For the Strength of Youth

Across the Asia area we are blessed with thousands of wonderful young women and young men who the Lord has sent to give us strength, hope, and joy.

In chapters 56 and 57 of the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, we read about the two thousand and sixty young men who, because of their valiance, loyalty, and faith, overcame overwhelming odds to play an instrumental role in saving their nation from destruction.  

A careful study of these chapters provides us with valuable insights about their extraordinary accomplishments despite their young age and inexperience. These young men, who were raised in refugee homes and in some cases likely by single mothers, [1] developed an absolute faith in the Savior, the desire to obey and follow commandments with exactness, and the ability to be firm and undaunted in difficult situations. [2] These insights include the following:

• They learned how to have faith in Jesus Christ at home from their parents. [3]
• Their leader, Helaman, loved and cared about their individual wellbeing as if they were his own children. [4]
• They were presented with important decisions and were supported in their choices. [5]
• There is strength in numbers. [6]
• Others around them were grateful for them and found hope and great joy through them. [7]

At the time of the appearance of these youth in the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were heavily outnumbered and were being attacked on multiple fronts along their borders by their enemies the Lamanites.  They were also experiencing a civil war which divided their people and resources.  It appeared that there was little hope for the nation to survive.  However, among the ways the Lord chose to help those Nephites who were righteous, was by sending this group of two thousand and sixty young men to bring relief and hope to those who desperately needed help. 

Likewise in our day, we face significant challenges in our lives and in the communities where we live, and one important way that the Lord assists us is by sending to us young women and young men to strengthen us and in whom we can have hope and great joy.  President Russell M. Nelson, speaking to the youth of the church and inviting them to join the Lord’s youth battalion, said, “My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel. There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing.” [8]
 

We each have an opportunity and responsibility to help the rising generation in our branches and wards to realize their divine mission and potential.  The Lord has provided powerful tools to help us, including:

 

• Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families, and the Children and Youth program to help them to strengthen faith in Jesus Christ in the home.
• FSY and other youth conferences, seminary, young woman classes and Aaronic priesthood quorums, and social activities to build meaningful relationships and share experiences with fellow youth.
• Loving young women leaders, bishoprics, and branch presidencies who, like Helaman, love and care for each young person in their unit.
• For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices pamphlet.
• Where possible, adjusting meeting schedules to allow the combining of youth classes and quorums between units that share the same building to allow for more youth to gather in greater numbers.

 

There is also much that we can do on a personal basis.  We can begin by understanding that our rising generation is a strength to us and an answer to our prayers.  This may cause us to consider the following questions:

 

• What will I do to teach my child to feel the love of God in his/her life?
• What will I do to develop personal relationships with the young people in my ward or branch so that they feel that I love and care about them?
• How can I help them to make good decisions and show support for them?
• How can I help them to feel accepted and needed, and that they belong?

 

Across the Asia area we are blessed with thousands of wonderful young women and young men who the Lord has sent to give us strength, hope, and joy.  May we do our part to help prepare and strengthen them for the great purpose and mission the Lord has for them.  

 

 

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[1] See Alma 24: 21-23

[2] See Alma 57:19-21, 26, 27, 58:39-40

[3] See Alma 56: 27, 47-48

[4] See Alma 56:10, 17, 39, 55

[5] See Alma 56:44-49

[6] See Alma 56:9-10

[7] See Alma 56:17

[8] Russell M. Nelson, Hope of Israel, Worldwide Youth Devotional, June 3, 2018