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New For the Strength of the Youth Pamplet

For the Strength of Youth Updated and Refreshed

• 16 December 2011
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Article Highlights

• The text of the revised version of For the Strength of Youth is now available on youth.lds.org.
• Updates include the addition of current prophetic counsel, new sections, and thought-provoking questions.
• The updated pamphlet will be available in hard copy in 2012.

“It is our hope that these standards will be thoroughly studied in our homes and in Church classes, and that the principles taught in them will go down into the hearts of the youth of the Church.” —David L. Beck, Young Men general president

Related Topics

• Youth
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Related Links

• Visit the Church’s official website for youth.
• See youth.lds.org’s “For the Strength of Youth” section.
• Read an article by Church News and Events, “Church Gives Inside Look at 2011 Strength of Youth DVD.”
• View a conversation with the Young Women general presidency entitled “For the Strength of You.”

Today, youth.lds.org launched a newly updated version of For the Strength of Youth that addresses issues and challenges youth face today that were not specifically addressed in the previous version of the booklet.
“The standards have not changed, but times have changed,” said Young Women general president Elaine S. Dalton, explaining the update. “For the Strength of Youth has been revised to address the issues youth face today—to teach them the doctrine behind the standards and the promised blessings of obedience.”
For the Strength of Youth was last updated in 2001. The revised pamphlet will contain the addition of current prophetic counsel in areas such as the wise use of technology, virtuous thoughts, dating, the importance of gender roles, and preparation for the future.
Other changes of note include:

• Additional emphasis on following the guidance of the Spirit, keeping covenants, and being worthy to attend the temple
• A new standard entitled “Work and Self-Reliance” offering counsel on smart money management, frugality, industry, and becoming a contributor.
• The addition of emotional health to the section previously titled “Physical Health”—now called “Physical and Emotional Health”—encouraging youth to seek healthy solutions to problems.
• Increased clarity and emphasis on doctrine in each section
• The inclusion of questions to invite further pondering and discussion

Hard copies of the revised pamphlet in English will be mailed to Church units toward the beginning of 2012. Priesthood leaders will receive a copy for each youth ages 12 to 18 and all priesthood and auxiliary leaders who work with youth.
Young Men general president David L. Beck emphasized the value of this resource for youth, parents, and leaders as they strive to live faithfully.
“It is our hope that these standards will be thoroughly studied in our homes and in Church classes, and that the principles taught in them will go down into the hearts of the youth of the Church,” he said.
Language versions of the revised pamphlet will follow both online and in print as they are completed.

Congrats!

YW Winter Camp Retreat

Planning is going strong for our YW Winter Camp retreat! We look forward to teaching and learning with you amazing young women in Timpanogos stake!

Gelatos are yummy...

A Book of Mormon Story

Open Letter to Young Women

An Open Letter to YW on Dating

Check the link above to read an interesting and though provoking article about dating and our YW.  YW Leadaers DO make a difference.  ARe we making choices that "show we know"? 

Modesty vs. Bikini

Very interesting research on modesty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Home and family: Two of Heavenly Father's greatest gifts to us.  The best blessing , of course, is His Only Begotten Son who gave us the option to have both the other two gifts for eternity, if we live up to our covenants.
Enjoy your Home and FAMILY today, and be grateful for all The Father has blessed you with.  I know I will be thankful for each of our YW too.

Tom Cruise on Home Teaching :)

The Lost Purse Video

Our YW are incredible!

Stake Youth Temple Month Kickoff

Despite the rain and mud and lack of electricity, the Timpanogos Stake Youth gathered to learn of the path to the temple.

Book of Mormon~Messages From Heaven

Temple Month Thought

From President Boyd K. Packer:

"...the Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the temples.  Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service.  We will be blessed in all of our affairs.  We will be eligible to have the Lord take an interest in our affairs both spiritual and temporal."

Packer, The Holy Temple, p 182

Sanctify Yourselves

Young women, you can make a difference in the lives of those around you, especially the young men. Help them to honor their priesthood so they can use it wherever and whenever they need to.

Things as They Really Are

6th ward Mia Maids

We Seek After These Things

6th Ward "Modest is Hottest" Fashion Show

6th Ward YW hosted a fashion show Tuesday night, showcasing all the awesome back-to-school outfits.

Plus, a game show similar to "The Newlywed Game" only with a mother and daughter:

Sister Kremnev was the host with the most:

Sister Heder in her Prom dress...

The four Hunter girls all gave great talks about modesty, virtue and living a pure life.

Guardians of Virtue

Being a guardian of virtue means you will always be modest not only in your dress, but in your speech, your actions, and your use of social media. Being a guardian of virtue means you will never text words or images to young men that may cause them to lose the Spirit, their priesthood power, or lose their virtue. It means that you understand the importance of chastity because you also understand that your body is a temple and that the sacred powers of procreation are not to be tampered with before marriage. You understand that you possess a sacred power that involves the holy responsibility of bringing other spirits to the earth to receive a body in which to house their eternal spirit. This power involves another sacred soul. You are a guardian of something “more precious than rubies” (Proverbs 3:15). Be faithful. Be obedient. Prepare now so that you may qualify to receive all the blessings that await you in the Lord’s holy temples. . . .

Being a guardian of virtue means you will always be modest not only in your dress, but in your speech, your actions, and your use of social media. Being a guardian of virtue means you will never text words or images to young men that may cause them to lose the Spirit, their priesthood power, or lose their virtue. It means that you understand the importance of chastity because you also understand that your body is a temple and that the sacred powers of procreation are not to be tampered with before marriage. You understand that you possess a sacred power that involves the holy responsibility of bringing other spirits to the earth to receive a body in which to house their eternal spirit. This power involves another sacred soul. You are a guardian of something “more precious than rubies” (Proverbs 3:15). Be faithful. Be obedient. Prepare now so that you may qualify to receive all the blessings that await you in the Lord’s holy temples. . . .
Young women, you are engaged in a great work! And you are not alone! As you guard your virtue and purity, you will be given strength. As you keep the covenants you have made, the Holy Ghost will guide and guard you. You will be surrounded by heavenly hosts of angels. President [Thomas S.] Monson reminds us, “Remember that we do not run alone in this great race of life; we are entitled to the help of the Lord” (“Great Expectations”). Prepare for that day when you will come to the Lord’s temple worthy and prepared to make sacred covenants. As guardians of virtue, you will want to seek the Savior in His holy house.

Celebrating YW

The suite of offices at the Stake Center has a new addition.  I noticed Sunday that there were two new bulletin boards in the hallway.  Directly across from the Primary's Baptism board are two new spots for news of the Young Women and Young Men on our stake.  I asked President Phillips about it, and he offered the photos the Stake Presidency had taken with the Mia Maids during their activities together spring and summer.  I'm planning on putting up a decorative display this week.  Be sure to stop in and see what is new for the Timp Stake YW!

Return to Virtue

Elaine S. Dalton of the Young Women general presidency urges young people to develop the strength that comes from living a virtuous life.

Chastity: What are the limits? Video

Latter-day Saint teens are counseled to stay sexually pure, but what exactly are the limits? Using teachings of modern prophets, this presentation shows why that’s the wrong question to ask and explains how we can find happiness and peace through staying chaste.

Strawberry Pinnacles Princesses

Our visit to 3rd Ward's Girls Camp took us to some spectacular country.  We drove out to the end of the canyon that backs the Soldier Creek Dam at Strawberry Reservoir.  It was a bumpy ride, but knowing the 3rd ward YW were at the end of the journey, made it worth it!

 They did some fire-starting for their certification there.  Way to go, Sidney!

 Of course, they modeled their "Unitique" camp sweats for us! Lovely, girls, lovely!

 They were doing hair and making everyone look fab-U-lous!

Then it was time for some quiet time.  Some scripture reading time....

Some writing in the journal time....

Some scripture-memorization-by-osmosis time.  Just kidding, Rita.  She had been reading, but it was so peaceful and quiet, she just closed her eyes for a minute.

We shared a delicious dinner with the girls and their leaders and then had a wonderful fireside together.  President Phillips taught the girls about staying on target--as that was their theme for the day.  The target being the temple!  Their camp was filled with love and kindness and good feelings all around.  It was a marvelous final chapter to our summer of Girls' Camp visits.

And not too bad a way to spend a birthday either!

2012 Mutual Theme

A notice dated August 1, 2011, announced the 2012 Mutual theme: “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5).

Leaders are encouraged to use the theme as a focus of “special cultural events and other dance, music, and drama activities.” Leaders may also introduce the theme with a new DVD, Strength of Youth Media 2012: Arise and Shine Forth, which will be sent to units in November 2011. Additional resource material in support of the theme will be available in the New Era and Liahona magazines and on LDS.org at the beginning of 2012.

Young Women Program

"The Young Women program has in it [a] powerful pattern to develop spiritual strength in the young women and to offer the opportunity for us to help. Personal Progress helps young women prepare to receive the ordinances of the temple They are helped by the examples of mothers, grandmothers, and every righteous woman around them in the church. I have seen how parents helped a daughter achieve her goals and dreams by noticing and appreciating all the good things she does." President Henry B. Eyring


Clink on the link for the complete talk:
"Help them on Their Way Home"

Not Quite Tony's Grove

July 14th we visited First Ward Girls' Camp up Logan Canyon.  It was a beautiful spot--with lots of shady trees and a nearby creek.  The girls had a menagerie of animal adventures already--rattlesnakes on the trail of their hike, lost horses running through their campground, and Ethan--a one of a kind creature!

We enjoyed a fairly lazy afternoon in their camp while they finished up the GPS activity that the horses had interrupted then had a delicious pasta dinner with them.  The evening finished up with a rousing round of camp skits.  Holy Cow!! Are these girls funny!?!?  There were very creative and entertaining skits from all the groups--including a great Circus Skit fro the ward YW leaders.  But we especially appreciated the "Scenes from Camp" skit.  It helped us get a good feel for what they had experienced together.

The girls tell their tales to Sister Smithson.

It gets a littler harder to tell the leaders from the girls sometimes.  :)

Sister Atkinson tells of their adventures to Sister Lovell (l) and Sister Naugle (r)

Kathryn wows us with her sense of Duct Tape Style!  She looks good in anything!!

Don't you love it when the other groups take a turn to cook dinner?!

Caitlin all bundled up in the shade.

Must have been a GOOD story, right Kathryn?

Biking Adventures @ Fish Lake

We got to visit the 2nd ward Young Women at Fish Lake at the end of June.  They were "Reaching Their Happily Ever After".

As soon as we got there we heard about a terrible crash that one of their Young Women had had that morning, on the last leg of the bike trip.  Zabrina crashed hard coming down a steep hill and had been taken to the hospital by Bishop Lucas ans Brother Beckstrand.

At the initial reports we heard things like "concussion" and "skin grafts" and "stitches".  It was very scary.  We were told that Zabrina had crashed almost right at the Bishop's truck--so he was right there to immediately give her a blessing.  Throughout the afternoon and evening we were in camp with them, prayers were offered that included pleas for Zabrina's well being and healing.  The leaders and YW of the 2nd ward were extremely worried about her.

When I asked some of the girls about the accident--especially those who were on bikes behind her--several mentioned that when they saw her fish-tailing they thought about the months of preparation they had done together.  But not all the girls made it to all the practices.  They told me that they practiced and rehearsed what to do in emergency situations.  Zabrina missed that practice.  Several girls mentioned that maybe if she'd been with them for the practices the accident might not have been so bad.  Other girls mentioned that they were so glad they prayed for protection and safety throughout the week.  They knew prayers are answered.  These girls felt the protection of a loving Heavenly Father.  Even though a crash happened, they knew it could have been so much worse.

Before we left the camp for the night, Sister Beckstrand got cell service down the canyon a bit and spoke with Bishop Lucas.  He told her--and she relayed to all of us--that while Zabrina did have to have a couple of stitches above her eye, where the helmet impacted and cracked in half, and a couple more on her chin, she did NOT have a concussion; nor did she have broken bones.  The medical staff cleaned the gravel out of her knees and wrapped them--not to send her to Provo to the trauma unit--but for her to go home and rest with the advice to have her own local doctor look at her knees in a couple of days--but skin grafts weren't even mentioned again.  When that message was shared, many girls and leaders alike mentioned that this was a miracle wrought by a priesthood blessing.  Testimonies were strengthened of the incredible, eternal power that is available to us as we pray and are blessed in the Savior's name.

What a cute banner! And a very appropriate Girls' Camp theme!

We played the SNORT game between rain sprinkles and sunshine.

Our dessert of choice this year, Fruit Pizza, gets better each time we bring it up to a Girls' Camp to share!  This one was especially beautiful!  Love the colors!

Sister Marsh and Cassidy were getting crazy with those cucumbers for the salad!  Good work, ladies!

The trailer carried all the bikes!  Yikes!  That is a LOT of bikes!

Here you can see the oil lamps (on the tray) the girls made.  They were used in the devotional that night as we heard some of the [potential] personality traits of the 10 Virgins, from the parable in the New Testament.  It was a beautiful lesson, reminding us that we must collect our own oil--our spiritual preparedness--drop by drop by consistently doing the "little things" like scripture reading, prayers, fasting, taking the sacrament.  Sister Beckstrand's lesson was lovely and the Spirit was abundantly felt.

~~~~~~~~~

PS--After checking back with Sister Beckstrand today (July 5th) about Zabrina's condition, I was told she actually was taken to the UofU burn center by ambulance a few days after getting home, as her face had become infected.  She is scheduled to be returning home to recuperate and rest tonight after make miraculous progress as swelling subsided and other issues were monitored.  Her ward YW are planning on visiting with her tonight for their activity.  Her continued healing is a great addition to our prayers still, and we know that her family would appreciate the extra prayers for her recovery.

There's a party in the house tonight!

I have a few pics from the stake dance but I danced more than took pictures so you'll have to take my word when I saw it was awesome! I wish I had a picture of President Atkinson dancing to "Thunderstruck" or Sister DeBuck flitting around like a fairy or Hogan and Riley getting down to that Justin B. kid.
Thanks to Madi and her friend for getting the night started off with some swing steps and Joey and other, various youth for the music.

We Seek After THESE Things

Last week was our Stake Youth Conference. Three days of activities for youth ages 14-18 that ultimately were meant to draw the kids' hearts to Christ, strengthen their testimonies and develop a sense of unity between them.  There are MANY things that are good, and lovely, and delightful out there for these kinds of events.  We were seeking after all of them!

Thursday night we held a BBQ and pool party. You know what they say, "If you feed them, they will come." It is true.

Brothers Edwards and Cobbley fed the multitudes with burgers and dogs...and a unique item dubbed a "Ham-Dog". I happened to eat toward the end of the cooking and ended up with a triple Ham-Dog. Whoa.

Teenagers...hungry teenagers. You've gotta love them!

Fruit, potato salad and veg on the side. Yumm-OH!

We had an hour at the city pool to ourselves--or so we thought. There was a little group of three or four kids that I didn't recognize. I ask President Pam and other adult leaders if they knew these kids. No one did. Finally Pam asked them which ward they were from and they told us that they were there "for Austin's birthday". But none of them had seen this mysterious Austin. We had heard a rumor that a text was floating to the city's HS population that a pool party was open to the masses--when really, it wasn't! But they didn't seem too concerned that they cheated their way into a private party--which caused us to pay for each of them to play at the pool. Crazy, right?

Then we met again on Friday morning for more activities. Of course, we lived the "If you feed them, they will come" line, once again.

Our fearless cooking crew! They are awesome!

Some of our lovely young women, just waiting for breakfast.

The crowd beginning to fill in. 8 AM on a Friday in June is still early for some people, I guess.

We had 8 stations of activities. Two stations had a double rotation through them, as the game required two teams. All in all the kids rotated 10 times through these stations where they played and worked together and at every point heard a message of love and peace from the scriptures.

Sister Cobbley hosted a station where a game was played from the text of "The Living Christ".

Contestants sat, waiting to help their team, and take their turns.

Steal the Flag took two rotations--but once we moved it to the shade, it was a lot of fun!

Melanie and McKenzie show us their GPS findings at another station.

Bocce Ball in the Park! Go Madison! What a throw!

The Rock Wall gave many of our youth, like Amber, on the left, a real challenge. Not to mention the adult leaders--except Sister Barnes.  Look at her go!!  She could almost fly up that wall!!

A stop indoors was only a cooling off period for a second. Dodge Ball gets heated even in the best of circumstances!

Ah, Lunch! We had Big Sandwiches from WalMart along with some fruit, chips and juice.

Ladies first! What gentlemanly youth leaders we have!

We finished up the day with a few more rotations, so each group got to visit each station. Then we broke up for a bit and met back at the church, cleaned up in our Sunday clothes for a dinner and dance.

No photographic evidence remains from the evening's activities. But it was great! Trust me!

Then Day Three, Saturday, we held a morning side (with doughnuts) at the pavilion near the temple and from there each group left for a service project that lasted all morning. Several groups did clean up at local parks, the rodeo grounds, yard work for elderly neighbors and even laid some sod for a family that couldn't get enough help themselves. Because all these services were offered locally, the blessings were given (and received) by our neighbors and friends. Each group sounded like they had a wonderful experience and felt the Savior's love as they served in His name.

Then Saturday night, we held a closing devotional with messages from our Young Men's leader, President Atkinson, and from President Allred. Plus a special musical number by all the adult leaders of youth--an arrangement by Sister Amy of the Primary hymn, "I Know that My Savior Loves Me", as inspired by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was beautiful and powerful and a joy to be a part of, all for our youth to hear.