of love?”
Related temple recommend questions include following the teachings of the Church in private and public behavior, keeping the Sabbath day holy and paying tithing.
“‘For the Strength of Youth’ is bold in declaring the doctrine of Jesus Christ,” Elder Uchtdorf said. “It is bold in inviting you to make choices based on Christ’s doctrine. And it is bold in describing the blessings Jesus Christ promises those who follow His way.”
Young Men General President Steven J. Lund explained that the Lord’s followers have almost always lived among people with different cultures, values and understandings. “So how can we respect our neighbors while also purposefully living the gospel’s unique culture? We are asked to be ‘a light into the world.’
“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.”
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