Our discussion today focused on President Nelson’s devotional address to the youth from June 3rd, “Hope of Israel.” These notes are a compilation and summary of the comments made during our Council Meeting. It is not meant to be a complete transcript.
Though President Nelson was speaking to the youth, as adults we can also benefit from his counsel. As adults who influence, interact with and teach youth, we need to know what President Nelson is asking of our youth. Do we know how to support our youth in their efforts to follow the prophet? Are we setting a positive example for the youth in our ward?
We can learn from the way President Nelson approached and talked to the youth. He did not preach to them. He invited them to make a choice about how they spend their time, to evaluate how it makes them feel, and to discover for themselves. He taught them that they too can receive personal revelation.
We, as parents and leaders, need to follow through with the counsel President Nelson has given. We can talk to our youth about how to follow the prophet. We can discuss specific actions we can take as a family, they can contribute their ideas and make their own plans. They can take ownership and responsibility as we continue to give support and encouragement.
President Nelson used boldness to invite the youth to be part of the Gathering of Israel. He taught us we will not survive what the future will bring if we do not increase our spiritual strength.
President Nelson gave the youth “five invitations for you to enlist in the Lord’s youth battalion to help gather Israel.”
Comments from sisters about each of these invitations:
1 Hold a seven-day social media fast:
- I found that social media was skewing my relationships. If I’m not on as often, other people’s posts don’t affect me.
- I didn’t think (social media use) was a problem for me, but then I chose to accept President Nelson’s invitation.
- There may be a lot of negative, but there is also a lot of good. We can use technology for good and teach the youth how to do the same.
2. Make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord for three weeks:
- Are the youth having experiences where they feel the Spirit? What anchors their testimonies? Are we doing these things for ourselves? Do we sacrifice time for the Lord?
3. Keep on the Covenant path. If you are off, repent and get back on the path:
- If you want to teach your children about covenants, Mosiah 5 is a wonderful chapter to read together. It is King Benjamin’s last words to his people and it talks all about covenants and the blessings of keeping covenants
- We can be an example of keeping baptismal and temple covenants.
4. Pray daily that all of God’s children might receive the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Changing our prayers can be difficult. But this is a specific and simple thing the prophet has asked us to do. We can follow President Nelson’s example, as he followed the counsel of President Kimball in 1979 to pray for the people of China, to “be of service to the Chinese people. We should learn their language. We should pray for them and help them.”
5. Stand out. Be different. Be a light. Give to a friend on copy of the booklet For the Strength of Youth.
- I made a choice to focus on my family and faith on Sunday and some of my friends laughed at me. But I want to do what is right.
- If we are true disciples of Christ we will be different, we will stand out. President Nelson told the youth “If you are sometimes called “weird,” wear that distinction as a badge of honor and be happy that your lights is shining brightly.”
We can help in our neighborhood by being aware of what the youth are doing, maybe (as appropriate) follow them on social media and post positive things. We can work to have strong relationships with each other as adults, so that if we see something concerning we can let a parent know.
Our youth don’t need everyone breathing down their necks or hovering, but we can watch out for each other. We should especially make an effort to point out the positive, let them know we see them and the good they do.
The youth need to be taught correct principles and then be allowed to govern themselves. They need opportunities to exercise agency and self-govern.
What can we do?
- be positive and express belief in the youth of our ward
- encourage them, support them
- include the youth of our ward in your prayers, in your fasting, and remember them as you attend the temple
- acknowledge the youth when you see them, say hi, know their names
- evaluate your own social media use and other things that influence your ability to feel the Spirit
Sister Cannon ended by saying: “Please know that you may not be able to reach everyone, but you may be the one that someone needs.”
Next month our 1st Sunday Council will continue this discussion.
