Mormon Life - Youth tag

Brazilian Youth Connect Family History, Temple Work

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:01:00 -0600

source: news.lds.org

José A. Moscão was noticing a trend: the youth who were coming to the Campinas Brazil Temple had a lot of “down time.”

Brother Moscão, the director of the family history center located adjacent to the Campinas Temple, knew that because of the distance many youth had to travel to get to the temple, most came in caravans and stayed for several days. The time between their sessions in the baptistry and meals and waiting for their parents and leaders who were participating in other temple ordinances couldn’t be avoided.

But maybe, he thought—or rather, he felt—he could offer the youth an alternative to wandering the temple grounds whenever they had some free time.

So he did.

'Dating is fun!'

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:51:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

When the revised For the Strength of Youth booklet was released in January of this year, the first thing many young women did when they received their copies was turn to the section on "Dating" to see if anything had changed! Young women know that the world has changed drastically, but the Church's standards have not changed. What they discovered when they opened their book is that the standard for the age of formal dating is still 16. Yes, after the age of 16, youth are encouraged to date! Unfortunately, many young women tell me that when they turn 16, the boys do not ask them on dates. The boys prefer to "hang out." What to do?

Today's children

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:40:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

One of the rites of passage important to our young people is moving from Primary into programs for Young Men and Young Women. By the time most LDS children reach this milestone, they have learned a lot about the Articles of Faith. Many have even memorized some or all them.

The 13th Article of Faith, the last and longest of the statements, is a remarkable expression of values. If followed diligently through life, accompanied by education and hard work, these values would likely bring a soul to temporal and spiritual success. Consider now the article's implications, especially in the world in which we now find ourselves:

Mormon HS basketball star Jabari Parker makes cover of Sports Illustrated

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:11:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Wow. This kid is amazing. Sports Illustrated rarely produces a cover story on a high school athlete, but when it comes to 17-year-old prep basketball sensation Jabari Parker, the venerable national publication couldn't resist.

Parker, a high school junior, graces the cover of this week's issue. For SI, the allure isn't simply the fact he is the reigning National High School Player of the Year and would likely be a lottery pick in this June's NBA Draft if he were eligible.

A native of Chicago, the 6-foot-9, 220-pound Parker is a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and along with leading Simeon High to three consecutive state championships and carrying an impressive 3.7 grade point average, he wakes up early three days a week for LDS seminary, carries a copy of The Book of Mormon in his backpack, and is considering serving a two-year LDS mission after his freshman year of college.

Washington Post: 'London Calling' for teens at Mormon prom

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:39:00 -0600

source: washingtonpost.com

Mormon Life says: Kind of cool that the Washington Post picked up a story on "Mormon prom." A procession of limousines dropped off young people dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns to the Annandale, Virginia stake center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last weekend. When the teens entered, they were welcomed with a London theme, adorned with British Union Jacks and other trimmings.

There were British soldiers posted outside the building, ladies with fashionable hats welcoming couples and a towering replica of London’s “Big Ben,” clock that loomed over a dance floor in the gym that was filled with teenagers dancing to the sounds of Michael Jackson.

LDS high school junior used his mullet to bless lives

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:37:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

For Isaac Blake, growing a mullet turned out to be a worthwhile experience.

Not only for himself, but for others as well.

Julia Blake said her son, a top student and three-sport athlete at Wellesley High, had always worn a short buzz cut. Seeing Patrick Kane of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and Jared Allen of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, however, inspired Blake to grow a spectacular, business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back mullet.

Mormonism grows; devotion begins in youth

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:40:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Trevar Dahl spends an hour before school each morning studying the Bible with seven other teens.

"It's the best way to start the day, and it helps us with a pretty good knowledge of scripture," said Trevar, a 16-year-old junior at Cloverleaf High School near Lodi. "We attend classes for four years. We call it seminary."

Seminary, or the study of religious history and scripture among high school students in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, includes courses on the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon and church doctrine, covenants and history. The seminary program has been part of the Mormon tradition for 100 years and has grown from 70 students to nearly 370,000 in more than 140 countries.

FHE: Youth

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Shauna Gibby
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We must help our youth gain testimonies for themselves so they can withstand temptation and trust in God.

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Counsel to Youth,” by President Boyd K. Packer,

Ensign, Nov 2011, 16.

Thought:

Youth today are being raised in enemy territory with a declining standard of morality. But as a servant of the Lord, I promise that you will be protected and shielded from the attacks of the adversary if you will heed the promptings that come from the Holy Spirit.

(President Boyd K. Packer, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign, Nov 2011, 16.)

Song:

“True to the Faith,” Hymns #254.

Scripture:

O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

(Alma 37:35)

Lesson:

Before family scripture study, ask the father of your family to be prepared to share his most heartfelt counsel to his children. When ready, invite him to share his counsel. Read Alma 37:35–37 aloud to your family. Ask if there are any similarities between Alma’s counsel to Helaman and your father’s counsel to them. Ask:

• What two gospel principles did Alma specifically admonish Helaman to keep? (Keep the commandments and pray.)

• Why do you think Alma encouraged Helaman to keep the commandments?

• What counsel did Alma give concerning prayer?

Prepare the following “prayer checklists” for each family member:

List 1:

I do not have personal prayer. I only pray at mealtime.

I only pray with the family.

I only pray in the morning. I only pray at bedtime.

I only pray in time of need.

List 2:

I pray out loud.

I pray silently.

I read scriptures before praying.

I ponder before praying.

I pray during the day.

I listen for answers.

Ask your family which list best represents the counsel Alma gave his son. Which list would bring

you the greatest comfort or direction or help?

Encourage family members to keep the “prayer checklists” as a reminder to improve their prayers

and gain the blessings that come with doing so.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 209.)

Story:

Bernard F. Fisher

Graduating from high school, leaving very special friends and the stabilizing influence of home, to

enter the United States Navy was a large step in my life. I am sure that my seminary teacher at Davis High School [in Kaysville, Utah] was well aware of the new environmental and psychological change that would take place. As I stopped by the seminary building to say farewell, Brother Ensign invited me to visit and add his comments to many other well-wishers. He said, “I want to tell you something and subsequently would like to have you promise to write once a month.” Continuing, he suggested that I wouldn’t understand the full significance of his counsel; but if I was diligent and faithful in my correspondence, I would develop a broader understanding of what it meant. His instructions were to start each letter with this statement, “I am in the world but not of the world.”

I think those few comments transcribed from rote memory to paper each month had a great influence during the succeeding days and the personal challenges that were to follow. I, as any

young man would do, thought a great deal about home and the very special people I had relied on. I remembered the comments of Brother Ensign and soon developed a limited understanding of what he was trying to convey to me.

As we grow through adolescence to maturity, we form trusts and cherish certain individuals who have a tremendous influence on our lives. If, in our youth, we build a strong cache of strength from which to draw in our later and more vulnerable years, the vices and corrupt influences are lessened. Likewise, if our maturing environment is steeped in violence, immorality, or dishonesty, that is also the cache of ideals from which we will draw.

(Leon R. Hartshorn, Powerful Stories from the Lives of Latter-day Saint Men, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1974].)

Activity:

Give each person a paper and pencil. Have them write STRENGTH OF YOUTH vertically down the left side of the paper. Each person needs to think of a word for each letter than would describe a strong and dedicated member of the church. (Example: S-service, T-true, R-reliable, etc.) Share your words with each other.

Refreshment

Moon Cake

Makes 20 servings

Cake

1 cup water

1⁄2 cup margarine

1 cup all-purpose flour 4 eggs

Topping

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese

3 1⁄2 cups milk

1 (3.4-ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed, or 2 cups freshly whipped cream

1⁄4 cup chocolate syrup

1⁄2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

For cake: In a small saucepan, bring water and margarine to a boil. Add the flour all at once and stir rapidly until the mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Add eggs to the hot mixture, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Spread dough on an ungreased 11 x 15-inch cookie sheet. Bake 30 minutes. Cool. (Crust will look like the moon’s surface, which is how it got its name.) Don’t prick, let it stand as is.

For topping: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until it is very soft. In another bowl, mix the milk and pudding mix. Blend cream cheese with the pudding and mix together until smooth. Spread on crust and refrigerate 20 minutes.

Generously top with whipped topping or whipped cream. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and sprinkle with nuts.

(Lion House Cakes and Cupcakes, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011], p. 120.)

To access the PDF version of this lesson, click here.

LDS student says Catholic school helped her grow

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:18:00 -0600

source: catholicsentinel.org

Rachel Wozniak, an eighth grader at Christ the King School here, will speak to fellow graduates about how the school changed her life. This is a theme that was echoed by Elizabeth Condie, another eighth grader, earlier this year at the Endowment Luncheon. They are friends who came from different paths but both say the Milwaukie school prepared them to excel and grow in compassion.

Ohio Mormons committed to their faith

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:52:00 -0600

source: akronbeaconjournal.com

Mormon Life says: This Ohio newspaper features Cleveland members and what it's like to be a Mormon. Trevar Dahl spends an hour before school each morning studying the Bible with seven other teens.

“It’s the best way to start the day, and it helps us with a pretty good knowledge of scripture,” said Trevar, a 16-year-old junior at Cloverleaf High School near Lodi. “We attend classes for four years. We call it seminary.”

Seminary, or the study of religious history and scripture among high school students in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as the Mormon church), includes courses on the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon and church doctrine, covenants and history. The seminary program has been part of the Mormon tradition for 100 years and has grown from 70 students to nearly 370,000 in more than 140 countries.

Alex Boye in concert to spread message of hope

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:30:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

An evening of music and entertainment will attempt to bring a “Light of Hope” to hundreds — and possibly thousands — of young people.

With Alex Boye headlining and popular artists Freddie Ashby, Clyde Bawden and Firefly appearing, the Friday, May 18, event will benefit One Life at a Time, a nonprofit organization that addresses the issues of poverty and unemployment in Central America and other third-world countries.

To the Happy Couple: You've Been Warned.

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:17:00 -0600

source: middle-agedmormonman.blogspot.com

Mormon Life says: This dad wrote a letter to his newly-engaged son and his fiancee. It's a great resource to use for your own kids. The MMM family is going to have it's first wedding! I mentioned it the other day in the "Diddy Kong" post here. The good news is that they are still engaged, and the even better news is that we are all still happy about it - giddy, in fact. (Giddy in a "manly" sort of way.)

A short time after the engagement was made official, Monkeyboy and the future Monkeygirl came over to the house, along with the future in-laws. It was a chance for us to all get to know each other a little better, and to talk about wedding plans, dates, and all the crap things that come with a wedding. We started with a prayer, and then I asked if I could make a few observations. ("Observations" was code for the speech that I had written in my head over the previous few days.) I had a captive audience, and was my kitchen table...

Church History Museum's youth art contest deadline is June 1

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:32:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

The deadline for the LDS Church History Museum's International Art Competition for Youth is June 1.

May New Era Focuses on Conference Content

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:06:00 -0600

source: news.lds.org

The May 2012 issue of the New Era contains a special 18-page “General Conference Is for You” section for youth, highlighting messages from conference with particular applicability for youth as well as quotes from youth about how conference inspired them.

LDS basketball star Jabari Parker moves into No. 1 prospect status

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:04:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

It's official. Jabari Parker now has multiple talent scouting services ranking the LDS basketball star from Chicago as the No. 1 high school player in America.

It's also no secret that he is very aware of the swath he's cutting and it's a priority, he believes, that he needs to set a proper example for his family and faith. It is important for him to try and live a good life and do things right.

That's impressive.

Mormon California teens take a pioneer trek for spring break

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:24:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: What great examples these youth are. Instead going to the beach, Disneyland or hanging out at the mall, teenagers from the Riverside California Stake pushed and pulled handcarts during their Pioneer Trek Youth Conference in the mountains of San Bernardino on Riley’s Farms in early April. It was also a chance to learn about their early Mormon pioneer ancestors, to understand their religion a little better, and to find out more about their own strengths and weaknesses.

Seminary in the jungles of Ecuador

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0600

source: lds.org

East of Quito, Ecuador, past the volcanoes and Andes Mountains, the terrain drops swiftly to the Amazon jungle. There you’ll find thick forests, abundant rivers, monkeys, toucans, and even pink dolphins.

You’ll also find a city called Puerto Francisco de Orellana. It’s a long ways from, well, everything else in Ecuador. Fifteen years ago, there were relatively few people in the area. But the discovery of petroleum brought industry, people seeking jobs, and members of the Church.

HS basketball star relies on Mormon faith, family to keep grounded

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:28:00 -0600

source: newsone.com

Mormon Life says: What a great example he is for the Church. This is what it’s like to be Jabari Parker, the nation’s top high school basketball player.

One day he’s presenting a project in his Spanish class, turns around and sees Alonzo Mourning. Parker takes a seat and grins. The former Miami Heat star is making a surprise visit to give him the Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year award.

And there are nights like this.

Liahona, New Era special sections offer helps for seminary teachers, students

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:59:00 -0600

source: news.lds.org

A typical day for Nick Prince begins at 5:30 a.m., when he wakes up, having prepared the night before to teach high school-age students from the Champaign-Urbana area of Illinois, USA, who attend early-morning seminary five days a week.

“There is a part of me that loves teaching seminary and a part of me that dreads getting up that early to teach it,” he says. Following an hour of instructing six to eight students, Brother Prince spends his days and several evenings pursuing his studies as a PhD student at the University of Illinois.

A 'Stonecutter' moment

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:05:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

Mormon Life says: I think the trend of journeying (literally) to the temple is such a cool one. Searching for their own "Only a Stonecutter" moment, young men and young women and their leaders, parents and friends from the Kaw River Ward, Lenexa Kansas Stake, walked 20 miles on March 17 from their meetinghouse to the recently completed Kansas City Missouri Temple.

Outfitted in lime green T-shirts with an illustration of the temple and the slogan, "I love to see the temple, I'm walking there TODAY … with faith in every footstep," the 50-plus trekkers began their walk with some trepidation but with overwhelming enthusiasm.